The vast tidal estuary of Morecambe Bay is one of the most significant sites for birdlife in the British Isles, supporting over 240,000 birds annually. Among its most iconic avian visitors is the Knot, Calidris canutus, a small, stocky wading bird known for its remarkable migrations and mesmerising flock displays. A holarctic species, breeding inContinue reading "The Knots of Morecambe Bay"| Northwest Nature and History
Part of a Collection of Articles looking at the Communities of the Hodder Valley The story of Dunnow Hall begins in the late 11th century, when the Manor of Slaidburn became part of the Lordship of Bowland, a vast Royal Forest and Liberty spanning nearly 300 square miles across the historic borders of Lancashire andContinue reading "The History of Dunnow Hall"| Northwest Nature and History
Here are some shots from Padiham on Parade 2025, we only had time for a flying visit so missed the main events and a lot of people had gone home by this time. To learn more about Padiham Town Hall see here: Padiham Town Hall For some shots of Padiham on Parade 2024 and 2023Continue reading "Padiham on Parade 2025"| Northwest Nature and History
Common Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum, also known as Woodbine, is one of those plants that easily goes unnoticed until it bursts into flower, filling the air with a heady, sweet perfume that draws you in as you pass. Twisting and twining its way through our hedgerows, these tubular blooms shift from creamy white to yellowish-pink throughContinue reading "Common Honeysuckle"| Northwest Nature and History
All across the United Kingdom, from Dartmoor to the Dark Peak, a troubling trend is emerging; the destructive, disruptive and disrespectful activity known as fly-camping. Often confused with the responsible pastime of ‘wild-camping’, fly-camping refers to unauthorised, irresponsible overnight stays where groups pitch large tents by roadsides or in beauty spots, bringing in items suchContinue reading "A Troubling Trend; Fly-Camping in Britain’s National Parks"| Northwest Nature and History
The view North East from the castle, with the spire of St. Mary Magdalene’s to the left Old Clitheroe There’s a spot in Old England that’s still dear to me, On the banks of the Ribble t…| Northwest Nature and History
4 posts published by Northwest nature and history during August 2025| Northwest Nature and History
Hairy vetch, Vicia villosa, commonly known as Fodder vetch, is a vibrantly coloured and highly adaptable wildflower belonging to the Fabaceae family, which includes peas, beans, and other legumes. Native to the British isles and found in a wide array of habitats the plant typically grows as a climbing or scrambling herbaceous perennial, reaching heightsContinue reading "Hairy Vetch, Vicia villosa"| Northwest Nature and History
The heather beetle, Lochmaea suturalis, is a small, unassuming olive-brown leaf beetle measuring about 6mm, and it has long been a part of our moorland ecosystems. While unremarkable in appearance, this native insect can wreak havoc when its populations surge, causing devastating outbreaks that threaten heather moorlands, their biodiversity, and the communities that depend onContinue reading "Heather Beetle Outbreaks"| Northwest Nature and History
Part of a Series of Notes about Dunsop Bridge and other Hodder Valley Communities At the heart of Great Britain, in the centre of the Forest of Bowland, sits the pretty, well-kept village of Dunsop…| Northwest Nature and History
The Small Heath butterfly, Coenonympha pamphilus, a diminutive member of the Nymphalidae family, is a widespread yet increasingly vulnerable species across the British Isles. In Northwest England, this unassuming butterfly thrives in a variety of open, grassy habitats, but its populations are closely tied to specific ecological conditions, particularly those shaped by traditional land managementContinue reading "The Small Heath Butterfly and its Reliance on Grazed Pastureland"| Northwest Nature and History
There’s a famous seaside place called Blackpool,That’s noted for fresh air and fun,And Mr and Mrs RamsbottomWent there with young Albert, their son. A grand little lad was young Albert,…| Northwest Nature and History
A Condensed History of the Lancashire Village of Tarleton, Spanning from its Viking Origins to the Modern Day At the heart of West Lancashire’s fertile mosslands, roughly 19 miles northeast of Live…| Northwest Nature and History
In the far Northwest of the Bowland fells the geology and scenery dramatically changes to the extent that it feels like an entirely different part of the country. The peaty earth is thinner, the gr…| Northwest Nature and History
The Round-leaved Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, (Drosera meaning ‘dewy’ in latin) is a small carnivorous plant found in bogs, it is locally common but hard to find, in England its strongholds are ou…| Northwest Nature and History
4 posts published by Northwest nature and history during June 2025| Northwest Nature and History
(ACJ1) Between the patches of dappled sunlight and shadows that the overhanging Alder leaves cast on the slow-moving river a flash of iridescent blue catches the eye. This is the Banded Demoiselle …| Northwest Nature and History
7 posts published by Northwest nature and history during April 2025| Northwest Nature and History
Blossom on Padiham Greenway (author) You may find many treasures on a spring-time walk down our countryside’s old lanes; the delicate white flowers of Blackthorn, scarlet Campion, or butter-yellow …| Northwest Nature and History
Carder bee feeding on Comfrey flowers (all photos by author unless stated otherwise) Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, also known as ‘knitbone’ is a hardy perennial herb, native to the British Isles a…| Northwest Nature and History
