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Lord Armstrong and the Exotic Plants of Jesmond Dene
Jesmond Dene is a fascinating place. Here we explore some of the exotic plants found within and their relationship with Lord Armstrong.
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Wildflowers in Winter: The New Year Plant Hunt 2025
As is customary at year’s end, much of my time over the last week was spent darting about the local area plant hunting as part…
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Exploring North East Nature in 2024
A look back at a varied and exciting 2024, both here on Common By Nature and while searching for wildlife across the wider North East.
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A Guide to Cotoneasters in Newcastle and North Tyneside
A cotoneaster guide and atlas covering the species recorded so far in parts of urban Newcastle and North Tyneside.
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Comparing Insect ID Apps for Budding Entomologists
With so many insect apps out there to choose from, just where do you turn when trying to identify a confusing critter?
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Identifying Oxalis
Get started identifying the widespread Oxalis you are most likely encounter in a new, simplified crib.
Current Fascinations
By my own admission, I am prone to falling down rabbit holes from time to time. Typically, this involves deep-diving into a particular subject and learning as much as possible before, inevitably, another topic comes along to take its place. Regardless, below you’ll find my current areas of interest…
Botanical Bits
Botany is my main interest, and whether it’s ferns, snowdrops, grasses, ancient woodland plants, or even humble pavement weeds, I try to spend as much time as possible seeking out our wild plants.
North East Botany
Here you’ll find musings on plant identification, trip reports, sightings from walks and courses and just about anything else relating to botany in North East England.
Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside
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.
Based on six years of fieldwork, the book documents more than 1,120 native and naturalised plants -around a third of Britain’s entire flora.
Meet James
Born and raised in North East England, James is a botanist, general naturalist and biological recorder with a passion for sharing the joys of North East nature with others.
He currently works as Senior Naturalist for the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) and volunteers as a vice-county recorder for the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), both of which allow him to spend ample time outdoors leading trips, courses, surveys and guided walks.
