iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

How about it @sheffieldcouncil.bsky.social ? And allowing people to suggest locations for new street trees too?

Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I've been by the seaside on the Moray coast, and found lots of seaside plants for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social Sand Sedge in dunes, Grass-leaved Orache in the transition between dunes and salt marsh, and Intermediate Polypody on rocks near the sea. @bsbiscotland.bsky.social Back inland for me now

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I don't get to the coast often, so lots of things I find are new to me. Here on salt marsh in the estuary at Findhorn. Salt-marsh Rush in it's namesake place, Seaside Centaury and Seaside Arrow grass also new to me. I've had to check even common things, as there is often a seaside equivalent.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

My botanical finds on the Moray coast continue. Many things I know already, and a few things new to me. Investigating new places, and habitats you don't usually go to can be quite rewarding. Doesn't everyone plan their holiday to include plants? @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I always seem to spend hours when I find a dune/salt marsh (as none in South Yorkshire!). These dunes along from Lossiemouth were interesting. Here Sea-rocket, Sea-aster, and the not so welcome Japanese Rose. I was forced to stop botanising and play cricket on the sand 🤪 @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

It must be the summer holidays, as I got my lads to collect some bilberries for a pie. Sadly they lost interest (I picked most of them) I spent many a summer day as a child on the moors collecting bilberries. So it seems only right to pass of the tradition to my children @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I've enjoyed looking at bog pools at Kingsdale head farm, another YPP restoration site. Sadly for humans these pools are perfect for larval stages of midges! (And then clouds of midges above the water on windless days). But these are great food for dragonflies and other predatory species.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

My record is probably from one of the Malaise trapping sessions I've done (and mostly sent away for DNA work, rather than morphological ID). Most recently via the Bioscan project with @sangerinstitute.bsky.social I think it's going to be a year when many things are moving north.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

A few finds from the @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social meeting to Conisborough Viaduct Tip yesterday The best find was a new location for Tufted Loosestrife (it doesn't look like wild ones, so may originally be from garden plants), 6-belted Clearwing, Wild Basil and loads of Pyramidal Orchids

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

I look after a couple of sites on the edge of Doncaster, Potteric Carr and Carr Lodge, that are adjacent to one another. They have 6 species recorded in recent years. Mostly in ponds (often temp ponds) but also shallow lakes.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Also what Chara work are you doing? I have some South Yorkshire sites if you need any locations or specimens

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Yes at least 2 chara species, but I didn't ID. At Cothill Fen

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I had a great visit to Oxford today (if long with the driving). David from @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social was showing us some great fens: excellent inspiration for some Yorkshire fens! And @judywebb.bsky.social showing us how to look for soldierflies. Sometimes I have to remember I'm a lucky boy

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

I don't know what drew me this little bit of water on Thorne moor today, but closer inspection showed Bladderwort flowers poking up above the water. Below are the 'bladders' that trap small prey to consume.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I walked straight past this, even though I knew where it was. So had to double back and check. It's Marsh Pea, a rare species in Yorkshire (and scarce in the UK), and was reintroduced after a gap of a couple of hundred of years to Potteric Carr near Doncaster. A happy plant scrambling up a reed.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Just looking at a couple of specimens, might this be Reed Yellow-faced Bee? Looking on BWARS it looks like it might be a new colonist! Both for the site, and Yorkshire (?). bwars.com/bee/colletid...

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I led a @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social meeting to @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Potteric Carr yesterday. Primarily looking for invertebrates, but it was a bit windy, so not ideal. Still found a few things like this 6-belted Clearwing moth. And a few plants like this Fen Pondweed and Yellow Loosestrife.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I thought as much, I am going to keep an eye out for this species this year. As it's not common round me.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Does the Marsh Stitchwort grow in the sward of the main grassland communities? Or in wetter bits (ditch edges etc)?

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Although I sometimes say I don't like people (more properly I don't really like loud busy places), I was being sociable and teaching some @yorkswildlife.bsky.social volunteers to identify plants using a key today at Potteric Carr. I forgot to take many pics! So here's a Field Forget-me-not we found

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Thanks. I haven't checked if on priority habitat map or if LWS yet, but will do. One of the others with us who visited is from Plantlife and planning on taking seed for Millennium Seed Bank. In future years I'll hopefully take some for seeding sites/growing plug plants. Owner is amenable 🙂

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Also things like Spring Sedge, Rare Spring Sedge, Hounds Tongue and Pale St John's wort. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I visited a new site today, above the Went, in Wakefield district. Lots of interesting plants, butterflies and birds. But lacking enough management to keep the rare plants in the long term. Also near one of the nature reserves I manage I just need to work out the best way to help the landowner now

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I had heard that younger people are turning to bird watching. Albeit with apps like Merlin to guide them (but I can't judge, I also use Merlin, iRecord etc). But birding is often the gateway drug into better natural history like entomology and botany. 🤪

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

It's just a marketing scam, it's run by a company that also sells the drugs they allow people to use. It definitely should only be getting negative press, if any at all, and come with warnings that the drugs they are promoting are unsafe and not properly regulated.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I found it in a limestone pasture without an obvious way for it to be introduced, I presumed from bird seed.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I've seen a few Alliums on the TV coverage of RHS Chelsea flower show, and I do love a garden. But nothing beats being in a local woodland that are full of our native Allium ursinum (Wild Garlic) at the moment. @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

White starry flowers of wild garlic by a stream in woodland

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

I was searching for Scarce Vapourer moth larvae at @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Potteric earlier in the week. I took this sawfly home to identify. It has lovely furry antennae. The iRecord app said Arge ustulata, but I checked with a book and microscope, as the app is not always right.

Black shiny body, and yellowish wings with dark smudge of Arge ustulata

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Sometimes you need to look very closely to be able to ID things confidently (and often taking it home to look at under a microscope, eg for forked mandibles).

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Yesterday I was out looking for Scarce Vapourer moth larvae, visual searching and beating vegetation (to try and dislodge larvae onto the tray). No luck. But I did find a few other things; a sawfly (Strongylogaster multifasciata?), Forked-jaw Nomad bee, and 14-spot Ladybird. Crowle moor, Lincs

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The silvery hairs on the leaves of this White Willow catch the light at times, presumably giving it it's name. Same leaves in both photos, but one pic is catching the light just right. In the floodplain by the river Went at Brockadale nature reserve @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The few examples of large solar farms I'm aware of in South Yorkshire have been on arable land, not on low productivity land. I'm not saying it's a problem, more than given a choice less steep and low biodiversity (for BNG rules) land seems to be preferred. Perhaps the food debate won't go away

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

This Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris, was shining brightly in the sunshine earlier in the week (no sun today) at @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Potteric Carr. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour #buttercups

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Grassland with scattered scrub, rather than a thing of it's own. The small scale of this didn't lend itself to mapping until recently and advent of Google maps, cheap GPS etc. (things that came after the NVC and most SSSIs)

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Yes, like what in German is called saum. Eg limestone grassland-scrub transition. But also the communities are broad compared to the coverage for grassland. The most diverse bits (for plants at least) is the bit of scrub that isn't closed canopy, and would then probably mapped as

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

The other side to this is transitional habitat wasn't/still isn't as well recognised as the states before and after (a large exception being reedbed as transition from open water to wet woodland). So some people didn't think it as worthy as good quality limestone grassland etc

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Part of the problem is that the NVC doesn't fully cover scrub and other transitional habitats. And for habitat based features (eg grassland, scrub) they are more easily defined if mapped. But if the map doesn't show scrub properly it can't be designated as easily.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

The static nature of designations means nightjar are a listed feature, but willow tit wasn't on people's radar at the time of designation. Surely it's time for an update on legislation, and what is prioritised for action?

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I work on a large nature reserve near a motorway. I certainly filter out the noise and usually don't notice it. But also really appreciate actually quiet places (not silent, but only sounds that are natural).

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

The 2025 report is coming hot on the heels of the '24 report, and should be out in a couple of months. Join @ynuorg.bsky.social and you'll get this, and other annual reports (butterflies & moths, and birds) as well as The Naturalist journal. It's well worth it for any Yorkshire naturalists. 🙂

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

A new species for me, Black Bog-rush, and one I've not seen for years, Marsh Lousewort. The differences between places, and the possibility of something new (or even something you know well in a different habitat), are some of the delights of botanising.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Not my usual haunt this weekend, Phoenix Fest was on (for The Phoenix comic that my children like) and so I was wandering around Oxford. A good weekend was had by all, and I even managed a bit of plant recording @bsbibotany.bsky.social It's nice to see a different patch (both urban and semi-natural)

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

My ex situation population of Scarce Vapourer moth (part of a conservation project) are becoming more active now, and as leaves are now burst open (their food). Although very small still (5-15mm) they may be visible. Let me know if you see any @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I can't see enough details, possibly Nomada flava

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I'm hoping to see it later in the week.

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

There were a few remnant species here, perhaps most notably Parsley Water-dropwort, but I've reintroduced Tufted Sedge to add structure to the areas not dominated by reed. (It became locally extinct at this site in ~1970's)

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

You can also see the effect of grazing (right) versus ungrazed on the rough grassland. Hopefully we can reduce the vigour of the reeds in the reedbed and course grasses (Cock's-foot, Yorkshire Fog etc) in the grassland to make space for a wider variety and better transition from one to the other.

Short sward on right compared to rough grass and brambles outside grazed area on left

More contrast between grazed and ungrazed areas of rough grassland

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

At first look this area just looks like a reedbed. And getting into parts of it there is indeed dense reed. But other parts are patchy or completely open, while other dense bits have been roughed up by Highlands (that were moved off today). #fen #ecology #grazing

View of Loversall Pool from the edge, looking to be dominated by the ruset colour of last year's reed stems

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Thanks James. We managed to get some students to a conference the other week (and took contact details!) otherwise it's hard to get young people to attend. So outreach is definitely a good place to start. No one has suggested a trip to a museum before yet, so I'll add that to the list. 🙂

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Jim Horsfall @jimhorsfall.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Despite being half the age of several people at the meeting, I'm not young. And took the opportunity at lunchtime to take a few sawflies, a nomad bee etc, that I will now look at under a microscope. This also disqualifies me from pontificating on what young people want.

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