CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

This is Ashes quarry, a former limestone quarry near Stanhope in Weardale that is now a wonderful nature reserve. The quarry floor is parti...

We spent a fascinating afternoon recently watching dragonfly behaviour at Ashes quarry at Stanhope in Weardale. The mos...

Back in the autumn of 2013 the local hedgerows were laden with berries but now most of those have been taken by members of the thrush family...

This attractive little plant growing on the walls of Stanhope Castle in Weardale is fairy foxglove Erinus alpinus , a native of Cent...

We found this exquisite little cup fungus when we were out walking beside Shittlehope burn near Stanhope in Weardale at the weekend. It...

In late winter this is a common sight in the northern Pennine dales: muir burning -burning away patches of old, woody heather. ...

We found some very fine specimens of dog lichen Peltigera sp. when we were out  walking at Shittlehope Burn at Stanhope in Wea...

In winter, it's the smaller things that tend to capture your attention on country walks - like, for example, this miniature garden o...

This is Philopotamus montanus , aka the dark-spotted sedge, a caddis fly that we found on this morning's walk along Shittlehope burn, ...