iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Neil Bell from @thebotanics.bsky.social talking about merging spatial distribution of bryophytes with phylogenetic proximity to give an index of phylogenetic diversity. At our AGM at the Natural History Museum, where we also had a tour of the bryophyte herbarium. Thanks @jowilbraham.bsky.social !

082

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Jamie Warren @mossmalarkey.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Blindiadelphus Campylopoda (Bentfoot Rock-bristle) a nationaly scarce seligerial species that grows on limestone fragments in woodland ,pretty much only known from the wye valley ,here at daggers hill near Chepstow 27.9.26 ,nice bryo @bbsbryology.bsky.social

0143

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Jamie Warren @mossmalarkey.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Absolutly splendid display of Grimmia montana (Sun grimmia) at a new site for it i discovered on the Llyn Peninsular in june ,nice indeed 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @bbsbryology.bsky.social

1313

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Some fantastic reservoir margin specialists seen at Clatworthy Reservoir yesterday with @wessexbryology.bsky.social. Physcomitrium readeri must have colonised Clatworthy in the last couple of decades; it is already known in its millions at nearby Wimbleball Reservoir. @bbsbryology.bsky.social

0121

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Jo Parmenter @jo-the-botanist.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Choose trees with narrow root-spread. This is usually around the same width as the crown at any given age. You don't want to cause yourself or your neighbours problems in years to come. Don't plant very thirsty trees. Hornbeam, birch, sorbus species are good options. Also fruit trees - medlar etc.

1101

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

The Species Recovery Trust @speciesrecovery.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Field Gentians feeling climate breakdown in the New Forest 💔

0134

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Golf’s purpose seems to be to spoil a good walk – & now it turns out golf clubs are stealing our water, too. As the climate crisis accelerates, the last thing we need is this wasteful, water-guzzling, land-hungry extravagance. Ace work by @emmahoward.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

One in 12 golf clubs in England broke water extraction rules in past five years

More than 140 clubs breached licences, with a third caught taking water illegally, analysis shows – but no fines issued

612123

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Fran Sinclair @notfrangible.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

For #FungiFriday have a lickable Dog Vomit Slime Mould 😉 and a False Chanterelle holding what @ghostofdatura.bsky.social might call Forbidden Soup 😄

4232

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Mainly moths & mosses @wtylerbatt.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Lovely to be back in Ireland this time in Co Waterford for another brilliant @bbsbryology.bsky.social meeting. Thanks so much to @joannedenyer.bsky.social and Rory Hodd.

Hedwigia stellata on a boulder at the edge of Lough Coumshingaun

Ulota hutchinsiae on a boulder at the edge of Lough Coumshingaun

073

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Two depressing images of the charred chalk grassland of Bratton Downs SSSI, after a large wildfire in August. This is less than a mile from my home. Thankfully, the iconic Westbury White Horse escaped. As usual, careless or thoughtless human activities are likely to be the cause of the fire.

North-facing SSSI slope and ramparts of Bratton Camp Iron Age hill fort.

The fire was blown east towards the village of Bratton by strong winds on one of the hottest days of the year.

241

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Just back from the @bbsbryology.bsky.social meeting in Co. Waterford. Great fun and some fabulous species seen including a new moss for Ireland (the rare Dialytrichia saxicola) and new sites for Sphagnum skyense. Thank you @joannedenyer.bsky.social and Rory Hodd for organising a brilliant week!

Inspecting Dialytrichia saxicola on an unassuming wall.

Dialytrichia saxicola with very fragile and crenulate leaves.

Lemna valdiviana showing off in a pond at Lismore Castle

0114

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Never live below a hill beauty spot! The scene from our house of gridlock in our normally quiet lane as hundreds jostle to reach our local white horse for the solar eclipse. Most didn’t make it.

230

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Nicola Chester @nicolawriting.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

With farmers & firefighters on the front line, ringing all the alarm bells, this is a shock & a wake up call to us all. @guyshrubsole.bsky.social finds out just how “desperately unprepared for the impacts of the climate crisis” our leaders are.

theguardian.com

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires

Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves

14016

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

For GOD'S SAKE. Massive landowners call for ban on disposable BBQs, but at the same time call for "a lifting of the ban on controlled burning" 'You oiks shouldn't burn moorland - that's OUR job' Entitled double standards. Ban both. @georgemonbiot.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

Calls to ban disposable barbecues in England and Wales over wildfire risk

Lib Dems and many Labour MPs join farmers, landowners and firefighters in urging temporary prohibition

25508115

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Why is Britain a tinderbox? Because: 1) The climate crisis, obvs; but also - 2) *6.4 million hectares* of farmland in England & Wales is riddled with field drains - draining water from the land where it could be retaining it. Make Britain Wet Again! ahdb.org.uk/drainage

1018150

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Holiday in the climate emergency. No that’s not AI or edited, just a snapshot I just took with my phone on Lacanau beach in France. What future will this boy grow up in? It is in our hands, but time is running out.

9840191933

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Very excited to share that I'm writing a new book, THE GHOSTS OF CHALK COUNTRY - about the loss of England's chalk downland: a tale of flowers, fascism & freedom. To be published by @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social in April 2027: www.thebookseller.com/rights/willi... Website: ghostsofchalkcountry.org

2540477

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

BREAKING: the climate. "July is on course to be the driest on record in Wales for nearly 200 years." But please, let's expand oil drilling in the North Sea 🤪 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Drought declared in parts of Wales as July on course to be driest in nearly 200 years

Government agency confirms status in north Wales and Upper Severn after series of heatwaves and lack of rainfall

621174

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Lots of Polycarpon tetraphyllum found during an evening stroll around the parched surrounds of my Kent hotel this evening. It mostly looks pretty unhappy though, in keeping with the vegetation generally.

060

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

cianoceallaigh.bsky.social @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Plagiochila carringtonii found in the sléibhte Mhám Toirce (Maamturks) at numerous locations yesterday on a Wild Atlantic Nature survey with @timoceallaigh.bsky.social + Adelanthus lindenbergianus's now 2nd site in same Mt. range Go raibh míle maith ag @nimbosaecology.bsky.social for verifying

3164

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Jamie Warren @mossmalarkey.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Ptychomitrium polyphyllum (Greater Pincushion) growing on a boulder top on Tarron yr Esgob 5.7.26 , the long straight Peristome teeth looking good @bbsbryology.bsky.social

0224

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Kat Newbert @ghostofdatura.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It's definitely been a week of seeing new plants. @1davidelston.bsky.social, @bramblebotanist.bsky.social and i went wading around looking for Calamagrostis scotica. And we found lots! Superficially is much darker than C. stricta.

0173

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

mattrjones.bsky.social @mattrjones.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Chara aculeolata (Hedgehog Stonewort). A very distinctive and absolutely fabulous species, looking very happy in a calcareous pool yesterday.

3342

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

cianoceallaigh.bsky.social @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Confirmed Sphagnum affine growing in a transition mire with Carex lasiocarpa and other Carex spp. in na Monga, Conamara a month ago. New species for me and looks like the second record for H16 Gailliamh thiar. Thanks for ID help @pilkyplant.bsky.social

0164

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Good news! Ministers have finally given green light to new #NaturalHistory GCSE. We’ve campaigned so long for this! Big hats off to tireless advocate Mary Colwell 🙌 Now our young people will have a chance to get to know & love the natural world, to feel awe & wonder, & gain skills to protect it 🌷🌳🦡

theguardian.com

Natural history GCSE to teach teenagers to plant wildflower-friendly gardens

Long-awaited course to examine human effects on natural world and explore everyday ways to aid biodiversity

391219372

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

rudrakshgupta.bsky.social @rudrakshgupta.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Adelanthus lindenbergianus(new site) recorded with @timoceallaigh.bsky.social, Ciaran & Shane in Connemara. This very rare liverwort is a member of hepatic mat community which includes Bazzania tricrenata, B. pearsonii, Herbertus hutchinsiae(2). Thanks for confirming @nimbosaecology.bsky.social

093

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

After several years in gestation, the long awaited paper on Aneura pinguis agg is now out. Lots of hard work from the team @thebotanics.bsky.social has resulted in the description of 12 species based on molecular and morphological criteria. Free to download at link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.com

Under the invisibility cape: the secret world of Aneura pinguis in Europe and Greenland - Plant Systematics and Evolution

Multiple accessions of the simple thalloid liverwort Aneura from around the world, but with particular focus on western Europe, have been sequenced for a range of standard plastid DNA barcoding marker...

194

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

cianoceallaigh.bsky.social @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

So many oaks revealing themselves in coill Bhearna where the big storm knocked down a load of beech trees (+ some oak). Looks like the perfect opportunity to encourage native trees rather than than allow beech to dominate again in time @galwaycity.ie @irishwoodlandtrust.bsky.social (1/2)

1133

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Dr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Although Nitella mucronata is not confined to pristine waters and can persist in somewhat enriched conditions, it was not a plant I expected to encounter in the Old Lea. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @fungiflowers.bsky.social @jojosardina.bsky.social

2102

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Jamie Warren @mossmalarkey.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Nice to get my target species at Cwm Moch yesterday,Obtusifolium obtusum growing on a Vertical Crag ,there wss an old 80's record for it here ,nice to see it is still at the site 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @bbsbryology.bsky.social

1333

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Cinclidotus aquaticus, not known from Britain/Ireland, growing submerged on limestone in the outflow stream from the Gjlun stream in the Soca valley, Slovenia.

091

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

One of the pleasures of bryology abroad is finding species that are very rare in Britain and Ireland, but much commoner overseas. This is Lescuraea plicata.

081

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

First day of the BBS meeting in Slovenia, thanks to the kindness of Simona Strgulc Krajšek who has organised a fantastic programme for us. Today we explored the limestone thermophilous temperate woodland around Bovec in the Trenta valley and some aquatic habitats.

2132

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Day 3 of BBS meeting in Slovenia. Heading up the Zadnjica valley. This is Microhypnum sauteri. A relatively recent addition to our own flora (from Inchnadamph in Scotland) but turning up here most days on sheltered limestone.

0111

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

For the final day of the BBS Slovenia meeting we visited some lowland calcareous sites including the intermittent lake of Cerknica where we were distracted by a mass of Gladiolus illyricus before finding some splendid Drepanocladus lycopodioides. Later highlights included Drepanocladus trifarius.

0131

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Not many bryophytes in the Skocjan caves on day 5 of the BBS Slovenia meeting, but a fantastic experience. Outside were a good range of epiphytes including Orthotrichum patens and plants of damp limestone such as this fruiting Gymnostomum calcareum.

072

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Over the Vrsic pass from Trenta on day 4 of the BBS Slovenia meeting. Some great montane species including Syntrichia norvegica with its reddish hair points.

1232

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

rudrakshgupta.bsky.social @rudrakshgupta.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Some highlights from the Spring @bbsbryology.bsky.social meeting in the Trossachs that i attended with @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social & @timoceallaigh.bsky.social. Part 1 Mosses: 1: Ptilium crista castrensis 2: Bartramia halleriana 3: Hylocomiastrum umbratum 4: Sphagnum warnstorfii

0143

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Fran Sinclair @notfrangible.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Poplar trunks looking a good deal thicker courtesy of an impressive infestation of mistletoe in Loches #ThickTrunkTuesday

0111

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Mainly moths & mosses @wtylerbatt.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

And now for some quality pics courtesy of Neil Bell from Stob a’Choin; Bartramia halleriana, Plagiopus oederianus, Herbertus hutchinsiae & Racomitrium ellipticum

0122

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The second time recently I've seen this Bryum pallescens - Brachytheciastrum velutinum pairing. Photos are of the drip zone of a corrugated metal barn in Somerset (classic B. pallescens habitat); the other site was a cattle grid nr. Loch Lomond. Immature Bryum capsules, old Brachytheciastrum ones.

1171

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

bbsbryology.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Fantastic to see lovely Mediterranean plants like this Southbya nigrella which just have a toe hold in Britain. I was just as excited when I saw it in Corfu.

191

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

cianoceallaigh.bsky.social @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Great little hike on Mt Brennan with some friends in fairly windy conditions. Was lucky enough to see Mastigophora woodsii along a couple of spots just off path. Such a beautiful thing Cnoc Bréanainn le na buachaillí

1101

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Beautiful! My guess is either Streblotrichum (Barbula) convolutum or Barbula unguiculata. As so often, growing in a matrix of other acrocarps of differing form and colour 😄

240

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

A 2nd edition of my Plants and Habitats book is now out and available from the Natural History Book Store: www.nhbs.com/plants-and-h.... Main differences from 1st edition: many species added and nomenclature & further information (e.g. habitat classifications) updated. I hope people find it useful!

nhbs.com

Plants and Habitats: An Introduction to Common Plants and Their Habitats in Britain and Ireland

Buy Plants and Habitats (9780957608115): An Introduction to Common Plants and Their Habitats in Britain and Ireland: NHBS - Ben Averis, Ben and Alison Averis

05618

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Alex Prendergast @bramblebotanist.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

It’s #WorldBookDay so botany friends, what is your favourite book? For me it’s Sell & Murrell’s epic Flora of GB&I. I came to it late, with the publication of the final vol (vol 1) in 2018. I was already into Rubus but elucidated critical botany for me & enabled recording fine scale diversity.

5287

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Fran Sinclair @notfrangible.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

An old oak at Chittoe for #ThickTrunkTuesday

0746

Sharon Pilkington @pilkyplant.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

What utter profiteering tosh. Encourage moss - it keeps your lawn green in summer when grasses go brown and is happy to grow in those poorly drained and shady places where lawn grasses struggle.

150

Reposted by Sharon Pilkington

Fran Sinclair @notfrangible.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Well I wasn’t expecting this when I strolled around Melksham! Mediterranean Nettle Urtica membranacea. Grin will take several hours to leave my face. 😊 @bsbibotany.bsky.social

1353