My Top 5 Favourite UK Insects I’ve Seen: Introduction

Happy Insect Week! If you’ve been following for a while you’ll know my history with insects, but if not here’s the story. I was, at one point, before an autistic burnout turned my dreams to ashes, an aspiring biologist. It is safe to say that biology, ecology and wildlife were my first true academic love.

Top 5 Saints #1: Saint Francis of Assisi

Widely revered, always respected, but with lessons all too seldom heeded. We look at the Patron Saint of Animals, Saint Francis of Assisi.

Red vs. Grey: Squirrels at War?

We explore the battle in the UK between the previously widely distributed, native red squirrel (sciurus vulgaris) and the imported invader the grey squirrel (sciurus carolinensis) looking at why the grey could be harmful to the UKs ecosystems and habitats, how they managed to reduce populations of red squirrels and what we could possibly do to remedy the situation. We include discussion on the pine marten (martes martes) a natural squirrel predator, as well as effective woodland management and ensuring all development is led by a core premise to not only not harm, but to improve, UK habitats and ecosystems to promote native wildlife biodiversity.

Thinking to Hell and Back: Wicked Problems

We discuss the sociological concept of ‘Wicked Problems’ problems that are complicated, have no easy solutions, have no necessarily right or wrong answers but that tear our societies apart nonetheless.

Top Ten Cats #6 – Lion, Panthera leo

What top ten list of cats is complete without the so-called ‘King of the Jungle’ that is, actually, more a Prince of the Plains. I’ll level with you. I like lions. I love lions like I love any other kind of cat. But they make this list for one reason and one reason alone. Sociability.