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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Cyprus holds a special place in my heart; a wonderfully accommodating island of outstanding beauty and a stunning variety of endemic #orchids

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Lovely site, best one I know for Small Copper too! 🥰

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

7/10/26 #Cumbria - Today’s find was one of my highlights of the year so far. The Date Waxcap (Hygrocybe spadicea) is one of the UK’s rarest #chegd fungi and one that is notoriously difficult to nail down. Hopefully will come across some better examples next time…

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Sarah @sarahfaulkner.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Probably no surprise that my #favouriteplant is the glorious Marsh Gentian. I love everything about them & this year they provided some extra magic. Watching as the sun set, it was incredible to see the gorgeous blue flowers close for the night, something I'd not observed before. 😍 #wildflowerhour

Marsh Gentian flowers closing in the setting sun, Purbeck, Dorset. Beautiful.

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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It's been a joy to see so many people offering a huge THANK YOU to the fabulous @botanybeck.bsky.social for all her wonderful work devising the weekly #WildFlowerHour challenges, which help us focus on different aspects of our amazing British & Irish wild & naturalised plants. Thank you, Rebecca!

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

How fortunate were we to see this?? 🥰

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Lin Hawthorne @haggewoods.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Forever associated with the speedy and hawk-eyed @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social On this occasion, lightning reflexes to capture a stoat that ran across our path. Orchis ustulata L., Burnt-tip Orchid #FavouritePlants #WIldflowerHour

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Lin Hawthorne @haggewoods.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Campanula rotundifolia L, Harebell Another beauty associated with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social #FavouritePlants #WildflowerHour

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Ok So, #FavouritePlant #WildflowerHour Is over so I can post my REAL favourite flower of the year, because it was not (sadly!) In UK. How about THiS. Courtesy of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social @dunnjons.bsky.social And @mariposanature.bsky.social Can"t be bettered.

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David Harris @cycle4nature.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Can I have a third #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour? 😅 I joined @dunnjons.bsky.social and @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social on one of their brilliant Kent orchid tours this year, and saw a Late Spider orchid for my first time. We also found a magnificent v. flavescens, and reached 14 different orchids!

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

For the #wildflowerhour #favouriteplant challenge 2026, I'm probably going to choose this lovely patch of Coralroot #Orchids (Corallorhiza trifida) from the dunes of South Cumbria. They were absolutely magnificent 🥰

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Two years ago I was invited onto BBC News at 6 and World Today to discuss my sighting of a Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) in the UK Both 2025 & 2026 have been unusually warm, dry summers; there's little chance of seeing one in such years www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyA... @bsbibotany.bsky.social

youtube.com

Ghost Orchid finder, Richard Bate, on BBC World Today

YouTube video by Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 As of today, now just 2 places left available to join us for Orchids of Cyprus in spring 2027. Led by the brilliant orchid- and wildlife-finding team of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and Dave Fairhurst, it's a tour to savour. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

23/8/26 #Lancashire - Small and twisted things are usually best ignored, but the Autumn Ladies Tresses #Orchid (Spiranthes spiralis) is rather charming, with a raceme of small white flowers that often spiral. The much-welcomed rain has caused a few to appear #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

One of your colleagues decided to name us in the post (and then make veiled accusations towards us) instead of addressing a complaint that is being made by one of your guests. Do you think this is acceptable behaviour? If so, please can you state exactly why

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

You really aren’t very good at facts are you Sotiris? Also, while we’re talking about comments, can you have a word about the scores of invisible comments that appear under our posts on twitter?

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Dr Robert Bohan @robertbohan.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Thread: An ancient meadow in the middle of Ireland - coming across these rare patches of nature inspired a sense of wonder for me. That sense is the motivation behind my hand-drawn ink on paper works, as you can see if you scroll down in this thread! [1]

#Art
#Artist
#ArtShare
#ArtistsOnBluesky
#ContemporaryArt
#Drawing
#InkDrawing
#Illustration
#OriginalArt
#FineArt
#IrishArt
#CelticArt
#InkArt
#PenAndInk
#OriginalDrawing
#HibernoCeltic
#IrishArtist
#ArtCollectors
#ArtForSale
#EtsyArtist

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Jack Wallington @jackwallington.com · 22/08/2026

“Can’t beat them? Eat them! Ten of the tastiest garden weeds” my latest article in The Guardian today, print and online www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... (the team did a beautiful job of the print version especially!)

theguardian.com

Can’t beat them? Eat them! Ten of the tastiest garden weeds

Edible weeds grow in abundance in our gardens, streets and parks. With a little know-how, you can harvest delicious, nutritious, free greens

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Elephants and flies are an interesting analogy, especially when you have gone to the trouble of signing up to BlueSky to state your thoughts. It’s a revealing contradiction.

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I don't like washing the dirty laundry in public either but given what has been fed back to us (me) from numerous sources, I can't decide whether this is comment is hypocritical or merely poorly-informed. I'd strongly recommend spreading the love internally before lecturing us on diplomacy.

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Cheers John, it was a special experience in so many wonderful ways

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

12/8/26 #Spain - My first total solar #eclipse and hopefully not my last! An absolutely mindblowing experience and a joy to share with the great company of my good friends at @mariposanature.bsky.social and guests

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Epipogium aphyllum, the Ghost #orchid. An amazing experience, and something I never thought I'd see. With great thanks to @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 More bookings made y'day mean our spring 2027 orchid tours are filling up. Just 2 places remain available to join @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for the superb Orchids of Crete - nearly 60 species were recorded by our 2026 group! www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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

Despite the recent drought many members of the Asteraceae or daisy family are looking just splendid. Perfect for this week’s #WildflowerHour! See if you can find one & share your pics this Sunday evening 8-9pm using the hashtag #DaisyFamily. Happy Asteraceae hunting!

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Ghost #Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) galore from several sites across #France including a trio that featured as part of the tour I led for @mariposanature.bsky.social with @dunnjons.bsky.social They have struggled due to drought and heat, especially in the Alps with many no shows at reliable sites

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in the Pyrenees

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in Savoie

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in the Vercors

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in Sauvain

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Roger - you look like you've seen a ghost!

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Today was Blue Monday, in the very best of ways, with seven species of gentian seen in flower here in the French Alps with the @mariposanature.bsky.social tour I'm co-leading with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

Snow Gentian (Gentiana nivalis) © Jon Dunn

Willow Gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) © Jon Dunn

Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis ciliata) © Jon Dunn

Small-leaved Gentian (Gentiana brachyphylla) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

3/8/26 #France - Live from the field at nearly 3000m we find one of the most special #alpine wildflowers - Black Genepi (Artemisia genepi). Used as a flavouring, especially in spirits and ice creams it is a sought-after herb. Seen leading for @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A couple of days. In the best locations, plants will look good for around a week. In good years, the best sites will have plants at various stages when the population is peaking; this year has not been a good one due to the intense heat

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

If there's more fun to be had than wandering around a mountaintop with friends looking for alpine wildflowers, I'd very much like to know about it. Today was another enjoyable day with the @mariposanature.bsky.social group I'm co-leading with my good pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

Mount Cenis Bellflower (Campanula cenisia) © Jon Dunn

Glacier Buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis) © Jon Dunn

Grey Ragwort (Jacobaea incana) © Jon Dunn

Alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

2/8/26 #France - Halfway through our Summer #Orchids of the #Alps tour and it has been a fine day botanising at altitude; many fine finds including Dactylorhiza viridis, Gentiana verna, Saxifraga oppositifolia and Soldanella alpina. Leading with @dunnjons.bsky.social

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

So, after fourteen years, we finally meet, ms Ghost. #Orchid

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Well, hello you. First full day of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Summer Orchids of the French Alps tour, and we saw our first three Ghost Orchid, including this rather fine example. Massive credit to my co-leader, @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for all his hard pre-tour work in the field.

Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I'm genuinely thrilled to have both you and Roger with us, Sharon 🙏

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

29/7/26 #France - Our First Summer #Orchids of the French Alps tour has kicked off and we have already bagged our first rarity, this fantastic #helleborine Epipactis albensis (syn. Epipactis fibri) near the banks of the Rhône @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

28/7/26 #France - Ghost #Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) and a trio of Vanilla #Orchids (Gymnadenia austriaca syn. Nigritella austriaca) resplendent in the French Alps. One of the most important pre-tour recces I have ever carried out, due to the heatwaves throughout the year @mariposanature.bsky.social

A rather magnificent example of Epipogium aphyllum, aka the Ghost Orchid

Gymnadenia austriaca syn Nigritella austriaca, colloquially referred to as Vanilla Orchids

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

19/7/26 #Lancashire - Watching the F1 this afternoon, we were disturbed by loud buzzing at the open window. The culprit was this utterly magnificent beast, the Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus). She was duly released after a few photographs and I wish her all the best 🥰

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

13/7/26 #Cumbria - After seeing a lot of cooked helleborines in the Midlands, I didn't have high hopes for the Tyne Helleborines (Epipactis dunensis ssp tynensis) on the banks of the South Tyne. They're a touch early, but pleasingly in great condition 🥰 #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

13/7/26 #Cumbria - With perfect weather and no football on this evening, I had the perfect excuse to get out. The highlight by far was this magnificent Bog #Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa), a real chonker so far as this species goes #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

10/7/26 #Gloucestershire - The Narrow-Lipped Helleborine (Epipactis leptochila) is a Southern speciality in Britain. This lovely plant was the only one still in flower at the sites I visited. 25 years ago I'd have waited until August to look for these #orchids #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Green plant is a fading Twayblade (Neottia ovata), the second is a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) and the third is almost certainly a Common or Chalk Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea). Lovely finds, must have been on one of the many wonderful limestone grasslands of that area

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Simon West @simonwest26.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

On the way home from Scotland stopped of at Aviemore. Didn’t find what I was looking for but did find 100+ Creepling Lady’s-tresses growing on a roadside verge #ukorchids #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

5/7/26 #Cumbria - Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) on #HuttonRoof aren't always "Dark Red". This amazing example is var. albiflora, a particularly rare find with almost pure-white flowers. A great sight for guests of @mariposanature.bsky.social who I was leading for today #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

5/7/26 #Cumbria - The Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) on the limestone pavements of #HuttonRoof never fail to delight. Among my favourites are var. bicolor, or "lemon petal" examples, with fabulous two-tone flowers @bsbibotany.bsky.social @mariposanature.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

4/7/26 #Cumbria - I led a group for the Arnside & Silverdale Natural History Society on the limestone grasslands searching for summer #orchids, and highlights included Frog #Orchids (Dactylorhiza viridis) and Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

3/7/26 #Cumbria - Phwoar! The Dark Red #Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) are peaking on the Limestone pavements above Morecambe Bay, in an array of colours! Tomorrow I take Arnside & District NHS out near Kendal and on Sunday it’s a trip up #HuttonRoof for @mariposanature.bsky.social

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