iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Fascinating day at Numatic international- home of the famous 'Henry'. The face came about at s trade show in the 70s when some staff drew a face on the vacuum they had on show and people liked it. Rare glimpse into British manufacturing. Thank you @makeuk.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Courting Wall Brown butterflies in our front garden today. Central Dorset. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Second brood Wall Brown have done really well in our tiny front garden meadow in the last couple of weeks. They do love a warm path. As I begin to cut it, I will leave the Devils-bit for a while yet. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Lots of heavily marked female Common blues on the transect today in North Dorset. Clouded yellow still out in impressive numbers also, 31 seen. Devils-bit scabious and Fleabane the nectar of choice. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Eucan Dorset midweek volunteers helped us yesterday to get some fiddly vegetation clearance done amongst many Marsh fritillary larval webs. I can't thank them enough. share.google/kXXBklJqjPLr... @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Chuck a few bob in this direction if you can..... gofund.me/399427ea8

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Common blue second brood is peaking in north Dorset, and it is proving to be a good show. 46 on transect today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

This suckering Aspen is proving some good forage for the cattle in this drought.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A dash of rain could not be more welcome, but it will take weeks of the stuff to heal the cracks in the Oxford clay in the Blackmoor Vale.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

White form of Saw-wort (Serratula tinctoria) amongst plenty of the usual pink/purple. North Dorset. @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Reposted by Wren Franklin

The Species Recovery Trust @speciesrecovery.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

This beetle runs so fast it goes blind 💨 A thread for our #SpeciesOfTheWeek ⤵️

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Harvesting Common spotted orchid seed amongst numerous 2nd brood Common blue this morning in the the Blackmoor Vale. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) looking resplendent in full flower as the pond water disappears from around it. North Dorset. @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Sneezewort and Marsh mallow looking good despite the drought in north Dorset today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Started to survey Marsh fritillary larval webs today. This site had 42 webs last year. In 1.5 hours today, I found 50 in about .5ha, BUT the food plants are really suffering from drought - mostly crispy already. What are the ramifications? @martinswarren.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Ain't no party like a Wild carrot party!

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Dyers greenweed (Genista tinctoria) seed harvesting today, pods just starting to pop. 3 hours in the greenhouse and things are getting explosive. Without the mesh cover we would come back to a seed covered floor! Future Green hairstreak food. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Joined at morning coffee by a Small tortoiseshell. Far from common in the garden these days. I love the tiger pattern on the leading edge of the fore wing. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Back in the spring of this year, I posted about carpets of Oak seedlings following the 2025 mast year. Most are now not faring well against drought and mildew.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Today, I led a @dorsetflora.bsky.social field meeting to record plants on some unrecorded chalk grassland in north Dorset. 111 species, 27 Dorset notables. At some points the butterflies stole the show! Thanks @jostephen.bsky.social for your help.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Seeds are beginning to come in. Yellow rattle, Kidney vetch and Cowslip. Easy conditions for harvest with all this dry, calm weather.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

A couple of interesting observations from north Dorset today - many Purple, White-letter and Brown hairstreak down at flowers or other moisture sources. Second brood Dingy skipper out in number. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Gatekeeper is having a super year in north Dorset. There must have been 50 on this bank, nectaring on wild marjoram. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Very grey Marbled green (Nyctobrya muralis) on my back door frame tonight. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Weasel's snout (Misopates orontium) growing on my mums vegetable patch in north Dorset. @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

This Hummingbird hawk-moth has spent ages nectaring on Feild scabious in our garden over recent days. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Another fascinating visit to the @durotrigesdig.bsky.social dig near Winterbourne Kingston. They are discovering so much about late iron age culture and the arrival of Roman people in Dorset. Thank you all for sharing what you are discovering. @bournemouthuni.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

The front garden meadow is reaching a high summer crescendo right now. These few square meters bring our family untold joy. @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Back to work in north Dorset after a break and welcomed by a sea of Dyers greenweed (Genista tinctoria) @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Early Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) and Marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris) from Newborough Warren today. The whole place is a botanical paradise. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Newborough dunes and woods. Lots of botanical goodness, including Dune fescue (new to me). Big sky, big sand.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Inspiring morning at Hooke Park, where forestry meets architecture. Thanks to @woodlandheritage.bsky.social for organising the open day.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

1st Clouded yellow of the year and masses of Peacock caterpillars - I can't remember a better year for these. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Brimstone caterpillars today, hanging out on mid-ribs of Alder buckthorn leaves. On the same bush there was evidence of parasitism too in the form of small black and white pupae where once there was a young caterpillar. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Moth trapping on the high chalk near Chettle yielded a couple of species I don't see in the clay vale. Pretty chalk carpet and Green arches. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Small blue laying eggs on Kidney vetch in newly created habitat. Seed was sown directly onto a raw chalk path. Build it and they will come! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Brown day - 1st Meadow brown of the year and the first Small heath seen on this site in north Dorset since 2018! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Bacon and eggs. Common bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Insect powerhouse - somewhere in the region of 120 insect species rely on it for nectar, pollen, foliage, seeds and sap. Often found lurking in lawns, awaiting reprieve from the mower to raise its flowery head.

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

The Marsh fritillaries were really enjoying Corky-fruited water dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides)nectar this morning. The eggs I watched being laid a couple of weeks ago have coloured up nicely. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Long but rewarding search for Duke of Burgundy north of Giant Hill today. Turned up 3. Then shown this mating pair as we headed down to Cerne for liquid refreshment. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Duke of Burgundy building in number on the Giant. 14 on timed count today. Then a single Duke and 2 Marsh fritillary on a new site nearby. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Reposted by Wren Franklin

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

Brilliant to meet with enthusiastic ecologists from @nationaltrust.org.uk the new owners of Giant Hill, the only sizeable Duke of Burgundy site in Dorset. We discussed plans for sensitive grazing and habitat restoration in this key site. One fresh Duke seen in cloudy weather, plus Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary male, Euphydryas aurinia

National Trust staff getting a close up look at Duke of Burgundy butterfly

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Wren Franklin @wrenfranklin.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Butterfly of the day - Small blue. A butterfly with a spectacular ability to arrive into a newly created habitat that includes Kidney vetch. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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