James Harding-Morris
@bsbicountries.bsky.social
BSBI Countries Manager. Supporting our network of recorders across Britain and Ireland and working to engage people with plants through education and recording.
Also great (and concerning) to see @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social work on our dwindling endemic Welsh Groundsel.
November 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Also great (and concerning) to see @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social work on our dwindling endemic Welsh Groundsel.
The British and Irish Botanical conference was as incredible as ever. Wonderful to see some investigation into the genetics of different populations of the endemic Sorbus lancastriensis.
November 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The British and Irish Botanical conference was as incredible as ever. Wonderful to see some investigation into the genetics of different populations of the endemic Sorbus lancastriensis.
We've had nearly 300 bookings for our talk on the Clubmosses of Britain and Ireland by Fred Rumsey next Tuesday evening (2nd December) and there's still places left!
Book now for free (though donations towards our work are appreciated): share.google/lQL6JQ7E9SEQ...
Book now for free (though donations towards our work are appreciated): share.google/lQL6JQ7E9SEQ...
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
We've had nearly 300 bookings for our talk on the Clubmosses of Britain and Ireland by Fred Rumsey next Tuesday evening (2nd December) and there's still places left!
Book now for free (though donations towards our work are appreciated): share.google/lQL6JQ7E9SEQ...
Book now for free (though donations towards our work are appreciated): share.google/lQL6JQ7E9SEQ...
There were a few species I wrote about in Endemic whose precise locations I needed to swear to keep secret.
One of these was the location of one of the last wild Great Orme Berries, Cotoneaster cambricus. There are only *six* truly wild plants left on the planet, all on the Great Orme.
One of these was the location of one of the last wild Great Orme Berries, Cotoneaster cambricus. There are only *six* truly wild plants left on the planet, all on the Great Orme.
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
There were a few species I wrote about in Endemic whose precise locations I needed to swear to keep secret.
One of these was the location of one of the last wild Great Orme Berries, Cotoneaster cambricus. There are only *six* truly wild plants left on the planet, all on the Great Orme.
One of these was the location of one of the last wild Great Orme Berries, Cotoneaster cambricus. There are only *six* truly wild plants left on the planet, all on the Great Orme.
Even though I visited Unst and saw Edmondston's Chickweed whilst researching my book Endemic, I ended up not including it to make space for more evolutionary distinct endemics.
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Even though I visited Unst and saw Edmondston's Chickweed whilst researching my book Endemic, I ended up not including it to make space for more evolutionary distinct endemics.
There are a lot of sources online that say Shetland is home to the endemic species Edmondston's Chickweed.
This is not the case - instead the island of Unst is the only global site for Cerastium nigrescens var. nigrescens, an endemic *variety* of the Artic Mouse-ear.
This is not the case - instead the island of Unst is the only global site for Cerastium nigrescens var. nigrescens, an endemic *variety* of the Artic Mouse-ear.
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
There are a lot of sources online that say Shetland is home to the endemic species Edmondston's Chickweed.
This is not the case - instead the island of Unst is the only global site for Cerastium nigrescens var. nigrescens, an endemic *variety* of the Artic Mouse-ear.
This is not the case - instead the island of Unst is the only global site for Cerastium nigrescens var. nigrescens, an endemic *variety* of the Artic Mouse-ear.
I saw these quite large earthstars yesterday - Geastrum coronatum? @lukaslarge.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I saw these quite large earthstars yesterday - Geastrum coronatum? @lukaslarge.bsky.social
English Whitebeam, Sorbus anglica, on top, with those wide, rounded, lobed leaves.
Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Sorbus porrigentiformis, on the bottom with those pinched, swept-forward leaves.
English Whitebeam is a British and Irish endemic, Grey-leaved is a British endemic.
Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Sorbus porrigentiformis, on the bottom with those pinched, swept-forward leaves.
English Whitebeam is a British and Irish endemic, Grey-leaved is a British endemic.
November 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
English Whitebeam, Sorbus anglica, on top, with those wide, rounded, lobed leaves.
Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Sorbus porrigentiformis, on the bottom with those pinched, swept-forward leaves.
English Whitebeam is a British and Irish endemic, Grey-leaved is a British endemic.
Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Sorbus porrigentiformis, on the bottom with those pinched, swept-forward leaves.
English Whitebeam is a British and Irish endemic, Grey-leaved is a British endemic.
On Monday 17th November we have a webinar from our @npwsireland.bsky.social-funded Targeted Aquatic Plants Project.
This webinar, from the fantastic Nick Stewart, is about the identification of non-native aquatic plants.
Interested? Book yourself a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
This webinar, from the fantastic Nick Stewart, is about the identification of non-native aquatic plants.
Interested? Book yourself a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 PM
On Monday 17th November we have a webinar from our @npwsireland.bsky.social-funded Targeted Aquatic Plants Project.
This webinar, from the fantastic Nick Stewart, is about the identification of non-native aquatic plants.
Interested? Book yourself a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
This webinar, from the fantastic Nick Stewart, is about the identification of non-native aquatic plants.
Interested? Book yourself a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
I have saw the single remaining mature tree - the only one left in the wild - back in August 2023 (that beautiful multi-stemmed clump).
I wrote about tracking it down in my book Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain (consider it for your Christmas lists 😉)
share.google/BGjKP3njozRd...
I wrote about tracking it down in my book Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain (consider it for your Christmas lists 😉)
share.google/BGjKP3njozRd...
November 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I have saw the single remaining mature tree - the only one left in the wild - back in August 2023 (that beautiful multi-stemmed clump).
I wrote about tracking it down in my book Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain (consider it for your Christmas lists 😉)
share.google/BGjKP3njozRd...
I wrote about tracking it down in my book Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain (consider it for your Christmas lists 😉)
share.google/BGjKP3njozRd...
I was walking through the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens last weekend when I spotted an utterly unmistakable leaf on the ground.
Catacol Whitebeam! Arguably one of the rarest trees on Earth.
Catacol Whitebeam! Arguably one of the rarest trees on Earth.
November 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I was walking through the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens last weekend when I spotted an utterly unmistakable leaf on the ground.
Catacol Whitebeam! Arguably one of the rarest trees on Earth.
Catacol Whitebeam! Arguably one of the rarest trees on Earth.
We have another dozen talks still to go, with the next four being:
🟢Getting started with Rushes
🟢Leylandii and their look-a-likes
🟢10 Years of the National Plant Monitoring Scheme
🟢 Clubmosses of Ireland and Britain
All of these can be booked from this page: bsbi.org/botanical-sk...
🟢Getting started with Rushes
🟢Leylandii and their look-a-likes
🟢10 Years of the National Plant Monitoring Scheme
🟢 Clubmosses of Ireland and Britain
All of these can be booked from this page: bsbi.org/botanical-sk...
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
We have another dozen talks still to go, with the next four being:
🟢Getting started with Rushes
🟢Leylandii and their look-a-likes
🟢10 Years of the National Plant Monitoring Scheme
🟢 Clubmosses of Ireland and Britain
All of these can be booked from this page: bsbi.org/botanical-sk...
🟢Getting started with Rushes
🟢Leylandii and their look-a-likes
🟢10 Years of the National Plant Monitoring Scheme
🟢 Clubmosses of Ireland and Britain
All of these can be booked from this page: bsbi.org/botanical-sk...
Over the winter, our Northern Ireland Botanical Skills Project is running a series of webinars on Tuesday evenings. This week we had the amazing Mark Duffell explaining the etymology of scientific names.
Who knew that 'galeobdolon', the specific name of Yellow Archangel, means weasel-scented?
Who knew that 'galeobdolon', the specific name of Yellow Archangel, means weasel-scented?
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Over the winter, our Northern Ireland Botanical Skills Project is running a series of webinars on Tuesday evenings. This week we had the amazing Mark Duffell explaining the etymology of scientific names.
Who knew that 'galeobdolon', the specific name of Yellow Archangel, means weasel-scented?
Who knew that 'galeobdolon', the specific name of Yellow Archangel, means weasel-scented?
This Red List was built on around 50 million plant records collected by thousands of volunteer botanists with @bsbibotany.bsky.social between 1930 and 2019 - a stunning example of citizen science at work.
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This Red List was built on around 50 million plant records collected by thousands of volunteer botanists with @bsbibotany.bsky.social between 1930 and 2019 - a stunning example of citizen science at work.
The message is clear: more than a quarter of our flora is threatened.
We know the drivers. What’s needed now is urgent, coordinated action to restore our wild plants. 🌱
Read the full Red List → britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
We know the drivers. What’s needed now is urgent, coordinated action to restore our wild plants. 🌱
Read the full Red List → britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The message is clear: more than a quarter of our flora is threatened.
We know the drivers. What’s needed now is urgent, coordinated action to restore our wild plants. 🌱
Read the full Red List → britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
We know the drivers. What’s needed now is urgent, coordinated action to restore our wild plants. 🌱
Read the full Red List → britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
BSBI President Prof Paul Ashton says:
“Although the situation seems bleak, there are still many areas where our wild plants continue to flourish. We now have the evidence to understand what’s being lost - and what needs to be done.”
“Although the situation seems bleak, there are still many areas where our wild plants continue to flourish. We now have the evidence to understand what’s being lost - and what needs to be done.”
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
BSBI President Prof Paul Ashton says:
“Although the situation seems bleak, there are still many areas where our wild plants continue to flourish. We now have the evidence to understand what’s being lost - and what needs to be done.”
“Although the situation seems bleak, there are still many areas where our wild plants continue to flourish. We now have the evidence to understand what’s being lost - and what needs to be done.”
Many wildflowers are now in trouble, including:
💜 Common Milkwort
🌸 Common Restharrow
💜 Betony
🏵️ Marsh-marigold
💙 Venus’s-looking-glass
💙 Alpine Gentian
The causes? A mix:
🚜 Agricultural intensification (or neglect)
🏗️ Development pressure
💧 Pollution and nutrient overload
🌡️ Climate change
💜 Common Milkwort
🌸 Common Restharrow
💜 Betony
🏵️ Marsh-marigold
💙 Venus’s-looking-glass
💙 Alpine Gentian
The causes? A mix:
🚜 Agricultural intensification (or neglect)
🏗️ Development pressure
💧 Pollution and nutrient overload
🌡️ Climate change
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Many wildflowers are now in trouble, including:
💜 Common Milkwort
🌸 Common Restharrow
💜 Betony
🏵️ Marsh-marigold
💙 Venus’s-looking-glass
💙 Alpine Gentian
The causes? A mix:
🚜 Agricultural intensification (or neglect)
🏗️ Development pressure
💧 Pollution and nutrient overload
🌡️ Climate change
💜 Common Milkwort
🌸 Common Restharrow
💜 Betony
🏵️ Marsh-marigold
💙 Venus’s-looking-glass
💙 Alpine Gentian
The causes? A mix:
🚜 Agricultural intensification (or neglect)
🏗️ Development pressure
💧 Pollution and nutrient overload
🌡️ Climate change
Some good news: a few rare plants are doing better thanks to focused conservation work - like Fen Orchid - and others species, such as Bee Orchid and Pyramidal Orchid, have become more common.
But overall, the picture is worrying.
But overall, the picture is worrying.
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Some good news: a few rare plants are doing better thanks to focused conservation work - like Fen Orchid - and others species, such as Bee Orchid and Pyramidal Orchid, have become more common.
But overall, the picture is worrying.
But overall, the picture is worrying.
This new Red List assessed 1,720 native and archaeophyte species. (Archaeophytes = plants introduced before AD1500).
Of these, 434 species (26%) are now classed as either 'Critically Endangered', 'Endangered' or 'Vulnerable'.
Another 140 are classed as 'Near Threatened'.
Of these, 434 species (26%) are now classed as either 'Critically Endangered', 'Endangered' or 'Vulnerable'.
Another 140 are classed as 'Near Threatened'.
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This new Red List assessed 1,720 native and archaeophyte species. (Archaeophytes = plants introduced before AD1500).
Of these, 434 species (26%) are now classed as either 'Critically Endangered', 'Endangered' or 'Vulnerable'.
Another 140 are classed as 'Near Threatened'.
Of these, 434 species (26%) are now classed as either 'Critically Endangered', 'Endangered' or 'Vulnerable'.
Another 140 are classed as 'Near Threatened'.
A Red List is like a health check for species. It uses international criteria to assess how threatened each plant or animal is - from “Least Concern” to “Critically Endangered.”
It’s the evidence behind conservation work: what’s thriving, what’s declining, and what needs urgent help.
It’s the evidence behind conservation work: what’s thriving, what’s declining, and what needs urgent help.
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
A Red List is like a health check for species. It uses international criteria to assess how threatened each plant or animal is - from “Least Concern” to “Critically Endangered.”
It’s the evidence behind conservation work: what’s thriving, what’s declining, and what needs urgent help.
It’s the evidence behind conservation work: what’s thriving, what’s declining, and what needs urgent help.
A new Red List for Vascular Plants in Great Britain has just been published - the first update for twenty years 🌿
So what is a Red List, and why does it matter? What does this new report tells us about the state of Britain’s flora?
So what is a Red List, and why does it matter? What does this new report tells us about the state of Britain’s flora?
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
A new Red List for Vascular Plants in Great Britain has just been published - the first update for twenty years 🌿
So what is a Red List, and why does it matter? What does this new report tells us about the state of Britain’s flora?
So what is a Red List, and why does it matter? What does this new report tells us about the state of Britain’s flora?
And there it was. Pearly-pale, eyeless, carefully scooting its way through the muddy detritus.
You can read the full story in my book, Endemic.
You can read the full story in my book, Endemic.
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
And there it was. Pearly-pale, eyeless, carefully scooting its way through the muddy detritus.
You can read the full story in my book, Endemic.
You can read the full story in my book, Endemic.
Until eventually we reached a muddy puddle on the cave floor. The shrimp typically live in water filled cracks in the rock, but after rain can sometimes was out into these puddles and survive here.
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Until eventually we reached a muddy puddle on the cave floor. The shrimp typically live in water filled cracks in the rock, but after rain can sometimes was out into these puddles and survive here.
I saw some incredible cave formations (badly photographed, as all I risked taking into the dripping dark with me was an old phone).
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I saw some incredible cave formations (badly photographed, as all I risked taking into the dripping dark with me was an old phone).
With the support of Lee Knight, of the Hypogean Crustacea Recording Scheme (share.google/c2MGcWbxfEPa...) I was taken deep underground to try and track this species down.
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
With the support of Lee Knight, of the Hypogean Crustacea Recording Scheme (share.google/c2MGcWbxfEPa...) I was taken deep underground to try and track this species down.