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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 23h

Our Philanthropy Officer, Bianca, encountered a Devil's coach-horse beetle in the middle of the path! 🦂 They are well known for curling up their abdomens like the tail of a scorpion when threatened, and emitting a foul-smelling substance from their abdomens.

A Devil's coach horse beetle on a path with its abdomen reared up.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

😮 A wall brown butterfly spotted at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre! While still a fairly common sight around the coast, it has declined significantly across many inland areas, and is very scarce in our three counties. This sighting is the first record for SCEEC! 📸 Charlotte Howe

A wall brown butterfly with orange and brown patterns, resting on a wooden perch.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

We’re hiring! 📣 Assistant Reserves Officer (East Berks) Join our Reserves Team and help nature recover across East Berkshire! You’ll support the management of our nature reserves, working alongside volunteers to deliver practical conservation work. Apply now: www.bbowt.org.uk/jobs/assista...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

👩‍🌾 Farmers can’t wait for systems and policies to change, and neither can farmland wildlife. Through our Nature Recovery Fund, we can support farmers and landowners across the three counties to create more space for nature. But we need your support too. 🐝

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

🐌 A snail living its best life! Snails don't get the best reputation, but they're key players in recycling nutrients, and they provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds and invertebrates. 📸 Jo Stephen

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

🦔 Have you spotted a hedgehog this year? Maybe in your garden, or perhaps dead on the road? Complete our quick survey so we can see where they’re living locally. 👉 Let us know here: buff.ly/k8Lr6Yg 📷 Tom Marshall

A hedgehog curled up in a ball on top of fallen autumnal leaves

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Ever stopped to think which fungi you resonate with the most?🍄 You might actually have more in common than you think, swipe to find out... Why not adventure out to spot your fungi twin this autumn? 🍄‍🟫

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

🦋 Three butterflies you may spot on sunnier days this month! However, as the weather starts to cool and the rain returns, we could be catching our last glimpses of butterflies until next spring. You can also look out for peacocks, brimstones and commas which all spend the winter as adults.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Our wonderful band of Upper Ray Meadows volunteers were still smiling after a hard day's work coppicing at Meadow Farm! 🌳 At Meadow Farm we coppice the hedgerows on rotation to create a mosaic of age structures, providing a wider range of habitats for species. 📸 Chloe Bradford

A group of seven volunteers stood by a fence and hedgerow, some with helmets and other protective clothing, smiling at the camera.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Fix water, and we will fix so much more. The Wildlife Trusts are calling for three key reforms: 💧 Local control of water through accountable regional leadership 💧 Water companies to be rewired around nature recovery outcomes 💧 Water to be recognised as critical national infrastructure

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Does this count as ultra-processed food? 🤔 🦦 Incredible scenes from Waterstock Local Wildlife Site as this kingfisher takes a break from its fresh-fish diet and attempts to eat an otter spraint! Thank you to our friend Henry Manisty for sharing his wonderful trail cam footage with us.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Our Volunteering Project Officer, Chloe, attended the Oxford Brookes Volunteer Fair last week to speak to students and hear what volunteering opportunities they would like to see! This will inform our Wilder Futures project and help us create more opportunities for young people to act for nature 🍃

Chloe sat at a stand with BBOWT branded tablecloth and banner. There is various information on the table, and the cafeteria can be seen in the background.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

🐝 Have you ever seen an ivy bee 'mating ball'? As the female bee emerges, she's immediately met with a lot of male attention as they all compete to mate with her! Following the frenzy, the successful pair will often fly off together, leaving the remaining males buzzing around for the next female.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

💛 Clouded yellow butterflies are still on the wing and brightening up our days, as Reserves Officer Chloe Bradford spotted them all over the Upper Ray Meadows earlier this week!

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

🍂 Join us for the BBOWT Celebration on Saturday 14 November at Didcot Civic Hall: buff.ly/C7QtFhj Look back over five years of nature recovery, discover our BIG vision for the future, and celebrate the achievements of our incredible volunteers.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

🍂 Join BBOWT for half-price today: bbowt.org.uk/membership-o... We've extended our offer until Sunday, so that you can join the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust from as little as £2.25 per month for a whole year!

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

These blue tits are making the most of the water supply at Watts Bank! Can you spot the odd one out? 🤔 💧 As the UK remains in drought, it's important to provide water for wildlife. Find out how you can help: www.bbowt.org.uk/actions/how-... 📸 Zoë Huggins, Reserves Officer

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🍄 October is the prime time of year to see fantastic fungi at BBOWT nature reserves. Some species boast vibrant colours - can you spot a full fungi rainbow this season? 👉 www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/logan-w...

Seven images of different fungi that make up the colours of the rainbow.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

☀️ The swift box has been painted white with a special solar-reflecting paint, and made to offer extra heat reflection and ventilation. In the current climate emergency, adaptation is a must! We're incedibly grateful, and stay tuned for more news on the campaign soon to come! 👀

A closer view of the swift box, with white paint and ventilation on the roof.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🪺 Nature heroes, Paul and Lynn in Tilehurst, have made these incredible house martin cups and swift boxes!

Paul and Lynn stood in a workshop area, while Paul holds up the artificial house martin cup nests.

Paul stands in a workshop area holding up a swift box, painted white.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🐑 Sheep on the run, summer scything and an encounter with a brown hairstreak butterfly. Read the latest blog from Finemere Wood by volunteer warden Charlotte Karmali 👇 bbowt.org.uk/blog/charlotte-karmali/ramblings-finemere-wood-81 📸 Tom Hibbert

The underside of a brown hairstreak butterfly perched on a leaf, with brown-orange wings on two white streaks.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

We’re hiring! 🌻 Community Organiser Join our team and help nature recover by working with communities around shared issues and interests. You’ll support people to come together, take meaningful action for nature, and create positive change that lasts. Apply now: www.bbowt.org.uk/jobs/communi...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

⚠️ We're screening The People's Emergency Briefing across our three counties. The People's Emergency Briefing is a film bringing together leading experts to explain what the latest science says about the climate and nature crisis and what can still be done.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🦋 Senior Ecologist Colin Williams spotted this aberrant form of the small copper butterfly (caeruleo-punctata) at Grangelands, which has a row of blue spots along its hindwing. Small coppers will soon be coming to the end of their flight season, but take a close look of any you see...

A small copper butterfly on the ground. Faded blue spots can be seen near the bottom of the hindwing, above the vibrant orange.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We’re hiring! 📣 Cafe Manager at College Lake Join our team at College Lake and help lead our café and catering operations. You’ll support our team and help create a welcoming experience for visitors through great food and excellent customer service. Apply now: www.bbowt.org.uk/jobs/cafe-ma...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We were grateful for the invitation to 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister's reception which thanked frontline workers for their response to this summer's extreme weather. Berkshire Senior Land Manager, Tom Hayward, represented BBOWT following the wildfire at Crookham Common last month.

Senior Berkshire Land Manager Tom Hayward, in a green BBOWT branded top, stood in front of the iconic 10 Downing Street door.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Welcome to autumn! 🍂 There are plenty of signs that the new has arrived, how many have you spotted already? 🍄 👉️ Follow the link to discover some seasonal wildlife www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reser...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

If you hear a piglet squealing near a reedbed, it's likely to be this bird! The water rail is a shy bird that lives in reedbeds and wetlands, hiding among the vegetation - it's heard more often than it's seen.

A water rail perched on top of a pile of reeds by water.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Volunteer Warden @mickdjones.bsky.social recently saw a family of spotted flycatchers at Dancersend! They have appeared in the same area of the extension for the third year running, living up to their name as they caught insects from the fenceline 🪰 This youngster was late following the others!

A young spotted flycatcher with buff breast and dark brown wings. It's perched on a wire fence.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Goat moth caterpillars are a scarce species, and they spend several winters as larvae before they finally pupate. They live inside the trunks of trees, feeding on the wood 🌳 Our Community Organiser, Barbara Polonara, rescued this stunner from drowning in her bird bath!

A goat moth caterpillar surrounded by brown leaves. It has orangey flanks with a deep red stripe along the top of its body.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🐟️ This kingfisher gave the trail camera a good view of its meal prep! Kingfishers will often bash their catch against their perch a few times to break its bones, allowing them to swallow it safely. (Please note these are two separate videos)

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Our Head of Finance, Rachel Powell, captured these fantastic pictures of a convolvulus hawk-moth on her tobacco plants. It has an especially long proboscis (the feeding tube) which means it's able to feed on nectar deep within tubular flowers that other moths can't reach!

The convolvulus hawk-moth which grey-brown wings and striped pink-and-black back. It is photographed at night using flash, hovering over tobacco plants with its long proboscis extended downwards.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

🌼 Grass-of-parnassus isn't actually a grass, instead getting its common name from the translucent green stripes that adorn the white petals of its cup-shaped flower.

A Grass-of-parnassus flower, with white petals and translucent green stripes.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

👀 The early bird might struggle with this one! Our incredible volunteer, Ash, created this giant worm for children to feed leaves to at our worm-themed Nature Tots 🪱 Thank you, Ash!

A volunteer stood in a garden holding a giant model earth worm and smiling at the camera.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Thank you to our supporter, Rob Calcutt, for sending us this stunning capture of a kingfisher taken at Gallows Bridge Farm! One of the UK's most striking birds, the kingfisher can sometimes be spotted sitting quietly on low-hanging branches over the water, tilting its head as it searches for prey 🐟️

A kingfisher with vibrant azure and orange plumage, perched on a branch against a blurred green background.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

🦉 Thank you to everyone who thought of us this Remember a Charity Week. Since 1959 we have been working hard to protect local wild spaces for everyone in our three counties, and there is so much more to do. 👉 Find out more: visit bbowt.org.uk/support-us/g...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Over nearly three years, we will work together to restore and enhance fen habitats, create new breeding areas, undertake specialist surveys, and deepen scientific understanding of these rare insects and the habitats they depend on. 📷 Brian Eversham

A southern damselfly with blue and black stripes hanging from a leaf

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Choose the Wild Life in your will 🦋 Our wild places are precious – from chalkhill blues fluttering across restored grasslands, to the bubbling song of the curlew in flower-rich floodplain meadows. 👉 Find out more: visit www.bbowt.org.uk/support-us/g...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

🐍 Incredible footage of a grass snake at Warburg Nature Reserve taken by Warden Hugh Weldon! Grass snakes are our longest snakes and can grow up to 150cm! They're particularly fond of wetlands, but can also be found in other habitats, especially those with a pond nearby 🐸

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

📣 This is your final week to nominate an individual or group for our Volunteer Awards! Please nominate volunteers who work on BBOWT sites, supporting work behind the scenes, or taking action for nature in their local community. 👉 Click here to nominate: buff.ly/ggcQqq7

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

🍂 Celebrate the changing seasons by joining the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust today from as little as £2.25 per month for a whole year: bbowt.org.uk/membership-o...

BBOWT membership materials set against an autumnal backdrop with bullfinch and fungi.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

💙 The Adonis blue is a stunning butterfly found in southern England. They can be told apart from other blue butterflies by the male's vibrant blue wings, and the fine black lines which extend into the fringes. This beauty was spotted at Aston Clinton Ragpits by volunteer Warden Phil Townsend.

Male Adonis blue butterfly with vibrant blue wings, perched on a leaf.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

September is here, and there’s plenty to spot! 👀 From giant puffballs to jays stocking up on acorns, keep your eyes peeled for all the wildlife whilst you’re out this month! 🐝 👉 Discover more wildlife this September: bbowt.org.uk/blog/logan-walker/wildlife-find-september

Text: wildlife to spot in September: Daubenton’s bat, Jay, Giant puffball, Hobby, Ivy bee
Images of a Daubenton’s bat flying, a jay with an acorn in its beak, 2 giant puffballs, an ivy bee on a flower, and a Hobby staring down from a branch

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

🦋 "Where wildlife flourished in the past, it will do so again, if enough people want to make a difference." ~ BBOWT President, Steve Backshall 👉 Find out more: visit bbowt.org.uk/support-us/g...

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

⚠️ Years of progress destroyed overnight at adder tunnels – can you help? The fire at Crookham Common has destroyed the habitat on one side of our adder tunnels – a pioneering project to encourage two populations of adders to move freely, mix and breed, as Land Manager Julian Cooper explains.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The swallows were recently flocking together at Greenham Common ahead of their long journey to Africa! 📸 Rob Cooke

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

You may have spotted hummingbird hawk-moths hovering around in recent months, but it's rarer to see them stationary! This iconic moth paid a visit to Assistant Ecologist Lou's house. She caught it in a glass where it immediately played dead, and placed it on red valerian flowers before it flew off.

A hummingbird hawk-moth stationary on top of red valerian flowers.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

A scary sight for an ecologist 👀 The chalk grassland flora on our nature reserves in the Chilterns have suffered during this summer’s drought. On a recent visit to Grangelands, Senior Ecologist Colin Williams found a relatively lush and green patch of Tor Grass (Chalk False Brome).

A vibrant yellow-green patch of tor grass among the dried grass and other vegetation. In the background is a rough path and a section of woodland.

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This summer has seen a full house of swifts at Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre! Community Organiser and resident swift advocate, Barbara Polonara, shows us the gifts they leave behind... 🐣 👉 Find out how you can build a swift box: bbowt.org.uk/actions/how-build-swift-box

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Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust @bbowt.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We’re looking for a proactive Café Manager to lead and be hands-on across our café and catering operations. ☕ You’ll drive profitability, develop our team, champion customer satisfaction, and ensure the highest standards of compliance. Apply now: www.bbowt.org.uk/jobs/cafe-ma...

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