Eagles or Doves? Aquilegia is a really common and splendid sight at the moment on roadside verges. Originally a wild flower, there are also many cultivated varieties in gardens and many of these have escaped back into the wild leading to a confusing picture! Original wild varieties are deep blue but can also be pink or […]
Flora and fauna – eagles or doves ? Read More »
We caught up recently with Annie Greatorex, Wild Spinster and she had some very exciting news to impart! Here’s what she told us: “A chance conversation during New Mills Fashion Week started us thinking. Could we produce our own linen?Turns out it’s possible, the only thing we were short of was a field or two,
New Mills Linen Is On Its Way Thanks to Wiseheart & Wild Read More »
This time of year the wood anemone is popping up all over New Mills. It’s thought to be a sure sign of ancient woodlands and also the Romans picked the first flowers of the season to ward off fevers The flowers come in shades of white, pink and purple and large swathes of them can
Flora and fauna – Wood anemone Read More »
Spring has well and truly sprung here in New Mills with the surrounding fields and hedgerows now blossoming. This along with the excellent weather recently has brought out some very busy bees. There is no mistaking the tawny mining bee: a honeybee-sized ginger species with a thick orange coat and a black face. They feast
Flora and fauna : mining bees Read More »
A volunteer service in New Mills is on the lookout for people with a passion for gardening and horticulture. As the good weather has made an appearance, New Mills and District Volunteer Centre has seen an influx in requests from local elderly or disabled residents, wanting gardening support. The centre offers a service to people
Nimble green fingers wanted in New Mills Read More »
I arrived home the other afternoon to be met with a mass of insect life on the flowers of the ivy (the best thing you can plant for wildlife), but by far the most eye-catching were the red admirals. Its life history is interesting…in May and June it migrates north to us from northern Africa and southern
Flora and fauna – Admiral Read More »
Checking out the field this evening I’ve just discovered this lovely patch of Devilsbit Scabious. A magnet for bees and butterflies it’s less common than its bruiser of a cousin the Field Scabious which you may have seen lining the roadsides of the Peak District in midsummer. Devilsbit (weird name eh) prefers damp spots and
Flora and fauna – Devils and other stories Read More »
Foxy ladies What a good year for foxgloves. They take a full two years to reach flowering…and as you’ll know the aim of all flowers is to attract insects which pass on pollen to fertilise others. Through evolution, different flowers have developed expertly to attract specific pollenating insects from tiny wasps and flies to the
Flora and fauna – Foxgloves Read More »
