TO MOW OR NOT TO MOW... that is the question

 Wed.5th July 2017
            I've just had a look round our local industrial estate this afternoon and there are extreme contrasts in the appearance of some of the local industrial units witch are surrounded by grassy areas. The grass that has been mowed looks tidy, neat almost a sterile desert but it does give a good impression  about the tidiness of the company to which it belongs.
whilst other companies the grassy ares have been left to grow and are full of Wild Flowers at least four species of Orchids, many Bees, Insects and quite a few Butterflies.
       I know that appearances and first impressions count but are the companies doing enough to support and preserve our flora  and wildlife on all the industrial estates the seem to be springing up all over our countryside?

                                     Mown within an inch of its life

 Left uncut, masses of Common Spotted Orchids amongst other wild flowers

               The first time in our area that I've seen Pyramidal Orchids
                                                     

                                    A Bee Orchid well past its best

                         Common Spotted Orchid ( white form)

                               My preference...grass left uncut

Purple Mountain Flower

12th March 2017
              We've just arrived home from our yearly visit to pen-y-ghent to find the Purple Mountain Saxifrage. Some clumps were opening but the full show will probably be around 10 days time. The weather was blustery with low cloud but not cold 8c. The saxifrage grows down to sea level in Northern Greenland and up to 10,000ft in the Alps and Rockies, it really is a true arctic alpine flower. 

Surprise Day Out

12th February 2017
                  Natural Surroundings...Wildlife-Friendly Gardens and Grounds, Cafe-Shop and Plant Sales. Natural Surroundings is just inland from Blakeney and Cley-Next-The-Sea in North Norfolk it is owned and managed by Anne and Simon Harrop either Anne and Simon are usually on site and are happy to offer help and advice.
       Anybody on holiday in the area should pay it a visit, you won't be disappointed.

SUCH A SUCCESS STORY

30th January 2017
                         The RIBBLE RIVERS TRUST spring conference was held on the 26th & 27th of March 2015 but it's taken me so long to complete the film because I couldn't film any salmon spawning until this Nov 2017.
      This is a short film showing just some of the many events that I've recorded over the last 5 years making the URBAN RIVERS ENHANCEMENT SCHEME in our local rivers such a success story.

A Great Achievement

24th December 2016
                                  A Very Happy Christmas to everybody. I have posted very little this year but I would like to share with you a short video that I've just finished editing. The footage was sent to Peter Chippendale over the internet from Switzerland by Walter Rossini a mountain guide who Peter hired and trained with in late August this year. Peter was successful and has fulfilled his dream of climbing the Matterhorn.
                  From the 3 hours of video that Walter filmed on a GoPro Helmet Camera located on both his helmet and ice axe ( he's to be congratulated on his coverage) I've tried to make this short video of the story leading up to this achievement spoken by Peter in his own words .
        This short film will be viewed on Christmas Day by Peter's Family.

On my local patch

23rd June 2016
          Just had a short walk this afternoon around my local patch  and found these two beautiful orchids .people were hurrying by without so much of a glance.

Southern Marsh Orchid .....our area is about its northern limit.

A haven for the insects

20th June 2016

I haven't posted much lately but at this time of year my modest back garden reaches its peak. The profusion of wild and garden flowers paints a random tapestry that is not easy to create and look natural.
       Every year about 100 wild orchids which have naturalised in the garden start to flower at this time of the year and I've noticed that there are more Marsh Orchids or Hybrids. I think they are the result of cross pollinating with the more Common Spotted Orchids I can tell them apart because of their more vigorous growth and size.

        A tapestry of wild and garden flowers which attracted the bees

 A more vigorous orchid with the same colouring as the Common Spotted Orchid but the flower lips resemble a Marsh Orchid
    What's unusual about this orchid, its tuber is constantly under the surface of the pond.

               Four more Marsh Orchids that have appeared this year.

                                      A large vigorous Hybrid

              This Hybrid is growing happily in the stone alpine trough