Alex Prendergast
@bramblebotanist.bsky.social
Botany Senior Specialist at Natural England, BSBI Limonium/Rubus/Galium/Hypericum referee. Elm/stonewort/dandelion enthusiast, Plant & butterfly reintros, botany tours, Punk, Norfolk #Iamabotanist Views own 🇪🇺
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Huge thanks to 3,652 of you amazing #CitizenScientists who went out hunting for #NewYearPlantHunt!
You sent us >25K records of an astonishing 663 different wildflower spp. blooming across Britain & Ireland
Headlines in our infographic 👇
More details on our 2026 Results page: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
You sent us >25K records of an astonishing 663 different wildflower spp. blooming across Britain & Ireland
Headlines in our infographic 👇
More details on our 2026 Results page: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
January 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Huge thanks to 3,652 of you amazing #CitizenScientists who went out hunting for #NewYearPlantHunt!
You sent us >25K records of an astonishing 663 different wildflower spp. blooming across Britain & Ireland
Headlines in our infographic 👇
More details on our 2026 Results page: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
You sent us >25K records of an astonishing 663 different wildflower spp. blooming across Britain & Ireland
Headlines in our infographic 👇
More details on our 2026 Results page: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Did anyone else have this poster on their bedroom wall growing up? "Chalk Grassland."
This was basically one of the gateway drugs into botany- not only the plants but importantly they communities they grew in.
I loved this poster & it still lives vividly in my imagination.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
This was basically one of the gateway drugs into botany- not only the plants but importantly they communities they grew in.
I loved this poster & it still lives vividly in my imagination.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 11, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Did anyone else have this poster on their bedroom wall growing up? "Chalk Grassland."
This was basically one of the gateway drugs into botany- not only the plants but importantly they communities they grew in.
I loved this poster & it still lives vividly in my imagination.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
This was basically one of the gateway drugs into botany- not only the plants but importantly they communities they grew in.
I loved this poster & it still lives vividly in my imagination.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Filago pyramidata Broad-leaved Cudweed at its last Essex location this week. Occupying various anthropogenic substrates and droughty sandy grassland #WildFlowerHour
January 11, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Filago pyramidata Broad-leaved Cudweed at its last Essex location this week. Occupying various anthropogenic substrates and droughty sandy grassland #WildFlowerHour
Some lovely plants seen while out #NYPH ing this week: seasonal delights including Mibora minima Early Sandgrass & a yellow ovary form of Galanthus x grandiflorus, and the less expected two sspp of Scleranthus annuus Annual Knawel & Fumaria muralis Ramping-fumitory in full flower #WildFlowerHour
January 4, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Some lovely plants seen while out #NYPH ing this week: seasonal delights including Mibora minima Early Sandgrass & a yellow ovary form of Galanthus x grandiflorus, and the less expected two sspp of Scleranthus annuus Annual Knawel & Fumaria muralis Ramping-fumitory in full flower #WildFlowerHour
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Day 3 of #NewYearPlantHunt: >1300 surveys, >17,000 records, 597 species recorded!
In tonight's round-up:
@commonbynature.bsky.social reports from NE England, @bramblebotanist.bsky.social braves the snow & a shout-out for #NYPH co-founders Tim Rich & @sarahwhild.bsky.social!
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
In tonight's round-up:
@commonbynature.bsky.social reports from NE England, @bramblebotanist.bsky.social braves the snow & a shout-out for #NYPH co-founders Tim Rich & @sarahwhild.bsky.social!
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
January 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Day 3 of #NewYearPlantHunt: >1300 surveys, >17,000 records, 597 species recorded!
In tonight's round-up:
@commonbynature.bsky.social reports from NE England, @bramblebotanist.bsky.social braves the snow & a shout-out for #NYPH co-founders Tim Rich & @sarahwhild.bsky.social!
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
In tonight's round-up:
@commonbynature.bsky.social reports from NE England, @bramblebotanist.bsky.social braves the snow & a shout-out for #NYPH co-founders Tim Rich & @sarahwhild.bsky.social!
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
The hardy division of #NorfolkFloraGroup shunned a ‘yellow warning’ of ice and snow in favour of the yellow flowers of Buddle.. & 99 other flowering species! The Norfolk uplands produced Fumarias, Muehlenbeckia & Rubus vestitus in unseasonably excellent condition. #NYPH @bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
The hardy division of #NorfolkFloraGroup shunned a ‘yellow warning’ of ice and snow in favour of the yellow flowers of Buddle.. & 99 other flowering species! The Norfolk uplands produced Fumarias, Muehlenbeckia & Rubus vestitus in unseasonably excellent condition. #NYPH @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Day 2 of #NewYearPlantHunt: >800 surveys; >12,000 records; 522 species in bloom.
In tonight's round-up: @danryannature.bsky.social reports from Cornwall; #12daysWild; wide media coverage following our joint @metoffice.gov.uk press release & 1st ever hybrid #NYPH x Pub Crawl
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
In tonight's round-up: @danryannature.bsky.social reports from Cornwall; #12daysWild; wide media coverage following our joint @metoffice.gov.uk press release & 1st ever hybrid #NYPH x Pub Crawl
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
January 2, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Day 2 of #NewYearPlantHunt: >800 surveys; >12,000 records; 522 species in bloom.
In tonight's round-up: @danryannature.bsky.social reports from Cornwall; #12daysWild; wide media coverage following our joint @metoffice.gov.uk press release & 1st ever hybrid #NYPH x Pub Crawl
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
In tonight's round-up: @danryannature.bsky.social reports from Cornwall; #12daysWild; wide media coverage following our joint @metoffice.gov.uk press release & 1st ever hybrid #NYPH x Pub Crawl
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
Nineth cider of the day on the #NYPH pub crawl in Norwich and 91 species under our belt. Some great plants - a luxurious Pseudofumaria lutea mistaken for a hanging basket a fav.. scaling the castle.. and some great pubs. Top effort #NorfolkFloraGroup #NYPH Same next January
January 2, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Nineth cider of the day on the #NYPH pub crawl in Norwich and 91 species under our belt. Some great plants - a luxurious Pseudofumaria lutea mistaken for a hanging basket a fav.. scaling the castle.. and some great pubs. Top effort #NorfolkFloraGroup #NYPH Same next January
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
A cold start in the early morning at Menai Bridge today where 3 members of #Anglesey Flora Group carried out the #NYPH
We found 47 species, up on the 34 we found on the same route last year.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbicymru.bsky.social
We found 47 species, up on the 34 we found on the same route last year.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbicymru.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
A cold start in the early morning at Menai Bridge today where 3 members of #Anglesey Flora Group carried out the #NYPH
We found 47 species, up on the 34 we found on the same route last year.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbicymru.bsky.social
We found 47 species, up on the 34 we found on the same route last year.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbicymru.bsky.social
Top effort from #NorfolkFloraGroup for our 1st #NYPH of ‘26 in Thetford. Highlights including Early Sand Grass Mibora minima & both sspp of Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus ssp annuus & ssp polycarpos. 75spp - Currently ranking 2nd on @bsbibotany.bsky.social list of longest lists. Norwich tomorrow!
January 1, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Top effort from #NorfolkFloraGroup for our 1st #NYPH of ‘26 in Thetford. Highlights including Early Sand Grass Mibora minima & both sspp of Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus ssp annuus & ssp polycarpos. 75spp - Currently ranking 2nd on @bsbibotany.bsky.social list of longest lists. Norwich tomorrow!
Happy New Year! Early bed for me to be fresh for a #NYPH or four over the next few days. Snowdrop season is beginning out there so I wish you all a wonderful ‘26 with some fine and sunlit double Galanthus x valentinei from Norfolk’s Snowdrop Acre
December 31, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Happy New Year! Early bed for me to be fresh for a #NYPH or four over the next few days. Snowdrop season is beginning out there so I wish you all a wonderful ‘26 with some fine and sunlit double Galanthus x valentinei from Norfolk’s Snowdrop Acre
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Now, we wouldn't dream of encouraging people to get drunk - BSBI is a charity after all! - but this #NewYearPlantHunt & pub crawl hybrid in Norwich does look like fun.
Feel free to join @bramblebotanist.bsky.social & co or set up a similar event in your area!
Details here: bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
Feel free to join @bramblebotanist.bsky.social & co or set up a similar event in your area!
Details here: bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
December 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Now, we wouldn't dream of encouraging people to get drunk - BSBI is a charity after all! - but this #NewYearPlantHunt & pub crawl hybrid in Norwich does look like fun.
Feel free to join @bramblebotanist.bsky.social & co or set up a similar event in your area!
Details here: bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
Feel free to join @bramblebotanist.bsky.social & co or set up a similar event in your area!
Details here: bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Male and female flowers of Hazel just opening ready for #NYPH at Eastnor Deer Park today. #Herefordshire #WildflowerHour
December 28, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Male and female flowers of Hazel just opening ready for #NYPH at Eastnor Deer Park today. #Herefordshire #WildflowerHour
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
The last 5 of my 25 #theWinter10 😊 - Groundsel with bonus Forgetmenot, Yarrow, Red Deadnettle, Wood Avens and Common Stinging Nettle. I think I’ve worked out the route for my annual Bradford-on-Avon #NYPH 🙂
December 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The last 5 of my 25 #theWinter10 😊 - Groundsel with bonus Forgetmenot, Yarrow, Red Deadnettle, Wood Avens and Common Stinging Nettle. I think I’ve worked out the route for my annual Bradford-on-Avon #NYPH 🙂
Updated route for the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Norwich #NYPH pub crawl (to accommodate opening hrs). 30mins between pubs, 15 mins at each.. should be doable in daylight hours! Murderers> Red Lion> Golden Sun> Fat Cat> Garden House> Coach&Horses> Murderers! All welcome 2nd Jan 10:30 at pub#1
December 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Updated route for the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Norwich #NYPH pub crawl (to accommodate opening hrs). 30mins between pubs, 15 mins at each.. should be doable in daylight hours! Murderers> Red Lion> Golden Sun> Fat Cat> Garden House> Coach&Horses> Murderers! All welcome 2nd Jan 10:30 at pub#1
Interrupted Brome Bromus interruptus is a rare/extinct-in-the-wild English endemic. Perhaps it has a future as a garden plant - it looked lovely spreading through my cottage garden borders last summer
December 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Interrupted Brome Bromus interruptus is a rare/extinct-in-the-wild English endemic. Perhaps it has a future as a garden plant - it looked lovely spreading through my cottage garden borders last summer
Last summer I checked on the local Dactylorhiza incarnata ‘gemanna’ (pics 1&2 2020).. now it is being pretty standard incarnata incarnata (pics 3&4), giving weight to the theory it’s just a well grown version of the nominate form of Early Marsh Orchid #OrchidChallenge #wildflowerhour
December 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Last summer I checked on the local Dactylorhiza incarnata ‘gemanna’ (pics 1&2 2020).. now it is being pretty standard incarnata incarnata (pics 3&4), giving weight to the theory it’s just a well grown version of the nominate form of Early Marsh Orchid #OrchidChallenge #wildflowerhour
Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera at its largest Suffolk location last summer #OrchidChallenge #WildflowerHour
December 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera at its largest Suffolk location last summer #OrchidChallenge #WildflowerHour
Lax-flowered Orchid Anacamptis laxiflora in the Channel Islands last summer, including a few colour forms #orchidchallenge #wildflowerhour
December 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Lax-flowered Orchid Anacamptis laxiflora in the Channel Islands last summer, including a few colour forms #orchidchallenge #wildflowerhour
In summer 2024 Norfolk’s first ever Military Orchid Orchis militaris popped up. Of somewhat suspicious origin and soon felled by herbivore unknown. No sign of it in 2025. Spectacular while it was here though! #orchidchallenge #wildflowerhour
December 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
In summer 2024 Norfolk’s first ever Military Orchid Orchis militaris popped up. Of somewhat suspicious origin and soon felled by herbivore unknown. No sign of it in 2025. Spectacular while it was here though! #orchidchallenge #wildflowerhour
The wonderful Guernsey Fern Asplenium x microdon, the hybrid of Lanceolate Spleenwort A. billotii and Hartstongue A. scolopendrium, growing with both parent species on the banks of a shady lane on Guernsey last summer
December 30, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The wonderful Guernsey Fern Asplenium x microdon, the hybrid of Lanceolate Spleenwort A. billotii and Hartstongue A. scolopendrium, growing with both parent species on the banks of a shady lane on Guernsey last summer
Welsh Mudwort Limosella australis grown from strandline fragments at Pwllheli harbour. Unlike Mudwort L. aquatica (last pic) australis has undifferentiated petiole/leaf & surprisingly strongly freesia-scented white flowers #wildflowerhour
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Welsh Mudwort Limosella australis grown from strandline fragments at Pwllheli harbour. Unlike Mudwort L. aquatica (last pic) australis has undifferentiated petiole/leaf & surprisingly strongly freesia-scented white flowers #wildflowerhour
In an attempt to stave off the glooming I’m revisiting photos from summers past (previously shared on ‘the other place’).. & thought I’d share some again here.. In summer 2024 #NorfolkFloraGroup visited a beautiful extensive grassland restoration over patterned ground in west Norfolk. Names on pics
December 30, 2025 at 1:06 PM
In an attempt to stave off the glooming I’m revisiting photos from summers past (previously shared on ‘the other place’).. & thought I’d share some again here.. In summer 2024 #NorfolkFloraGroup visited a beautiful extensive grassland restoration over patterned ground in west Norfolk. Names on pics
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Just 2 sleeps to go before the #BSBI #NewYearPlantHunt!!! bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
Here in sunny #Norfolk, the #NorfolkFloraGroup is running 3 events: Thetford on 1st Jan; Norwich (incl @bramblebotanist.bsky.social's pub crawl) on 2nd Jan and Sheringham on 3rd Jan. Join us. Make new friends! 🥰
Here in sunny #Norfolk, the #NorfolkFloraGroup is running 3 events: Thetford on 1st Jan; Norwich (incl @bramblebotanist.bsky.social's pub crawl) on 2nd Jan and Sheringham on 3rd Jan. Join us. Make new friends! 🥰
Group Hunts
bsbi.org
December 30, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Just 2 sleeps to go before the #BSBI #NewYearPlantHunt!!! bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
Here in sunny #Norfolk, the #NorfolkFloraGroup is running 3 events: Thetford on 1st Jan; Norwich (incl @bramblebotanist.bsky.social's pub crawl) on 2nd Jan and Sheringham on 3rd Jan. Join us. Make new friends! 🥰
Here in sunny #Norfolk, the #NorfolkFloraGroup is running 3 events: Thetford on 1st Jan; Norwich (incl @bramblebotanist.bsky.social's pub crawl) on 2nd Jan and Sheringham on 3rd Jan. Join us. Make new friends! 🥰
Reposted by Alex Prendergast
Excellent prolonged views of a Black-winged Kite this morning! #Norfolkbirding
December 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Excellent prolonged views of a Black-winged Kite this morning! #Norfolkbirding