Calling all plant photographers (and anyone with a camera phone and a bit of a sense of aesthetics): The 2026 Botanical Photographer of the Year competition is open for entries! bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Relaunched with a 16-strong judging panel, plus Young BPotY categories as well! Get snapping 📷😁

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI)@bsbibotany.bsky.social · 4w ago

We're delighted to announce the entire 16-strong judging panel for our 2026 Botanical Photographer of the Year competition! Mugshots below 👇 or check out all their biogs here: bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Then select your very best plant photos to enter into the competition: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...

Just refound and photographed the exact same view that I drew a picture of back in 2011. Location: near Ullapool, NW Scotland.

Just found myself in a first class train carriage for a few minutes before realising it. Seemed surprisingly normal. People looked the same as us, etc. Parallel universe stuff!

Marbled Coronet, found and photographed by Alison Averis in East Lothian on 24th June 2026. An inland record of a species that in Scotland is mainly coastal. #TeamMoth

Here's an exciting new role - Native Woodland Partnership Officer with @n-t-s.bsky.social - developing large-scale projects including #ScotlandsRainforest restoration projects in West Lochalsh & on Arran. Closing date: 21 Jun 2026 | Fixed-Term til Jan 2029 ➡️ buff.ly/3B0cE4f #NatureJobs #ForestryJobs

National

Vacancies in our central services: Audiences & Support, Conservation & Policy, Corporate & Commercial Services, People and Public Engagement & Research.

buff.ly

An unusual species mix just now in the NW ScottishHighlands: Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and the moss Antitrichia curtipendula. (Also some Blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus.)

Mother Shipton moth found and photographed by Alison Averis in Wester Ross, Scotland, on 10th June 2026. #TeamMoth

Beginner botanists & 100 Plants Challengers - join myself, local #BSBICountyRecorder Sue Jury & Ranger Matt McCabe on Sunday 28th June for a day exploring the botanical delights of Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat! So many fab plants! #100PlantsChallenge www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...

Book your place – Beginner Botany Walk - Holyrood Park, Edinburgh – Queen's Drive, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Beginner Botany Walk - Holyrood Park, Edinburgh – Queen's Drive, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sun 28 Jun 2026 - This is event is part of a suite of events, offered by BSBI members as part of the 100 Plan...

tickettailor.com

BSBI Scotland@bsbiscotland.bsky.social · 2mo ago

If you are a 100 Plants Challenger, or a new botanist looking for some friendly, beginner-focused events to help boost your confidence and skills - and see some lovely plants - look no further! bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Contin 8th June Cupar 13th June Edinburgh 28th June Inverness 16th July

Fantastic colours of Sphagnum mosses and reflected sky in a bog pool in Perthshire, Scotland, this afternoon.

Here's an example of bog vegetation (with abundant Hare's-tail Cottongrass - Eriophorum vaginatum) on a surprisingly steep slope. I found this today, during survey work in the hills in Perthshire, Scotland.

🟢 @lornaslater.bsky.social elected to represent Edinburgh Central! Lorna is the first Scottish Green MSP to be elected today, and the first Scottish Green constituency MSP to be elected ever!

Lots of dead, blackened leaves on Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) in woodland at a site in West Lothian, Scotland, today. Not sure what has caused this.

A nice human touch just a few minutes ago: the ticket inspector drew a smiley face on my train ticket!

The moss Grimmia pulvinata on a Rowan trunk at Kinross service station, Scotland, yesterday. More commonly seen on rocks and stonework.

Here is Alison's photo of the Nut-tree Tussock moth that she had in her moth trap last night, here in East Lothian, Scotland. It put itself in a position in which its patterns match those of the bark. #TeamMoth

Great to see @ross-greer.bsky.social of the Scottish Greens deal with that Reform guy so well. Very good work.

Scottish Greens@scottishgreens.org · 3mo ago

Tax 👏 The 👏 Rich 👏

My long experience of trying to source good quality ingredients when in the US makes me completely agree with this demonstration. Compare with France, where it’s actually harder to find processed crap than good fresh, unadulterated ingredients.

Liz Webster 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @lizwebster.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🇺🇸 v 🇪🇺 food Listen to what this American says about what a US trade deal really means for our food and health. While talking about “reset” with Europe… Starmer’s government is opening the door to US 🇺🇸 standards. That’s how they’re trying to make Brexit work.

This Monks Wood #rewilding (natural colonisation) plot is 30 years old this year. It's taken that long for this single Bluebell to migrate 20m from adjacent ancient woodland to colonise the plot. But now it's here, joining the growing trees & shrubs: future ancient woodland in the making.

Reserves Manager - North (Highlands) - Scottish Wildlife Trust - environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/109907-...

Reserves Manager - North (Highlands)

The post oversees planning, delivery and quality assurance of reserve and project work, ensuring compliance with policies, health and safety and regulatory requirements. It also manages budgets, risks...

environmentjob.co.uk

Amazing lit-up skyscraper in Barcelona last night.

Japanese onigiri! Bought just now from a shop in Barcelona. Haven't seen these in a shop since I was in Japan in 2018. Had them then as daily fieldwork food during survey work in Hokkaido.

NEWS: @rspb.bsky.social advice on bird feeding; Feed Seasonally, Feed Safely. My blog: markavery.info/2026/04/10/g... I think the RSPB has called this right. @btobirds.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

Tame Cattle Egrets! In a busy park in the middle of Barcelona.

Shoulder Stripe, Twin-spotted Quaker and Water Carpet moths found and photographed by my wife Alison here in East Lothian, Scotland, this morning (8th April 2026). #TeamMoth

The Duke is coneless ... I repeat, the Duke is coneless ... this is not a drill ... Can all available Guardians of the Cone please report to their assigned posts as soon as possible to rectify the situation. #glasgow #dukeofwellington #roadcone #glasgowhumour

I'm sure Mondrian's cheese sandwiches would have been superior to mine!

SHORT STORY COMPETITION? What happened here? Cut flowers left at the base of a tree behind the National Monument on Calton Hill? A memorial? A date that ended badly? An offering for someone at tomorrow's Independence Rally, but perhaps they will wilt? What do you think?

Here is a Common Quaker moth found and photographed by my wife Alison here in East Lothian, Scotland, this morning. #TeamMoth

Amazed to see -97C in Antarctica today on the Ventusky weather app! The 'Feels like temperature' given for this location/time was -127C. I wonder how accurate these figures are. It also showed +46C in NE Africa at the same time: a difference of 143C between hottest and coldest places on the planet.