My Flickr
More Photos
Author Archives: Sophie
Bluebell time!
Bluebell carpets are a classic sign of spring in the UK, so here’s mine, in White Downs, a few miles East of Guildford : Now, for the botany, bluebells, which were once part of the same family as hyacinths, grape … Continue reading
Posted in Nature wanders
Tagged bluebells, coppicing, genetic diversity, hybrid, spring, woodland
8 Comments
How much biodiversity on a roadside?
I have been obsessed by roadbanks and escarpments since travelling to South-East Asia. Walking in the rainforest, you can’t help but be amazed by the diversity of plants, invertebrates, birds, and mosses living on these slopes. Here in Mount Kinabalu, … Continue reading
Posted in Nature wanders
Tagged bees, biodiversity, guildford, indicator plants, nature, plants, roadside, species richness, surrey
4 Comments
Heathland awakening
Last week-end was warm and sunny, a good opportunity for a walk in a heathland reserve a few miles away from Guildford. Whitmoor Common is a huge -183 hectares- reserve maintained by Surrey Wildlife Trust, which comprises moor, dry heathland, … Continue reading
Posted in Nature wanders
Tagged guildford, heather, heathland, moor, mosses, nature, pond, surrey, whitmoor common, woodland
9 Comments
An after work stroll at Pucks Oak orchard
On Tuesday, the sun finally decided to shine again on Surrey, a perfect opportunity to discover a new reserve, only 10 minutes from my workplace. Meet Pucks Oak Orchard, a traditional orchard that has been restored. It forms part of … Continue reading
Waiting for spring…
March had all well begun, with lovely days of sunshine and soothing temperatures. In the gardens, crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils were blossoming, and birds singing loudly. But it was too good to last – Spring is supposed to be here, and … Continue reading
Posted in Nature wanders
Tagged chalk grassland, guildford, newland's corner, surrey, surrey hills, winter
1 Comment
The fascinating world of butterflies on display
This month at Wisley, the RHS has organized an event called “Butterflies in the Glasshouse“. If you have the courage to brave the queues and noisy children (or if you have the chance to visit it on weekdays!), this is a … Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Gardens
Tagged butterflies, conservation, ecology, exhibition, greenhouse, moths, rhs, tropics, wisley
3 Comments
How do bats cross a motorway? – the results!
I hope the plant enthusiasts among you won’t be too disappointed – in this article I’m talking animals, and more precisely bats! Some of you might remember an article I posted in June last year, about a specific bat survey … Continue reading
A garden in winter : worthy or worthless ?
Winter has come. Plants die, days are short and gloomy, everyone is supposed to hide under blankets watching some old movie on TV. Many gardens close : after all, who would like to brave the cold to see dead flower … Continue reading
A pool of mystery…
Some say it is a sacred site that was used by druid for ritual offerings. Some say the famous author Agatha Christie visited the surroundings during her mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926. Some say the ghost of a drowned maiden … Continue reading
Posted in Nature wanders
Tagged albury, fern, guildford, invasive, legend, north downs, pond, pygmyweed, silent pool, spring, surrey, surrey wildlife trust, vineyard
6 Comments
Behind the scenes at Kew Gardens…
No need to introduce Kew Gardens, this 121 hectare estate in the middle of London, home to the world’s largest collection of living plants and producing the finest botanical research! When I read about a “Tropical Nursery Event”, that would … Continue reading
Posted in Actions, Nature wanders
Tagged biodiversity, botany, conservation, event, greenhouses, kew gardens, london, tropical nursery
3 Comments
