Just love the way our new wildlife pond provides mud for birds to line their nests. Magpies in the past few weeks, a female blackbird today. 😍

Have you ever wanted to know more about preserving plant specimens? Maybe for your own reference, or so you can share plants with experts for identification?

The BSBI is here for you! We have a webinar next week - 28th April, 7pm, completely free!

Book here: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...

Country diary: The most magical of frost-coated mornings | Mark Cocker Knotbury, Staffordshire: A truly special dawn, when last night’s ice lingered on everything, and I was joined by no fewer than six ring ouzels

RING OUZELS! in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Mark Cocker. Sorry, did someone just shout RING OUZELS? 😀

#countrydiary #naturewriting

Wild Writing for Wellness workshops at Waresley Park on 5th, 12th and 19th May. No writing experience necessary.

I'm excited about leading Wild Writing for Wellness Workshops at #WaresleyPark, #Cambridgeshire in May. Focusing on wildflowers, birds & trees around the spring-fed lake & Humphry Repton gardens, we'll spend time enjoying & responding to the nearby wild: waresleyparkestate.co.uk/wild-writing...

Country diary: Even in tame horses, a wildness remains | Kate Blincoe Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: A large mare is being aggressive not just to the dying deer in its paddock, but also me for trying to save it

In today's @theguardian.com country diary, @kateblincoe.bsky.social reflects on the wildness of horses.

#naturewriting #countrydiary

Not your average bumblebee! 🐝

Cuckoo bumblebees invade other bees’ nests and let their workers raise the next generation. Join @sofiadartnell.bsky.social on 21st July for a FREE entoLIVE on the ecology of these remarkable parasites 🌎 🧪

Reserve your place: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1973162765...

I just love Mick's paintings - such power and movement!

Yes, that makes total sense.

Wow!

Let's hope he misses this particularly diary, then!

Country diary 1926: There was a hoopoe on the lawn 24 April 1926: A rare sight in Cornwall, it was bigger than a mistle thrush, rusty pink against the grass

A hoopoe visits Cornwall in 1926 in this @theguardian.com country diary from the archives.

Country diary: Even in tame horses, a wildness remains | Kate Blincoe Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: A large mare is being aggressive not just to the dying deer in its paddock, but also me for trying to save it

In today's @theguardian.com country diary, @kateblincoe.bsky.social reflects on the wildness of horses.

#naturewriting #countrydiary

Wildness, even!

😍

😍

The Cornish endemic Western Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis) is my contribution to this week's #wildflowerhour. This colony is probably the best known in the country, having grown on a car park edge on the Lizard for decades!

Field Gromwell, Buglossoides arvensis, against the pub fence in Cherry Hinton #Cambridge #WildflowerHour 🍒🏘️

Aye, I felt for my eldest most as he missed all the year six celebrations and all his secondary school induction and first year.

Cool!

A Grasshopper warbler this evening along Crinan Ferry Road, Moine Mhor, Argyll (poor light).

Three purple flowers, drooping over to the left, with feathery tufts of leaves where their 'necks' join the main stem. The flowers have five long pointed petals each and central cluster of yellow stamens just visible within.

#ArtDD2026
Pasqueflower

10 minute sketch from a lovely 📷 by @ardechemew.bsky.social with thanks.

@saocousins.bsky.social @holnicotenh.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @andykaitken.bsky.social @stevecobbin.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social

Vibrant street art in Limerick, Ireland. A standard street bollard is painted as a bright blue octopus head, with its tentacles sprawled playfully across the pavement for a local scavenger hunt.

🐙 Painted Octopus — By Lumen Street Theatre in Limerick 🇮🇪 This Is Clever (14 Photos): streetartutopia.com/2026/04/17/c...

Wail, wail, wail! 😲

Just home from giving a talk to a lovely local RSPB group to find this Double-striped Pug waiting up for me. 😍

Make sure you suck the right tube!! 😂

Blimey yes. Had such an impact on my two (now 14 & 17).

😄

😂

I don't approve of sharing photos like this - soon they'll all want one...😂

Country diary: A hardworking meadow that is surely worth saving | Mary Montague Lower Botanic Gardens, Belfast: A precious field here provides flood protection and carbon research, and has a productive community garden. Still, it is in jeopardy

Who would consider turning a restored flood meadow into a sports pitch? Find out in Mary Montague's @theguardian.com country diary...

#naturewriting #countrydiary