The flora of North East England is remarkably diverse, and botanists in our region are thoroughly spoiled when it comes to opportunities for observing and enjoying wild plants.
This page brings together blogs from botanical excursions, alongside a growing collection of identification tips, articles, and assorted botanical titbits. Think of it as a convenient place for me to squirrel away useful information relating to the flora of Northumberland, Tyneside, and County Durham, while hopefully helping others explore the plants of the region along the way.
Latest botany blogs
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…
Love Grasses: Specialist Woodland Grasses
A closer look at some of Britain’s specialist woodland grasses, including key features and handy hacks to help identify them.
Year of Ferns: Scarcities & Surprises
Entry seven in my personal challenge to see as many of Britain’s ferns as possible in a single year, this…
Cupola Bridge, Stawardpeel & Briarwood Banks
A short account of a delightful botanical wander along the River Allen, from Cupola Bridge to Briarwood Banks.
Year of Ferns: Tackling Teesdale
Entry six in my personal challenge to see as many of Britain’s ferns as possible in a single year, this…
Year of Ferns: Adder’s-tongue
Entry five in my personal challenge to see as many of Britain’s ferns as possible in a single year, this…
Year of Ferns: Tunbridge Filmy-fern
Entry four in my personal challenge to see as many of Britain’s ferns as possible in a single year, this…
Urban Flora: Launch & Reflections
After more than five years of combing the streets of Newcastle, identifying plants and trying rather hard to piece together…
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Resources
Ferns
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been quietly undertaking a challenge to find and photograph as many fern species as possible across the UK; a project that has escalated from mild interest into full-blown fern obsession with alarming ease.
Here you’ll find a pictorial guide to the species I’ve encountered so far. At present, it is more of an evolving field companion than a definitive reference work.
Viola lutea
Plant Identification
I’ve recently launched a new series of beginner-friendly crib sheets aimed at helping fledgling botanists get to grips with a range of interesting plant families and groups. From ragworts to fleabanes and snowdrops, the guides are designed as accessible introductions to some of our more confusing plants.
Senecio squalidus
Urban Flora
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 urban areas in the UK.
My humble passion project is now available to purchase following the links below.
Acer platanoides
Newcastle Tree Walks
New for 2026, I’ve begun developing a series of accessible tree walks designed to help botanists, naturalists, and curious locals discover the remarkable diversity of trees growing on their doorstep.From familiar natives to unusual ornamentals, there’s lots to discover. More routes will be added very soon.
Botanical Hotspots
Lindisfarne
Epipactis sancta
A closer look at the fascinating flora of Holy Island, featuring some of the author’s favourite plants alongside a colourful selection of botanical highlights found across the island’s dunes, duneslacks, grasslands, and coastline.
Hareshaw Linn
Phegopteris connectilis
A closer look at the flora of the beautiful Hareshaw Linn waterfall, including the diverse ancient woodlands, rocky overhangs, and damp ravines that line its banks and create ideal habitat for a wide variety of plants and ferns.
Upper Teesdale
Gentiana verna
Exciting plants to be seen around Upper Teesdale, one of Britain’s premier botanical hotspots and home to an extraordinary assemblage of alpine and arctic-alpine flora, including exquisite gentians, scarce ferns, and other specialities.
Flora of the Northumberland Coast
Anacamptis pyramidalis
The Northumberland coast holds a wealth of fascinating botanical sites beyond Holy Island alone. From orchid-rich dunes and flower-filled grasslands to saltmarshes, strandline communities, and windswept cliff tops, there is something to discover throughout the year.
Flora of Allen Banks & Staward Gorge
Drymochloa sylvatica
The banks of the River Allen, a short distance from Haydon Bridge, support some of the finest ancient woodland in the county, home to scarce grasses, ferns, and a rich assemblage of ancient woodland indicator species.
Flora of the Cheviot Hills
Rhodiola rosea
The Cheviot Hills and their scattered corries offer a wealth of interest to visiting botanists, with some of the region’s most exciting plants tucked away on remote rocky scars, flushes, and beside fast-flowing mountain streams.
Comparing Plant ID Apps
With so many plant identification apps now available, it can be difficult to know where to turn when trying to name that particularly pesky plant. Here, I take a closer look at some of the most popular options to see which apps truly stand out as the best choices for beginner botanists.
Somewhat unexpectedly, this has become the most visited post on the blog by quite a margin. As a result, I’m pinning it here for anyone who may find it useful in their own botanical adventures and identification struggles.
Love Grasses
While it would have sounded slightly comical just a few short years ago, I seem to have developed a genuine fondness for grasses. Many are surprisingly beautiful, others reveal fascinating things about habitats and land use, and quite a few are badly overlooked by all but the most sleep-deprived botanists.
Feeling suitably inspired, I’ve begun a new series exploring the identification of the North East’s grasses. It may take a little while to grow into something substantial, but you’ll find the posts gathered here as the project develops.
Useful Contacts
The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) appoints recorders for each vice-county who are always delighted to receive records of both common and interesting plant species.
These are:
County Durham (VC 66): Keith Robson (krobsonvc66@gmail.com)
South Northumberland (VC 67): John Richards (hightreesgarden@btinternet.com) and Margaret Rogers (margaretrogers180@btinternet.com)
North Northumberland (VC 68): Chris Metherell (chris@metherell.org.uk) and James Common (jamesmcommon@gmail.com)