Herb-Paris (Paris quadrifolia) in a rather manky chalk scarp wood nr Alvediston, Wiltshire today. Unhelpfully likes hiding amongst dense Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis, which can make things difficult. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Both ends of the Lepidoptera scale at Martin Down NNR, Hampshire-Wiltshire today.

Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia warming up, and one of many Grizzled Skippers Pyrgus malvae.

A trio of lovely sedges from Martin Down NNR today. Dwarf Sedge Carex humilis, Spring-sedge C. caryophyllea, Glaucous Sedge C. flacca. Very few humilis seen: all a bit delayed it seems. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Common Solomon's Seal Polygonatum multiflorum. Crab Wood SSSI, Sparsholt, Hampshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Early Purple Orchids Orchis mascula. Nr Sparsholt, Hampshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social

Peak Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta here in central Hampshire. Comes in blue, white and pink. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Wood Melick Melica uniflora. Just getting going here in the ancient chalkwoods, but soon to be gracing nearly every wooded verge and clearing. Crab Wood SSSI, nr Sparsholt, Hampshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata. An honorary Fumitory really. Hocombe, Hampshire this afternoon. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Herb Paris, Paris quadrifolia in an ancient woodland near Alton, Hampshire. I love walking in this bluebell wood at this time of year. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus in flower this morning. Always a thrill to see, even if it's rather a niche plant. Hiltingbury, Hampshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Suffocated Clover Trifolium suffocatum flowering this morning. Specatcular stuff 🤣. Hiltingbury, Hampshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Garden loveliness on a beautiful spring day here in central Hampshire. White Ramping-fumitory, Purple Gromwell, and Bogbean.

@caringforgodsacre.bsky.social

Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata and Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus in the churchyard at St Mary, Crawley, Hampshire this morning. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A digital portait of Velociraptor with colourful turkey-like wattles around its face and neck.

A pencil portait of Velociraptor with open, drooling jaws.

A digital illustration of a baby Velociraptor sat in a nest of dry branches and leaves.

A digital illustration of Velociraptor, leaping with feathered arms outstretched towards Protoceratops - a small herbivorous dinosaur.

Today is Velociraptor Awareness Day.
Be aware. Be VERY aware… 😮😉🦖
(All art by me).
#SciArt
#VelociraptorAwarenessDay

Completely unexpected new site. A fragment of the old Staunton Estate swallowed up by post War Portsmouth land purchase and house building like much of the borough.

Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus motherlode in an urban greenspace north of Havant, Hampshire yesterday. Remnant old parkland, with Wood Anemone and Bluebell also present. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

I had exactly this issue in my village a few years ago! Baffling, enraging, energising all in one.

It's Subterranean Clover Trifolium subterraneum time! Purbrook Heath, Hampshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Thanks Vanna! These were clearly up to nefarious things around an Andrena colony 😅

Sigh. Random, obvs.

I hate being that person that posts ranfom photos of wildlife and asks 'What is this?' (My Dad has a terrible habitat of doing this on FB wildlife groups 😅). But...

What is this, please? Nomada sp.? Purbrook Heath, Hampshire. Sunny bank, acidy grassland.

Following further examination, this indeed turned out to be Flixweed Descurainia sophia, a very good record for vc11 South Hampshire. Last noted at this site many decades ago, so worth double-checking.

The remnants of a thriving, mill-based economy are there to see, even if the Lavant is buried in culverts, only occasionally seen. Downstream of nearby springs it becomes a permanent chalk stream again, vibrant, flowing, and vegetated. The Water Voles are gone now though.

We reach an EA asset which includes an overflow diversion to the Hermitage Stream. Downstream, the Lavant is bone dry, a ghost. Through town, further abuse is evident. A branch of the Brockhampton Stream is dry. These are chalk streams.

As the stream moves into more urban areas, concrete bank revetments proliferate. Flow is minimal, water quality poor, algae everywhere. The stream is basically dead, hidden, and forgotten.

A very interesting and at times depressing walk along the route of the Lavant Stream, Havant, Hampshire today. At Bartons Green, the diverted channel has rare glimpses of life despite field drains, EA 'clearance' works that have in fact created woody blockages and flood risk, and urban abuse.

Sanicle Sanicula europaea and Wood Speedwell Veronica montana in a beautiful big of ancient woodland in Havant, Hampshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Mousetail Myosurus minimus in SE Hampshire this afternoon. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Woodland carpeted in Bluebells so the ground looks like a sea of purple. The trees aren't fully leaved yet and some have ivy growing around the trunk

Another photo of the sea of Bluebells stretching through the wood. In the distance you can see the light through the trees. This area also has a few smaller shrubs and trees growing under the tall trees.

Our Field Ecologists Billy and Joel are back out in the field this week for the start of the 2026 field season! These Bluebells were taken by Joel near Braishfield. #WildflowerHour #Ecology