One morning in a little park beside a busy road in South Bristol, a ladybird crawled along the edge of a boy’s ear. He laughed as the beetle’s legs tickled his skin. A picnic blanket beneath his knees was strewn with clear plastic pots and picture guides to insects and spiders. This was a gatheringContinue reading “We’re going on a bug hunt”
Category Archives: Blog
Lacewebs, ant-mimics, false widows and more: learning how to spot a spider
I love spiders, and I want to get to know them better. But they often move fast, and it can be tricky to uncover their hiding places, let alone get a close look at them. On a spider discovery day at Arnos Vale in Bristol, I learned some great techniques for spider-spotting, and found some beautiful spiders too.
A thousand tiny helpers: our lasagne mulching project begins
We are mulching down a patch of grass in the garden, and we meet a thousand little creatures along the way who are doing the real hard work.
From envy to joy via despair: strong feelings about caterpillars (and ragwort)
The cinnabar caterpillars have run out of food again – but this time I’m fighting the urge to interfere.
Shield bugs, ladybugs, and baby bugs too
As I try to tame a fast growing willow, I’m learning about the remarkable lifecycles of some of the creatures in its branches: the green shield bug and the ladybird.
Moths and more: Bristol’s insect networks, and you
At a recent Insect Day in Bristol I discovered the value of nature networks in Bristol – for people and wildlife.
A determination of caterpillars
The cinnabar caterpillars have overpopulated, their only food is running out… but there’s a patch of hope around the corner.
The beauty of spiders
I’ve been discovering just how varied British spiders are, appreciating the skills of an orbweaver in our kitchen – and deciding not to tempt out the aggressive green-fanged spider living in our shed door.
The mysterious mega aphids
Some strange insects began huddling on the bark of our fast-growing willow branches. The grass beneath the tree was turning black. What was going on?
Born to bee wild: our native bees could use a helping hand
We often hear about honeybees. But while these fascinating, communal insects have a vital role to play in pollination, there are dozens of other bee species away from the headlines who need our attention. And there are simple ways we can help them.
small world 