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averisben.bsky.social
Botanist and artist living near Edinburgh, Scotland. Botanical surveying/monitoring/teaching (http://www.benandalisonaveris.co.uk/). Botany, bryology, lichens, habitat classification, ecology, biodiversity, art, music, poetry...
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Interesting to see this Beech (Fagus sylvatica) whose bark is distinctly furrowed and looking very different from the usual smooth bark of this species. Cause unknown! Seen two days ago in woodland in East Lothian, Scotland. I've seen similarly furrowed Beech bark elsewhere, but not often.

submitted 10 hours ago • 2 comments

Blur-fleur Sometimes things don’t go as planned It happened with this daffodil I held a very steady hand and asked politely “please keep still” But let’s be fair, it’s not to blame In fact it has a good excuse Just as I had it in the frame the wind came blowing ‘roond the hoose #Wildflowerhour

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) in typical habitat on a stone wall but looking like it has been grazed, possibly by roe deer. I have not previously heard of this species being grazed. Seen yesterday in East Lothian, Scotland.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Scotland's Finest Woods Awards is now open for 2025! As sponsor of the New Native Woods Award category, we're looking for super examples of native woods (less than 20 years old & and more than 1 ha) created by planting or natural regen. Win cash, a trophy & prestige! #SFWA Enter ▶️

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

The dates are set for the 2025 CWA Conference - 26th and 27th September, in the Stirling area. Pop it in your diaries/ calendars - more information to follow. 😊

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

What's missing from this picture? That's right - this street is missing some TREES 🌳🌲 Sponsor a tree today to reap the benefits of increased greenery down your street 👉 sponsor.treesforstreets.org/start

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

🎬 Don’t miss the public premiere of #OneLastFarm – a poignant documentary which tells the story of Yew Tree Farm – Bristol’s last working farm – and its fight to survive. 📍 Taking place on Friday 28th February at Bristol Megascreen (located at Bristol Aquarium).

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Another in my series of sketches of people in the ecology/conservation world. This is Mick Drury, a forest ecologist and conservationist/environmentalist living in N Scotland. A very knowledgeable and wonderfully kind, thoughtful and wise person. Picture 10 x 10 cm; drawn in graphite pencil in 2020.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

We just don't know! #Wildflowerhour

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Want to do your work experience at BTO? ➡️ bit.ly/BTOWorkExperi... We offer a one-week programme for young people studying for their GCSEs or A-levels, aged 12 and up. 😀 If you are interested in a career in #conservation or #ornithology this could be for you. 🐦🌿Application deadline: 2nd March

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Find out more about why Rhododendron ponticum is such a problem in #ScotlandsRainforest savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk/blog/the-thr...

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

A five million year old fossilised oak leaf found in St Bauzile, France and a four month old oak leaf from Majesty the oak If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 🌳

submitted 10 days ago • 3 comments

There are multiple vacancies at the moment for amazing roles helping to restore #ScotlandsRainforest! We've tried to gather them all here, so why not take a look, and see if there's something for you:

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Coming up at the top of the hour - join us live or watch the recording afterwards! See link below to register for the event today. Here is last months' webinar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=obo2...

submitted 11 days ago • 4 comments

Would you like to get involved in the work to help save #ScotlandsRainforest? Our Rainforest Futures is looking to identify the barriers, opportunities and next steps to help address the issues around affordable accommodation in the west of Scotland.

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

For anyone interested in rainforest, Scotland, nature, etc, here is a link to a piece that my wife Alison wrote about Scottish temperate rainforest. She wrote it for the Native Woodlands Discussion Group newsletter in 2023. Hope you like it! www.benandalisonaveris.co.uk/general/love...

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

#Hiring! Passionate about understanding biodiversity, keen to survey different habitats and enthusiastic communicating with multiple stakeholders? Join us as Ecologist and Survey Co-ordinator on a high-profile project monitoring #biodiversity at landscape scales Apply now: https://buff.ly/3EuQjGT

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

For today's #thicktrunktuesday another of the tree drawings that I showed on the other place a few years ago and that some of you here have probably not seen. An old oak in parkland near Welshpool, Wales. Drawn in coloured pencil (size = 21 x 30 cm).

submitted 13 days ago • 2 comments

Some video of the American Buff-bellied Pipit at Guile Point, Northumberland today. Hard to keep the focus when it was coming ever closer! #NEbirding #rarebirdsUK youtu.be/qGUGbLBhA8s

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment