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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Can't believe it's the end of the #Wildflowerhour challenge season already. So here's Marsh Pennywort which I was thrilled to finally find in full bloom (though the flowers are tiny) this August after years of searching. #FavouritePlant #Anglesey @angleseyfloragroup.bsky.social

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Tutsan berries looking rather scrumptious, although they're NOT edible #Wildflowerhour #Fruits

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Couldn't resist my annual photo op for #Wildflowerhour #Fruits week, so here's Barley helping himself (as usual) to the local Blackberries

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

At least 30 Swallows flying around the house today. Looks like they're gathering ready to set off for Africa. Their chattering is glorious.

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Two colour forms of moth caterpillars Bright-line-brown-eye found a few inches away from each other, one on Knapweed the other on Wild Carrot #WildWebsWednesday #TeamMoth

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

For this week's #Wildflowerhour challenge #Seedheads here's the fruits of Bog-myrtle doing a pretty good impersonation of tiny Pine cones

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

A reminder of the joy of taking a closer look to see the beauty in nature. It was the symmetry that first caught my eye, but close-up the seeds of Wild Angelica are absolutely stunning. Zoom in to see 🕵️ #SeedHeads #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Bending the rules slightly for this week's #Wildflowerhour challenge #WallPlants Here's Rock Samphire growing in a natural 'wall' on Traeth Mawr #Anglesey

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

In previous years I've searched for Autumn Lady's-tresses but not found them. This year I wasn't looking but was so pleased to stumble across these most delicate beauties. #Wildflowerhour #Anglesey #Orchid

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Carried away by the moment, Leaf Beetles not on leaves but on a flower bud. Possibly Sphaeroderma testaceum on Soapwort #WildWebsWednesday

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A new species for me yesterday, Diprion pini, Pine Sawfly caterpillars, appropriately enough on Scots Pine #Wildwebswednesday #sawflies

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Red Bartsia, Odontites vernus with #CommonNames Red Rattle and Red Eyebright. I think I'd call it Dainty Ladies Bonnets #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Here's Soapwort, Saponia officinalis aka Bouncing Bet, Sweet Betty and many names related to it's use as an alternative to soap, including my favourite Crow Soap. #CommonNames #Wildflowerhour Apparently it's scent is attractive to Hawk-moths so guess where I'm going as soon as I've posted this...

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Use less power during the eclipse & get an hour's worth of free electric on Sunday said @octopus.energy What a disappointing reward. Free energy for an hour during the one hour when it's forecast to be sunny tomorrow. Hardly a viable reward for customers with solar 🙄 #OctopusPowerHour

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Reposted by Mandy Forde

The Species Recovery Trust @speciesrecovery.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Our very own @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social has been out surveying Field Gentians in north Wales - and had a bit of a surprise!

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Is it April 1st? No sign of any eclipse on the Isle of Anglesey 🤷 #Octoeclipse

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Not been able to stop talking photos of insects this week, for which I offer no apology. I grow Rosebay Willowherb in the hope of seeing these fantastic creatures, Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars. Plant it and they will come #WildWebsWednesday #TeamMoth @cofnod.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Dolycoris baccarum, Hairy Sheildbug on the hairy stem of Devil's-bit Scabious #WildWebsWednesday

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Rose Chafer not especially camouflaged on Knapweed #WildWebsWednesday

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I'm invariably wrong with my spider id 🙄 but I'm thinking these might be male & female Four-spotted Orb Weavers, Araneus quadratus. Spotted just now in my #Anglesey meadow for #WildWebsWednesday @cofnod.org.uk

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

So pleased to finally find Marsh Pennywort flowers this week. Flowers nestled below the leaves like little jewels. How cute are they 😍 #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

For this week's #Wildflowerhour challenge #DaisyFamily here's Common Fleabane looking like it's disc floret is made of honeycomb 😋

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

After flitting around like a demented mosquito desperately following the butterfly determined to get a photo, so pleased when it finally landed. My first Clouded Yellow sighting in 9 years. #Aberffraw #Anglesey #WildWebsWednesday @savebutterflies.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

A close up of the almost alien looking flowers of Portland Spurge, Euphorbia portlandica photographed on the dunes at Aberffraw #Anglesey #Wildflowerhour #ByTheSea

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Grass-of-Parnassus in the dunes at Aberffraw #Anglesey Just a few minutes walk to the beach so I'm including it #ByTheSea #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Spotted just now on the edge of my meadow Painted Lady caterpillar on Creeping Thistle. First ever sighting of the caterpillar so a little dance of excitement ensued. #Anglesey @savebutterflies.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Can't recall ever seeing Carline Thistle in it's flowering stage before, always see the dried plants in Autumn and Winter. Here it is in all it's stunning glory, seen on Aberffraw dunes today #Anglesey #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

The terrestrial form of Amphibious Bistort, Persicaria amphibia,with downy hairs on leaves. Growing in a ditch at Aberffraw so I'm sneaking it in as #WetlandPlants #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Very exciting to find a Bishop's Mitre #Sheildbug this week, the 4th one I've seen on #Anglesey This one was conveniently positioned on the side of a Teasel #WildWebsWednesday

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

No wilting here,Toadflax almost as tall as me growing in the shade of a hedgerow. #StillFlowering #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Sea Holly #StillFlowering at my local beach Traeth Cymyran #Anglesey today. Covered in Bees, Sulfur Beetles and Painted Lady Butterflies. #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Sonchus arvensis #StillFlowering today, growing in the shade of a hedgerow. #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden just now #WildWebsWednesday In Italian and Maltese folklore they're considered a messenger of good tidings. I think this little chap was here to wish me Happy Birthday today 😘 #TeamMoth

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Misumena vatia, Flower Crab #Spider on Meadow Buttercup, spotted yesterday at RSPB Valley Wetlands while conducting an Anglesey Flora Group survey #WildWebsWednesday #Anglesey @cofnod.org.uk

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I don't know what it is about Sneezewort, but it always makes me smile when I see it along the farm track #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Putting a container of water out for wildlife is really important while the weather is this hot 🥵 Here's 3 fledgling #Chough being rather civilised, taking it in turn to enjoy a drink just now in my garden.

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Proud first time Dad with two of his chicks. The young fledglings are soooo noisy when they land on your roof at 6:30 begging to get fed. #Chough #Anglesey

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Room for one more. Rhagonycha fulva doing what Rhagonycha fulva do on Wild Carrot. #WildWebsWednesday

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Found just now in the garden, I'm presuming it's a Velvet Mite with eggs. #Acari @cofnod.org.uk @britishspiders.bsky.social

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

A clandestine meeting of Tufted Vetch and Meadow Vetchling If it was a painting I think it would be entitled "Kissing Cousins" #ClimbingPlants #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

A pale form of Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea, Lathyrus latifolius, flowers are usually magenta pink. It's beautiful, climbing up the Fennel every year without fail. #ClimbingPlants #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Maybe not technically #ClimbingPlants but definitely the ultimate clinger. Cleavers, Galium aparine. #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

For this week's #Wildflowerhour challenge #ClimbingPlants here's Tufted Vetch in my meadow this afternoon, climbing it's way through the Cat's-ear and Clover #Wildflowerhour

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Common Green Grasshopper just rescued from the dog's water bowl. So I'm thinking they can't jump when in water. Now safely drying off on the patio. #Orthoptera

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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Pastel hues of Flowering Rush in a local stream #Wildflowerhour

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