Big Meadow Search
@bigmeadowsearch.bsky.social
UK project to raise awareness and interest in plants, highlighting species interactions (plants and inverts, galls, fungi etc) & encouraging plant recording during the Big Meadow Search (1st June-31st Aug). All welcome #nature #plants bigmeadowsearch.co.uk
#wildflowerhour folk, I have just looked at the flowering time stated in my 1972 Keble Martin, The Concise British Flora and that also says May-Aug. I wonder if it will say the same in another 53 years?
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
December 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
#wildflowerhour folk, I have just looked at the flowering time stated in my 1972 Keble Martin, The Concise British Flora and that also says May-Aug. I wonder if it will say the same in another 53 years?
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
December 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
For #wildflowerhour this week it is a Heath Speedwell that hasn’t read Harrap’s Wild Flowers. Out of interest, are the flowering periods mentioned in books getting adjusted in new editions with climate changes 🤔
Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga. Up to 60cm. Patch-forming. Hairless. Fleshy leaves and stems. Roots at the stem nodes. Leaves opposite, short-stalked and with shallow, blunt teeth
December 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga. Up to 60cm. Patch-forming. Hairless. Fleshy leaves and stems. Roots at the stem nodes. Leaves opposite, short-stalked and with shallow, blunt teeth
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
The British Lichen Society photo competition is open to all. The themes this year are ‘Under the microscope’ and ‘The bigger picture’. Find the full details at the bottom of our AGM Weekend page. Judging will take place by popular vote during this event. britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
December 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The British Lichen Society photo competition is open to all. The themes this year are ‘Under the microscope’ and ‘The bigger picture’. Find the full details at the bottom of our AGM Weekend page. Judging will take place by popular vote during this event. britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
I mentioned ‘elastic stele’ in my earlier post. Below is definition & video to demonstrate (Video shows it on Bog Stitchwort).
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
December 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I mentioned ‘elastic stele’ in my earlier post. Below is definition & video to demonstrate (Video shows it on Bog Stitchwort).
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Stele: the central core of the stem containing the vascular system (xylem and phloem).
From the Greek ‘stele’ for pillar.
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Mat forming. Evergreen. Hairy stem and sparsely hairy leaves. Opposite pairs of short-stalked rounded leaves up to 20mm. Up to 7 blunt teeth per leaf edge. Channelled petiole. Elastic stele
December 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Mat forming. Evergreen. Hairy stem and sparsely hairy leaves. Opposite pairs of short-stalked rounded leaves up to 20mm. Up to 7 blunt teeth per leaf edge. Channelled petiole. Elastic stele
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis. Basal rosette: Hairy, stalked, toothed leaves up to 15cm long. Large terminal leaf lobe and 1-3 pairs of smaller lateral lobes
December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis. Basal rosette: Hairy, stalked, toothed leaves up to 15cm long. Large terminal leaf lobe and 1-3 pairs of smaller lateral lobes
Malva arborea – December 1st 2025 – Tree Mallow
Tree Mallow but not really a tree
botsoc.scot
December 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Stuck for Christmas gift ideas…. how about a Big Meadow Search book? 🤔😉🤓
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Stuck for Christmas gift ideas…. how about a Big Meadow Search book? 🤔😉🤓
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
2 volumes compiled from the project’s social media posts. Bk: 1 covers grassland indicator species with a range of associated species whilst Bk 2 has >200 different species, again with associated species
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
Window now open to apply for a BSBI grant for 2025!
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
December 1, 2024 at 6:50 PM
Window now open to apply for a BSBI grant for 2025!
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
We offer grants for short #WildFlowerID courses (our online course Identiplant & courses from external providers), for Plant Study & Research.
Our Grants page also lists other grants that we think might be of interest to botanists:
bsbi.org/grants
Cleavers, Galium aparine. Leaves in whorls of 6-8. Bristly hairs above. Prickles (can be strongly curved) below. Stems up to 3mm wide, retrorsely scabrid (rough hairs curved back or down) on stem angles.
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Cleavers, Galium aparine. Leaves in whorls of 6-8. Bristly hairs above. Prickles (can be strongly curved) below. Stems up to 3mm wide, retrorsely scabrid (rough hairs curved back or down) on stem angles.
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg. 5-angled stem (most noticeable when young). Leaves have 3-7 leaflets measuring 4-12cm with serrated margin. Hairy (often lost in older plants)
December 3, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg. 5-angled stem (most noticeable when young). Leaves have 3-7 leaflets measuring 4-12cm with serrated margin. Hairy (often lost in older plants)
Daisy, Bellis perennis. Basal leaves only. Sparsely hairy, crenate leaf margin, typically with 4-5 teeth per side. Midrib raised below. Petioles winged.
December 2, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Daisy, Bellis perennis. Basal leaves only. Sparsely hairy, crenate leaf margin, typically with 4-5 teeth per side. Midrib raised below. Petioles winged.
Here we go with the first vegetative ID species tips for December:
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Here we go with the first vegetative ID species tips for December:
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. Strong smell when rubbed. Hairy. Leaves deeply cut into 3-5 leaflets each of which is also deeply cut. Red-tipped glandular hairs on leaf stalks
It’s a hardy Common Knapweed from frosty Carmarthenshire for this week’s #wildflowerhour
November 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
It’s a hardy Common Knapweed from frosty Carmarthenshire for this week’s #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
Paul’s tips for promoting botanical education: 1 Make it enjoyable 2 Make it intellectually stimulating 3 Field work 4 Communicate widely.
“Guerrilla Botany” - putting field and botany modules into university courses. The #BIBConf25 kicking off to an exciting start with @bsbibotany.bsky.social President Paul Ashton on the role of botany in the 21st Century.
November 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Paul’s tips for promoting botanical education: 1 Make it enjoyable 2 Make it intellectually stimulating 3 Field work 4 Communicate widely.
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
#WildMarsh is looking for collaborators & field sites!
We’re prepping a Europe-wide study for spring/summer 2026 to explore how trophic #rewilding influences #saltmarsh resilience.
Let us know about salt marsh areas with large grazers, e.g. water buffalo, deer, moose, wild boar, cattle, sheep,etc.
We’re prepping a Europe-wide study for spring/summer 2026 to explore how trophic #rewilding influences #saltmarsh resilience.
Let us know about salt marsh areas with large grazers, e.g. water buffalo, deer, moose, wild boar, cattle, sheep,etc.
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
#WildMarsh is looking for collaborators & field sites!
We’re prepping a Europe-wide study for spring/summer 2026 to explore how trophic #rewilding influences #saltmarsh resilience.
Let us know about salt marsh areas with large grazers, e.g. water buffalo, deer, moose, wild boar, cattle, sheep,etc.
We’re prepping a Europe-wide study for spring/summer 2026 to explore how trophic #rewilding influences #saltmarsh resilience.
Let us know about salt marsh areas with large grazers, e.g. water buffalo, deer, moose, wild boar, cattle, sheep,etc.
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
🎓 Black Friday 50% OFF alert! Learn UK invertebrate ID & practical ecology online 🐝🪲
All entoLEARN & Skills For Ecology courses discounted. Use
BLACKFRIDAY3 before 30 Nov!
Courses: courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/collections/...
All entoLEARN & Skills For Ecology courses discounted. Use
BLACKFRIDAY3 before 30 Nov!
Courses: courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/collections/...
November 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
🎓 Black Friday 50% OFF alert! Learn UK invertebrate ID & practical ecology online 🐝🪲
All entoLEARN & Skills For Ecology courses discounted. Use
BLACKFRIDAY3 before 30 Nov!
Courses: courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/collections/...
All entoLEARN & Skills For Ecology courses discounted. Use
BLACKFRIDAY3 before 30 Nov!
Courses: courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/collections/...
To keep momentum going and to stop our botanical brains from seizing up over the winter, I shall be posting a series of vegetative ID posts through December and January.
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
To keep momentum going and to stop our botanical brains from seizing up over the winter, I shall be posting a series of vegetative ID posts through December and January.
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
A paper that shakes up what we learnt at school
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A paper that shakes up what we learnt at school
‘The Fenland Flora- survival against the odds’ webinar from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is now available to view
m.youtube.com/watch?v=8fV0...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=8fV0...
The Fenland Flora – survival against the odds
YouTube video by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
‘The Fenland Flora- survival against the odds’ webinar from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is now available to view
m.youtube.com/watch?v=8fV0...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=8fV0...
Yet more depressing news on the state of our species in a new report from Natural Resources Wales.
Link to report in comments
Link to report in comments
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Yet more depressing news on the state of our species in a new report from Natural Resources Wales.
Link to report in comments
Link to report in comments
November 25, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Big Meadow Search
🟥 New paper out 🟥
Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity.
With an amazing team: @valentinecology.bsky.social @davide-andreatta.bsky.social @foxnat.bsky.social & Franzi
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity.
With an amazing team: @valentinecology.bsky.social @davide-andreatta.bsky.social @foxnat.bsky.social & Franzi
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity
Temperate grasslands provide various cultural ecosystem services that are appreciated in diverse ways. Capturing these diverse appreciations requires …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
🟥 New paper out 🟥
Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity.
With an amazing team: @valentinecology.bsky.social @davide-andreatta.bsky.social @foxnat.bsky.social & Franzi
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity.
With an amazing team: @valentinecology.bsky.social @davide-andreatta.bsky.social @foxnat.bsky.social & Franzi
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I left it a bit late to find a flowering plant for tonight’s #wildflowerhour but in so doing, I have ended up taking a close look at a Lady’s-mantle flowers for the first time
November 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I left it a bit late to find a flowering plant for tonight’s #wildflowerhour but in so doing, I have ended up taking a close look at a Lady’s-mantle flowers for the first time