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duncanwestbury.bsky.social
Professor of Sustainable Agriculture. Nature-based Solutions; Grassland Specialist; Expert Wildlife Gardener. Views are my own.
290 posts 730 followers 417 following
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Posts 28 Comments 21

Increasing the number of honeybee hives in the UK is not the answer to the biodiversity crisis. @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

submitted 5 hours ago • 0 comments

Very pleased to see this Syrphid in our garden on the #BumbleBird patch It’s a black-tailed aphid eater!

submitted 16 hours ago • 0 comments

Our #EcoLawn cut at 65mm enriches the habitat for so many species & can still be used for fun & games!

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

When beekeepers introduced honeybees to a protected island, wild bees nearly vanished. www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Within 24hrs of translocation the caterpillars are doing great! @bc-westmids.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

I wanted to share this photo with you. It sums up what I do in our garden instead of horticultural borders and a short grass-only lawn: 1) Wildflower strip, 2) Patches of wildflowers, 3) Eco-Lawn cut to 65mm @worcswt.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Our #BumbleBird patch has been given a much needed boost from the recent rain.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

A bit late for the #Conclave at the Vatican, but this Cardinal beetle has just arrived in our garden!

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Unacceptable. #SprayDrift I rescued these tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillars from this patch. Next to a cereal field. @bc-westmids.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Pleased to announce one brood of starlings fledged successfully, now on 2nd brood! @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

The diversity of pollinators using our #BumbleBird patch is increasing. Unfortunately honeybees have found it too. No #BeeWashing here!

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Depending on where you live, now could be a good time to harvest Lady’s Smock seed. The capsules are explosive so carefully cut stalks with scissors & place in a bag & shake! Sow straight away.

submitted 7 days ago • 4 comments

My point with this post is that this patch could be much bigger if it was allowed to seed.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

This is great but we need to educate the do-gooders! Please remember that once wildflowers have flowered you must allow them to set seed before cutting. Far too often the lack of petals means it’s time to cut.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Pasture fed dairy cows has got to be a good thing, but average milk yield losses can be significant during heat waves. Are farmers planting enough in field trees to provide shade? We can’t just let hedgerows grow into a line of trees. #ClimateAction #BePrepared #Agroforestry

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Just one reason why driven grouse shooting should be banned - plz sign this petition (today is its last day) petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70... Having passed 100,000 signatures this should be debated in parliament.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

Our #BumbleBird patch is now doing what it does best! @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Out for dinner with my lovely wife celebrating 18 years of marriage…for the first time in my life I see a white ball of cotton wool flying in the air. Knowing what it was I caught it & put it on the pub table! A woolly aphid!!! My wife wasn’t impressed!

submitted 12 days ago • 10 comments

With increasing demand on land we need to start using land more smartly. It’s not rocket science, let’s be smart.

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

Little grass growth since the last cut in March, and for this introduced patch of Devil’s-bit scabious, it is perfect for a late flowering species.

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

I encourage everyone to engage with the birds in their gardens & surrounding area. The Merlin Bird App does the identification for you! Lovely to hear a skylark singing in the neighbouring field this morning. @btobirds.bsky.social @bto-gbw.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

submitted 15 days ago • 2 comments

Think twice before you spray! Are the “weeds” actually beneficial for high quality meat, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and human well-being?

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

One day soon this will have 800 houses on it near Malvern. These lovely little homes won’t know what hit them.

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

This is perfect! Thank you Malvern Hills District Council! @worcswt.bsky.social @worcestergreens.bsky.social

submitted 15 days ago • 2 comments

Our latest Open Access paper 'Contribution of pollinators to delivering fruit quality in commercial sweet cherry orchards' scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

My Mum always grew gooseberries & I always looked forward to nicking the large soft ones! Now I’m growing my own! I haven’t told my kids!

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Consider introducing yellow archangel into a shaded part of your garden, it looks great & native bees love it! @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment