Helen McAra
@hedgerownibbler.bsky.social
I run plant & fungi ident courses, helping people reconnect with nature & discover the amazing wild foods of the UK. Nature lover especially wild orchids. Often found in woods & meadows hunting for inner peace and fungi. Wild Seasons Foraging #wildfood
This breaks my heart! I feel so ashamed of being English right now and that breaks my heart all over again. I feel like I’m having the country I love stolen from me by people who don’t understand the damage they are doing or simply prefer hatred over anything else. I’m weeping inside.
Oh look. There really are "no go areas" in England.
And they're marked by St George's flags
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
And they're marked by St George's flags
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
This breaks my heart! I feel so ashamed of being English right now and that breaks my heart all over again. I feel like I’m having the country I love stolen from me by people who don’t understand the damage they are doing or simply prefer hatred over anything else. I’m weeping inside.
Reposted by Helen McAra
A fun encounter with a Yellow-flecked Glassfrog (Sachatamia albomaculata) last night at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#frogs #amphibians #nature
#frogs #amphibians #nature
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
A fun encounter with a Yellow-flecked Glassfrog (Sachatamia albomaculata) last night at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#frogs #amphibians #nature
#frogs #amphibians #nature
Reposted by Helen McAra
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Helen McAra
Super visit to #LightUpLancaster at the weekend, one of my favourite light installations was this one called Urban wild by Laura Spark, travelling through the seasons with wildflowers ending in #Mushrooms. #MushroomMonday @visitlancashire.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Super visit to #LightUpLancaster at the weekend, one of my favourite light installations was this one called Urban wild by Laura Spark, travelling through the seasons with wildflowers ending in #Mushrooms. #MushroomMonday @visitlancashire.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen McAra
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
A very tasty too - nutty with a hint of bacon. Please only pick a few and leave most of them for the deer. Who it has to be said, have not heard of sustainable foraging and gobble the whole lot given a chance. 😂
Hydnum repandum - Wood Hedgehog. Delicious. I scrape off all the spines where I find them, ensuring the spores will spread and create more. #FungiFriends
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A very tasty too - nutty with a hint of bacon. Please only pick a few and leave most of them for the deer. Who it has to be said, have not heard of sustainable foraging and gobble the whole lot given a chance. 😂
Reposted by Helen McAra
We have three vital Lords amendments coming to the Commons: brownfield-first development, protection for chalk streams, and stopping “pay-to-pollute” deals.
Please lobby your MP — especially Labour MPs — and urge them to back all three.
#ProtectNature #CleanWater
Please lobby your MP — especially Labour MPs — and urge them to back all three.
#ProtectNature #CleanWater
November 5, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Helen McAra
When it comes to #orchids, Rhodes really is the island that keeps on giving. There are dozens of Ophrys bee orchid species to be seen there, and the variation within some of those is considerable. Here are a few Ophrys reinholdii from recent years. I find them seriously addictive!
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
When it comes to #orchids, Rhodes really is the island that keeps on giving. There are dozens of Ophrys bee orchid species to be seen there, and the variation within some of those is considerable. Here are a few Ophrys reinholdii from recent years. I find them seriously addictive!
Reposted by Helen McAra
Was going to bin this shot, but something made me keep it & now I kind of like it for the movement and tones overall.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth of course.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth of course.
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Was going to bin this shot, but something made me keep it & now I kind of like it for the movement and tones overall.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth of course.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth of course.
Reposted by Helen McAra
There are Sun Orchids (Thelymitra sp.) still flowering in the Perth Hills and the Hover flies were loving them today 💙🪰
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #ausinverts #diptera #pollinators #nature
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #ausinverts #diptera #pollinators #nature
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
There are Sun Orchids (Thelymitra sp.) still flowering in the Perth Hills and the Hover flies were loving them today 💙🪰
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #ausinverts #diptera #pollinators #nature
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #ausinverts #diptera #pollinators #nature
Reposted by Helen McAra
Devil's Fingers, Clathrus archeri, on a Dorset heath today. #wildfungihour
November 2, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Devil's Fingers, Clathrus archeri, on a Dorset heath today. #wildfungihour
Reposted by Helen McAra
Waxcap 20 - Jubilee Waxcap (Gliophorus reginae). One of our rarest species and an absolute stunner 😍 Only named in 2012 and from a British specimen, the name comes from it then being the Jubilee. Colours differ from Parrot and gill attachment from Heath. Only in our best unimproved grasslands.
November 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Waxcap 20 - Jubilee Waxcap (Gliophorus reginae). One of our rarest species and an absolute stunner 😍 Only named in 2012 and from a British specimen, the name comes from it then being the Jubilee. Colours differ from Parrot and gill attachment from Heath. Only in our best unimproved grasslands.
Glorious beech tree in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire today doing its best sun salutation position on a gorgeous sunny day. What a wonderful sight! 💛
November 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Glorious beech tree in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire today doing its best sun salutation position on a gorgeous sunny day. What a wonderful sight! 💛
Reposted by Helen McAra
November 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Helen McAra
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by Helen McAra
How about some spiky spiders tonight? This one is Micrathena acuta, a spiny orbweaver found in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. It is believed that the spines serve as a defense from birds and even predatory wasps.
Cuyabeno Reserve, 2024
Cuyabeno Reserve, 2024
October 28, 2025 at 12:12 AM
How about some spiky spiders tonight? This one is Micrathena acuta, a spiny orbweaver found in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. It is believed that the spines serve as a defense from birds and even predatory wasps.
Cuyabeno Reserve, 2024
Cuyabeno Reserve, 2024
Reposted by Helen McAra
UK wind power benefits and costs 2010-2023 :
Lower energy bills through avoided gas: £14.2bn
Avoided infra & new gas generation: £133.3bn
Subsidies paid to wind power: - £43.2bn
Overall benefit to UK economy **£104bn**
Don't believe the wind power haters
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Lower energy bills through avoided gas: £14.2bn
Avoided infra & new gas generation: £133.3bn
Subsidies paid to wind power: - £43.2bn
Overall benefit to UK economy **£104bn**
Don't believe the wind power haters
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds
Reduction comes from energy generated from windfarms and lower cost of gas owing to lower demand
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:17 AM
UK wind power benefits and costs 2010-2023 :
Lower energy bills through avoided gas: £14.2bn
Avoided infra & new gas generation: £133.3bn
Subsidies paid to wind power: - £43.2bn
Overall benefit to UK economy **£104bn**
Don't believe the wind power haters
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Lower energy bills through avoided gas: £14.2bn
Avoided infra & new gas generation: £133.3bn
Subsidies paid to wind power: - £43.2bn
Overall benefit to UK economy **£104bn**
Don't believe the wind power haters
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Helen McAra
Looking up into the crown of a much-loved ancient Small-leaved Lime coppice stool in Old Sulehay Forest on a gloomy grey day, the remaining leaves gradually changing from green to clear-yellow.
@wildlifebcn.org #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
@wildlifebcn.org #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Looking up into the crown of a much-loved ancient Small-leaved Lime coppice stool in Old Sulehay Forest on a gloomy grey day, the remaining leaves gradually changing from green to clear-yellow.
@wildlifebcn.org #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
@wildlifebcn.org #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen McAra
Reposted by Helen McAra
Aren't robberflies amazing? Large, fast, predatory flies that inject their prey with a paralysing and digestive neurotoxin, then suck out the liquified contents. Yum.
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
October 22, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Aren't robberflies amazing? Large, fast, predatory flies that inject their prey with a paralysing and digestive neurotoxin, then suck out the liquified contents. Yum.
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
Reposted by Helen McAra
The Ent Tree in Staffordshire: possibly a distant relative...
October 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
The Ent Tree in Staffordshire: possibly a distant relative...
Reposted by Helen McAra
Dragonflies and Damselflies have been around for 300 Million years, they live up to 6 months & feed on mosquitos & other insects, keeping numbers in check. They are a good species to have around as they require clean water, indicating a good ecosystem & they do not bite or sting contrary to rumour.
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Dragonflies and Damselflies have been around for 300 Million years, they live up to 6 months & feed on mosquitos & other insects, keeping numbers in check. They are a good species to have around as they require clean water, indicating a good ecosystem & they do not bite or sting contrary to rumour.
Reposted by Helen McAra
Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis): This beautiful 43cm (17in) parrot species is endemic to eastern Australia. Ranging from Queensland to Victoria. They feed on the ground or in trees on fruit and seeds. Awesome photo taken by Joy Bourke in Sydney, Australia #kingparrot #sydney #australia
October 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis): This beautiful 43cm (17in) parrot species is endemic to eastern Australia. Ranging from Queensland to Victoria. They feed on the ground or in trees on fruit and seeds. Awesome photo taken by Joy Bourke in Sydney, Australia #kingparrot #sydney #australia
Reposted by Helen McAra
