Just look at this veteran pollard Large Leaved Lime! Historic and home to so many invertebrate species.

Great to see these beautiful blue flowers on our Hairy Violets. A welcome contrast to the predominant yellow of our Primroses, Cowslips, Marsh Marigold, and Lesser Celandine that are now blossoming throughout the Valley!

Our ecologist painstakingly sorting through pots of Dioecious Sedge (Carex dioica), dividing them into males and females, and removing grass. Rare in Oxon, the seedlings are been passed to volunteers to grow on until they're big enough to plant in the fen.
#OxfordshireFens

I introduce you to the first 2 stages of the 'shapeshifter' leaves of Greater Water-parsnip Sium latifolium. Underwater winter lvs finely divided brownish in the background. Surging up out of the water are the first stage aerial leaves, fern-like v pretty, 1-pinnate ones next...

We were gifted a washing up bowl full of Primroses this week! Our volunteers wasted no time in planting them amongst a mass of Garlic Mustard to make our rather unattractive entrance a little more colourful. 😊
#OX3 #LocalWildlifeSite #GreenSpace

Shocking...I had a bit of an idea about this but do listen to the story, sewage is not just human natural waste, but so much more...

A fantastic photo of a firecrest taken by stan kujawa 🇬🇧🇵🇱🇺🇦 AstonRowantNNR - our #bird #surveys continue to get busier as we head into #Spring2024 . #spring #bird s #nature

I've seen the devastation on Box hedges, but first time I have seen the caterpillars of the Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis at work. Now wondering if this has reached our native special Box tree populations on the #Chilterns yet? Must check...

🎶We're scything in the rain
Just scythin' in the rain
What a glorious feeling
We're happy again 🎶
Aren't #volunteers wonderful?

A big issue for me is that the Defra Biodiversity Metric calculation does not take into consideration measures relating to protected or notable species. What is the point of such conservation designations if they do not help protect species?

An important analysis by an expert. What is 'real' BNG? At what point should a development be refused as the harm to wildlife would be just too much?

I wish all cemetaries and parks could be so enlightened to leave standing deadwood like this. So full of invertebrate life!

Just look how important sallow catkins are to our early solitary bees!

Good to see the marsh lousewort is established!

Still the season for cutting down & raking off dense rush & sedge over important seepages just above the Cherwell river floodplain in Oxford with great scything buddies. Uncovered several field voles, frogs, a young toad & host of snails, all re-homed. Common spotted orchids up!

I always love Stan's bird photos..

Watch the film to see how Freshwater Habitats Trust is doing great restoration work in our Oxon rare alkaline, calcareous, tufa-forming ancient spring-fens. Very pleased to be adviser and volunteer for this project at Hinskey Heights fen and Cothill fen. We always need more volunteers!

Nothing says #spring quite like this photo! A wonderful shot of a Blue tit by stan kujawa 🇬🇧🇵🇱🇺🇦 @rowantnnr 🌼 #nature #birdphotography

We have an increasing problem with flash flooding caused by road runoff which both damages the soft peat of the fen, and causes flooding to properties in the Florence Park area. You can watch a new two minute video about our mitigation measures here. friendsoflyevalley.org.uk/news/Managing%…

This is a great site, sounds like a lovely day to be had!