Vicki Hird MSc FRES
@vickihird.bsky.social
Lobbies on food, farming, environment policy, just transition & research,strategy, talks, writing, blogs, books..
Passion for bugs
Author of 'Rebugging the Planet' & 'Perfectly Safe to Eat?'
Share≠agree
https://linktr.ee/vickihird
also @WildlifeTrusts
Passion for bugs
Author of 'Rebugging the Planet' & 'Perfectly Safe to Eat?'
Share≠agree
https://linktr.ee/vickihird
also @WildlifeTrusts
PSA! leaf litter on your lawn can house thousands of babies🧐 - some hoverfly babies (larvae) i spotted earlier today. (plus old hoverfly pic for info)
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
November 16, 2025 at 1:17 PM
PSA! leaf litter on your lawn can house thousands of babies🧐 - some hoverfly babies (larvae) i spotted earlier today. (plus old hoverfly pic for info)
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Don't put leaf litter in the bin- it's a precious, nutrient-filled habitat..Pile it up, compost it or just leave it... 😁🌿🍁🍂
Feeding sugar water to a hungry bumblebee.. She was moving so slowly☺️
November 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Feeding sugar water to a hungry bumblebee.. She was moving so slowly☺️
An ivy bee and common carder bee - both having a wee rest in the sun 😍.
The common carder bumble bee was so fast asleep🛌
The common carder bumble bee was so fast asleep🛌
October 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
An ivy bee and common carder bee - both having a wee rest in the sun 😍.
The common carder bumble bee was so fast asleep🛌
The common carder bumble bee was so fast asleep🛌
Been on this leaf for 4 days now. What are they waiting for? A lover😁
October 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Been on this leaf for 4 days now. What are they waiting for? A lover😁
Snails can seem annoying but they are such a hugely important part of the cycling of nutrients in and on soil. They, slugs and other beings like worms are vital - breaking down plant matter so it's bioavailable for microbial digestion then for use by plants and so the cycle moves on♻️
#babysnail 🐌🥰
#babysnail 🐌🥰
October 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Snails can seem annoying but they are such a hugely important part of the cycling of nutrients in and on soil. They, slugs and other beings like worms are vital - breaking down plant matter so it's bioavailable for microbial digestion then for use by plants and so the cycle moves on♻️
#babysnail 🐌🥰
#babysnail 🐌🥰
Photo i took at kew few weeks ago
September 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Photo i took at kew few weeks ago
Great to see @harperadamsuni.bsky.social on bbc #universitychallenge for first time 👌
especially with an entomologist 😊🐛🦋🐝
especially with an entomologist 😊🐛🦋🐝
September 29, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Great to see @harperadamsuni.bsky.social on bbc #universitychallenge for first time 👌
especially with an entomologist 😊🐛🦋🐝
especially with an entomologist 😊🐛🦋🐝
How many Southern GreenShield Bugs - of all instars can you spot...?
September 28, 2025 at 6:59 PM
How many Southern GreenShield Bugs - of all instars can you spot...?
Furrow bee - maybe Orange Legged - in the mint flowers in the garden. Very small bees
September 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Furrow bee - maybe Orange Legged - in the mint flowers in the garden. Very small bees
Organic orchard wildlife splurge.. Glorious day picking sooo many organic apples and pears amongst great wildlife.. Including
lizards, copper butterflies, harvestman and amazing Trumpet Lichen
lizards, copper butterflies, harvestman and amazing Trumpet Lichen
September 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Organic orchard wildlife splurge.. Glorious day picking sooo many organic apples and pears amongst great wildlife.. Including
lizards, copper butterflies, harvestman and amazing Trumpet Lichen
lizards, copper butterflies, harvestman and amazing Trumpet Lichen
Green Shield bug on my cherry tomatoes.. They better not munch any 🤨🤨🍅🍅
August 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Green Shield bug on my cherry tomatoes.. They better not munch any 🤨🤨🍅🍅
New research on Pig & poultry sector -perfect example of a food system 40 year race to the bottom. Cheapness above all other considerations:
food security & land use
nature,
farm incomes
pollution
Water
animal health&welfare Need race to the top #lessandbetter
www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/vicki-h...
food security & land use
nature,
farm incomes
pollution
Water
animal health&welfare Need race to the top #lessandbetter
www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/vicki-h...
August 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New research on Pig & poultry sector -perfect example of a food system 40 year race to the bottom. Cheapness above all other considerations:
food security & land use
nature,
farm incomes
pollution
Water
animal health&welfare Need race to the top #lessandbetter
www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/vicki-h...
food security & land use
nature,
farm incomes
pollution
Water
animal health&welfare Need race to the top #lessandbetter
www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/vicki-h...
Knot Grass Moth caterpillar eating the lilly pads in my tiny pond 😍🐛
August 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Knot Grass Moth caterpillar eating the lilly pads in my tiny pond 😍🐛
I've a big soft spot for the Beewolf- amazing solitary wasp. The female creates a 1 metre log tunnel with up to 34 side tunnel egg chambers, can spray a fungi & bacteria screen on 6 bees she's paralysed & bought for each baby to eat when emerged.
Amazing
www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-exp...
Amazing
www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-exp...
August 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM
I've a big soft spot for the Beewolf- amazing solitary wasp. The female creates a 1 metre log tunnel with up to 34 side tunnel egg chambers, can spray a fungi & bacteria screen on 6 bees she's paralysed & bought for each baby to eat when emerged.
Amazing
www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-exp...
Amazing
www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-exp...
Spotted at @rbgkew.bsky.social - a first for me - Southern Oak Bush-Cricket - taking refuge in a flower
Also saw many huge European Hornets, hoverflies and bees
Also saw many huge European Hornets, hoverflies and bees
August 22, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Spotted at @rbgkew.bsky.social - a first for me - Southern Oak Bush-Cricket - taking refuge in a flower
Also saw many huge European Hornets, hoverflies and bees
Also saw many huge European Hornets, hoverflies and bees
A very young Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf spider in the sun today
August 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
A very young Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf spider in the sun today
OK so I'm getting a second strawberry harvest 🍓😵and the bay tree is flowering for a second time this year.
#natureupended #climatechaos 🫣
#natureupended #climatechaos 🫣
August 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
OK so I'm getting a second strawberry harvest 🍓😵and the bay tree is flowering for a second time this year.
#natureupended #climatechaos 🫣
#natureupended #climatechaos 🫣
That boxer crab piece on @bbc #Parenthood was fabulous.. The crab is so so smart.. Using anemonies for both food and (self replicating) defence of eggs😮 And the filming superb👌👏👏👏
August 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
That boxer crab piece on @bbc #Parenthood was fabulous.. The crab is so so smart.. Using anemonies for both food and (self replicating) defence of eggs😮 And the filming superb👌👏👏👏
Feeding time in a passion flower fruit. Southern Green Shield juvenile and adult tucking in... 😋
August 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Feeding time in a passion flower fruit. Southern Green Shield juvenile and adult tucking in... 😋
It's #Nationalmothweek 19-27th July!
so here's two from my garden this week so far - Mint Moth and Jersey Tiger Moth
-DYK moths are fabulous pollinators?
@mothweek.bsky.social
so here's two from my garden this week so far - Mint Moth and Jersey Tiger Moth
-DYK moths are fabulous pollinators?
@mothweek.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
It's #Nationalmothweek 19-27th July!
so here's two from my garden this week so far - Mint Moth and Jersey Tiger Moth
-DYK moths are fabulous pollinators?
@mothweek.bsky.social
so here's two from my garden this week so far - Mint Moth and Jersey Tiger Moth
-DYK moths are fabulous pollinators?
@mothweek.bsky.social
Watching @DefraGovUK sec @SteveReedMP announce New capital grants open today incl educ grants and new style SFI which with involve packages to deliver outcomes - sounds good. More whole farm approaches?
#NaturePositiveFarming
@Groundswellaguk
#NaturePositiveFarming
@Groundswellaguk
July 3, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Watching @DefraGovUK sec @SteveReedMP announce New capital grants open today incl educ grants and new style SFI which with involve packages to deliver outcomes - sounds good. More whole farm approaches?
#NaturePositiveFarming
@Groundswellaguk
#NaturePositiveFarming
@Groundswellaguk
New 10 year health plan out today. Some good bits on diets, junk food marketing, sure start.. Should link to healthy sustainable food system and farming assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6866387f…
July 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
New 10 year health plan out today. Some good bits on diets, junk food marketing, sure start.. Should link to healthy sustainable food system and farming assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6866387f…
Love this fly😍
- the unmistakable Ferruginous Bee-grabber - such an odd large yellow face and it curls it's abdomen underneath itself.
- lays its eggs on bees which then hatch and live as larvae on the bee as parasites
#30DaysWild #30daysbug
- the unmistakable Ferruginous Bee-grabber - such an odd large yellow face and it curls it's abdomen underneath itself.
- lays its eggs on bees which then hatch and live as larvae on the bee as parasites
#30DaysWild #30daysbug
June 29, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Love this fly😍
- the unmistakable Ferruginous Bee-grabber - such an odd large yellow face and it curls it's abdomen underneath itself.
- lays its eggs on bees which then hatch and live as larvae on the bee as parasites
#30DaysWild #30daysbug
- the unmistakable Ferruginous Bee-grabber - such an odd large yellow face and it curls it's abdomen underneath itself.
- lays its eggs on bees which then hatch and live as larvae on the bee as parasites
#30DaysWild #30daysbug