Notes and observations on botany in the North East. From urban weeds to elusive orchids, we’ll explore it all.
Botany in the Nort East
By now, you’ll no doubt know that I am slightly obsessed with our wild plants.
As a BSBI Vice-County Recorder and as someone who loves nothing more than spending time among flowers, much of my spare time is dedicated to botany.
Whether we’re talking urban weeds or elusive orchids, this page brings together my observations on flora in the North East. I hope you’ll find something here to interest you.
Latest botany blogs
10 Coastal Plants Colonising the City
Take a closer look at the coastal plants or halophytes spreading along roadsides to colonise the city. The term ‘halophyte’ refers to a plant tolerant of higher than usual salt…
10 Urban Plants on the Rise in Newcastle
Just for fun, take a quick look at 10 urban plants currently on the increase across Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Our urban habitats are dynamic ones and when it comes to wildlife, things…
An Encounter with Lady Clermont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x clermontiae)
A quick account of an overdue run-in with a Northumbrian speciality – Asplenium x clermontiae Now, I am rather dreadful at ferns and for a while now have been trying…
Identifying Crocuses
Get started identifying the wild and naturalised snowdrops you’re most likely to spot in a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
An Urban Flora of Newcastle – One Year On
A project update following a busy old year surveying the urban flora of Newcastle.
Identifying Cotoneasters
Get started identifying the naturalised cotoneasters likely to be recorded in Northumberland and several others that may occur in the future.
Plant Identification
I’ve launched a new series of beginner-friendly crib sheets to help fledgling botanists get to grips with a host of interesting plant families and groups.
From ragworts to fleabanes and snowdrops, all cribs can be downloaded for free using the link below.
Cotoneasters
Over the last few learns, I seem to have vanished down a rabbit hole when it comes to the UK’s naturalised cotoneasters. Attractive, increasingly numerous and incredibly diverse, I find them to be an extremely interesting group of plants.
These pages are intended as an outlet for this burgeoning interest and as a resource for anyone else interested in this group.
Newcastle’s Urban Flora
We all have our interests and for me, it is our urban plants that fascinate me most.
Currently, I am recording with the aim of producing an ‘Urban Flora’ of Newcastle. See below for updates.
Comparing Plant ID Apps
With so many plant apps out there to choose from, just where do you turn when trying to identify a troublesome plant?
Recently, I took a closer look at several plant ID apps to see which came out on top.
I’m a botanist, I guess…
I’m not sure how it happened, but I certainly never planned to head down the botanical rabbit hole.
I have always loved plants, sure, though much of my wildlife recording focused on birds and insects. Fast forward a few years and I seldom look at these, forever looking down as opposed to up.
Learning as I go, much of my time is now dedicated to plants: as a BSBI Vice-County Recorder for North Northumberland and iRecord verifier for South Northumberland, and in my day job.
Okay, so perhaps I am a botanist. Albeit one with lots to learn as we continue exploring botany in the North East.
