Matt Parkins
@dartmoorraven.bsky.social
Woodland conservationist. Love trees, wild places and the occasional dormouse. Working in the beautiful wooded valleys of Dartmoor
After a very exciting day surveying veteran trees in the ancient #Dartmoor woods it's time to catch up on some snoozing with Justin Beaver #BTposse #borderterrier
September 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
After a very exciting day surveying veteran trees in the ancient #Dartmoor woods it's time to catch up on some snoozing with Justin Beaver #BTposse #borderterrier
Restoring ancient woodlands in the Dart valley #Dartmoor. Slowly extracting the introduced conifer trees lets the light in for the native species to return. Here a patch of bell heather in various shades of pink is enhanced by a beautiful cluster of white. The ancient oaks are also making a return 🌳
August 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Restoring ancient woodlands in the Dart valley #Dartmoor. Slowly extracting the introduced conifer trees lets the light in for the native species to return. Here a patch of bell heather in various shades of pink is enhanced by a beautiful cluster of white. The ancient oaks are also making a return 🌳
Dormouse hibernation season is coming to an end, starting another optimistic spring. A few are leaving their ground level winter nests and appearing in nest boxes (strictly licensed monitoring) It must be my lucky day to find 3 long eared bats resting in a nest box #Dartmoor #Devon
April 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Early spring sunshine in the woods of #Dartmoor and a few degrees above freezing, a ragged red admiral emerged from its winter dormancy. Nature’s will to survive never ceases to amaze me
March 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Early spring sunshine in the woods of #Dartmoor and a few degrees above freezing, a ragged red admiral emerged from its winter dormancy. Nature’s will to survive never ceases to amaze me
Working in woodland restoration and conservation in Woodland Trust sites around #Dartmoor has been a great privilege for me over the last ten years, but monitoring the recently reintroduced pine martens is a real treat! www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmPJ...
Two Moors Pine Marten project - Georgia hunting for food
YouTube video by The Woodland Trust
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Working in woodland restoration and conservation in Woodland Trust sites around #Dartmoor has been a great privilege for me over the last ten years, but monitoring the recently reintroduced pine martens is a real treat! www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmPJ...
Not impressed by #stormbert More frequent, more severe storms they said #climatechange That's two this week already! #borderterrier #btposse
November 23, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Not impressed by #stormbert More frequent, more severe storms they said #climatechange That's two this week already! #borderterrier #btposse
Early season snowfall today at Okehampton. It's still autumn and the weight of snow on leaf bearing trees has brought down many branches and larger limbs. Is this a sign of climate instability? Is this what it looks like? Shame about the beautiful copper beech tree @englishheritage.bsky.social
November 21, 2024 at 5:18 PM
Early season snowfall today at Okehampton. It's still autumn and the weight of snow on leaf bearing trees has brought down many branches and larger limbs. Is this a sign of climate instability? Is this what it looks like? Shame about the beautiful copper beech tree @englishheritage.bsky.social
Another Bluesky day in the woods of Dartmoor. A moment to stand under a mighty oak canopy in the ancient autumnal woods of Dartmoor's valleys. I'm at home here 😍
November 13, 2024 at 6:10 PM
Another Bluesky day in the woods of Dartmoor. A moment to stand under a mighty oak canopy in the ancient autumnal woods of Dartmoor's valleys. I'm at home here 😍
One of the last dormouse nest box checks of the season before hibernation. This dedicated mother won't leave her young one until it is independent. Then it's time for her to build her own hibernation nest. After that ... Good luck little one!! Monitoring and photo under Natural England licence
October 21, 2024 at 6:07 PM
One of the last dormouse nest box checks of the season before hibernation. This dedicated mother won't leave her young one until it is independent. Then it's time for her to build her own hibernation nest. After that ... Good luck little one!! Monitoring and photo under Natural England licence
I've been waiting ten years to find a buzzard that will stay still for a while. Today was the day. This one was standing in a patch of mud, looking for food. What a beautiful bird - in spite of the muddy feet!
October 7, 2024 at 6:17 PM
I've been waiting ten years to find a buzzard that will stay still for a while. Today was the day. This one was standing in a patch of mud, looking for food. What a beautiful bird - in spite of the muddy feet!
Welsh mountain rowan berries. Seed stored in damp sand over the winter. Teeny tiny trees next spring 🌱
September 11, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Welsh mountain rowan berries. Seed stored in damp sand over the winter. Teeny tiny trees next spring 🌱
Been talking about small woodland mammals at the Meldon Wildlife Festival #Dartmoor again today. Accompanied by one large and one small wood mouse. A great event to share wildlife stories ... and free too!
August 20, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Been talking about small woodland mammals at the Meldon Wildlife Festival #Dartmoor again today. Accompanied by one large and one small wood mouse. A great event to share wildlife stories ... and free too!
It's been a small woodland mammal kind of weekend with open days at Yarner Wood and Okehampton Castle #Dartmoor. I love to chat about wildlife and woodland conservation with a close-up look at voles and wood mice.
May 19, 2024 at 9:00 PM
It's been a small woodland mammal kind of weekend with open days at Yarner Wood and Okehampton Castle #Dartmoor. I love to chat about wildlife and woodland conservation with a close-up look at voles and wood mice.
The woods of east Dartmoor today - both before and after the rain. I love my job!
May 6, 2024 at 8:38 PM
The woods of east Dartmoor today - both before and after the rain. I love my job!
March 10, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Hair ice forming on sticks in the woods. After a wet and windy December, 2024 starts with frost and ice to remind us of proper woodland winter weather. How long will it last? #climatechange
January 8, 2024 at 9:52 PM
Hair ice forming on sticks in the woods. After a wet and windy December, 2024 starts with frost and ice to remind us of proper woodland winter weather. How long will it last? #climatechange
My first day on Bluesky is also a #bluesky winter day in the woods of #Dartmoor - a site survey with our beautiful #borderterrier pup
December 1, 2023 at 3:40 PM
My first day on Bluesky is also a #bluesky winter day in the woods of #Dartmoor - a site survey with our beautiful #borderterrier pup