The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland has a citizen science project on the go from today, January 1st to Monday, January 4th. They are looking for people to look in natural spaces for wild plants which are in flower right now in order to build up a picture of what thrives where and when. So, if you are interested, you can find out more here.
I didn’t expect us to find anything flowering in our nearest wild space but it felt good to be starting the new year with a little project as well as having a focus for our walk. Thus, we set off with stout boots and my phone to explore.
We did see some remaining rosehips
as well as buddleia flowers which appeared to have petrified on the tree. Some of the blackberry bushes were also still in leaf but there were indeed no flowers.
If, like me, you decide to do the hunt and find no flowers, the BSBI still wants your data. In this case, you need to email them (nyplanthunt@bsbi.org) to let them know this, along with the grid reference of where you were looking.
It would be interesting to see what is out there, so please do tell me if you find any flowering plants in wild spaces.
Great idea! That will give folks something interesting to do while they are out walking and may give them a good reason to get out in nature. HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY HUNTING!
Thank you! Yes, it’s nice to have an objective, especially if you’re restricted in how far you can travel. Happy New Year to you, too 😊
That sounds like an interesting botanical project for your area, Helen. In my area at this time I have found ox-eye daisy and dandelions hugging the ground, and hazelnut catkins, along with a lone cape primrose.
That’s nice to hear, Lavinia. A read yesterday that someone in the south of England had found various flowers.
Here in Northumberland the gorse is in full bloom and it is beautiful!
Now, there will be gorse where we walked yesterday. I can’t remember where on the site it will be!
We have flowering gorse all around – I photographed a pony eating some yesterday 🙂 Otherwise I’ll keep my eyes open
That’s great to hear, Derrick 😊
Have you heard the old saying that kissing is in season if gorse is in flower? Because it flowers all year round! For the last few days we have had hard frosts at night and the roads have been icy so my dog walks have been confined to the garden – I never want to break my wrist again as I did in a slip on ice a couple of years ago! I don’t seem to bounce as well l as I did when I was young! 😦
Definitely better to walk in the garden – even if it looks safe, there could easily be some hidden ice on roads and pavements. I actually slipped yesterday on a bank but fortunately managed to stay upright!
I spotted this today online and thought I would give it a go tomorrow. Thanks for extra info though it was really useful. I know I saw daisies and hogweed flowering last week, will see if they are still there
Brilliant. The extra info was gleaned by asking BSBI on Twitter.