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Dactylorhiza x kerneriorum on Holy Island
A short account of a convincing encounter with Dactylorhiza × kerneriorum on Holy Island.
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Looking Closer at Lolium
A closer look at two Lolium (Rye-grass) species and their suspected hybrid found growing in an unassuming Newcastle park.
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Year of Ferns: Special Ferns
Entry eight in my personal challenge to see as many of Britain’s ferns as possible in a single year, this week trips to various interesting…
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Flora of Allen Banks & Staward Gorge
The ancient woodland lining the banks of the River Allen in Northumberland provides one of the region’s richest habitats for woodland plants and ferns. From…
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Limestone Pavement Plants at Great Asby Scar
A short account of visit to the limestone pavements of Great Asby Scar National Nature Reserve, complete with specialised plants and ferns.
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Newcastle Tree Walks: Armstrong Park & Benton Bank
Discover the fascinating trees of Armstrong Park on a guided walk through another of Newcastle’s beautiful green spaces. From ancient pears and towering beeches to…
Botany in the North East
An amalgamation of botanical blog posts, identification crib sheets, special interest pages, and assorted useful information, all centred around the wonderfully diverse plant life of North East England.
Ladybirds
Helpful articles, species profiles, and assorted titbits focused on our surprisingly diverse ladybird fauna, a relatively recent obsession of mine that, unfortunately for my free time, shows no signs of fading.
British Ferns & Clubmosses
A gradually growing library of ferns and fern allies photographed during my ongoing quest to find and enjoy Britain’s pteridophytes, alongside the occasional trip report and identification ramble. Quite unapologetically, my favourite subject of all.
Urban Flora of Newcastle
The Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside is the first comprehensive account of the wild plants growing across the Newcastle and North Tyneside conurbation, one of the largest in the UK.
Published with the generous support of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), it is essential reading for botanists, ecologists, conservationists and anyone curious about the surprising richness of nature in Newcastle and urban areas more generally.
Training & Tours
Through my role as Senior Naturalist with the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), I am lucky to spend much of my time outdoors leading trips, training sessions and guided walks for all manner of groups.
From field trips in search of ferns and orchids to multi-week courses on grasses, ancient woodlands and beginner plant identification, if you are interested in collaborating, please get in touch.
Meet James
I’m a botanist, naturalist and biological recorder based in North East England, with a particular interest in the plants and flora of the region. I’m a BSBI Recorder and Ouse Burn Naturalist at the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), where I work with local communities to explore, record and celebrate the wildlife around them.
I’m also the author of Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside, a comprehensive account of the wild plants found across the region’s urban landscape.
When I’m not recording plants, I’m usually out looking for ferns, exploring new places or getting distracted by something else that catches my eye.
