Annie ar y fridd

@anniearyfridd.bsky.social

Mountains, Geology, trees, insects, lichen, mosses, rocks, minerals, birds, wildlife, gardening. Science. Druid. Reading, writing poetry, creating art and experimenting with crafts, music. Cymraeg. Once upon a time, a geologist. Cymraes yn fy nghalon.

Welcome to the dark days of November. Time to slow down a little, to rest a little and embrace the darkness, confident that the Lightbringers are gathering up the last of the sparks of light to hold them safe for us over the winter. If you are quiet of heart you might just catch a glimpse of one

Two felted mice with patchwork blankets looking at a felted weasel with a poppy seed head lantern. They are for sale on my website

Old Fox climbed the familiar track winding through the gorse, Meadow Browns fluttering before him like sombre heralds, up to the top of Barrowdown. There in that light, that gold-milled early September light, he called for help, help from the tattery ghosts of thatch & field & acre.

Illustration by Cecil Aldin.Meadow Brown photo by UK Butterflies.Autumn Scene, Hengistbury Head from Southbourne, Dorset, Arthur George Bell (1849–1916), Red House Museum and Gardens.

Only ten days to go until the end of darkness in the northern hemisphere 🌌 After that, there’s no actual night time until the very end of August as we remain in a perpetual twilight. Never fully dark, suspended in the suns reach for a good few months ✨

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Old Fox had been out since dawn with a stout willow basket gathering ingredients for his teas, tinctures & syrups, his wines, liniments & poultices. Elderflower, cow parsley, sweet woodruff, hawthorn, mallow, goose-grass & thundering great nettles full green of iron-spit-cure.

Country Lane in May, Andrea Bates (b.1943)

I do it 8-9pm but join us this evening whenever suits you and bring your small joys from your day

Jacqueline (Bee) Durban@radicalhoneybee.bsky.social · last yr.

Apple blossom to say that it's now #RemindCelestineAboutSmallBeautiesHourHour for @celestineandthehare.com & us all. #SmallBeautiesHour begins at 9pm. Join us sharing #SmallBeauties from your days #BecauseOfClem. I'm back to other work today but I will look forward to seeing the posts later.

Apple blossom

Had c.10 on me last week. Despite checks & safety (e.g. removing fieldwork clothes as soon as you get in, leaving them in dedicated area not in the living space, and thorough body checks) I still had one attached on my arm the next day at home - possibly hiding on shoes/car seat overnight.

This is really important for everyone to be aware when out & about in the British countryside. 15 years ago I rarely had ticks on me during fieldwork. Nowadays I have several every time I'm in the same woods. Ticks can & do cause life-changing health problems.

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)@ukceh.bsky.social · last yr.

NEWS: Scientists have mapped parts of Britain at risk of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which has become a growing health problem in Europe. Cases are rare here but climate and land use changes could increase risk. Read more: www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-med... 1/ 🧪

Ixodes ricinus tick on a leaf