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In dull, rainy January there are few wildflowers around to brighten up the day. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is one exception which is always a...

There are more than 30 species of rabbit around the world, the one we see in Otley is the European rabbit. Whilst not native, actually...

Despite the cold chill still in the air, signs of spring have started to appear; snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses are all blooming. The...

During the winter, Otley has emptied of swifts and many of our warblers but on the water birds gather to keep safe and stay warm. The...

Even though Sparrowhawks are our second most common bird of prey (around 40,100 breeding pairs in the UK and increasing) they fly among...

There are places outdoors in Otley that don't succumb to the life-numbing cold. Leaves that gather under hedges are still teeming with...

Blackbirds live in Otley all year but at this time of year and throughout the winter our resident birds are joined by migrant birds from...

Garden spiders are the most common orb web spider in the UK often found in gardens, giving them their name. Now is a good time of year to...

This month as summer draws to an end and autumn begins, shrew numbers are at their peak! They have had a busy few months of feeding and...

Young stoats born in spring are now splitting up to hunt for themselves, making this notoriously difficult to spot mammal, a little...

The European honey bee, now found worldwide, is known for its delicious honey and painful sting. While painful, most stings are harmless...

There are more than 500 aphid species in Britain. Some feed on only one or two plant species, but others can be found on a wide range of...

It is May, soon our Swifts will be back, but first are our House Martins. Having returned from their African winter grounds in the Congo,...

The Song Thrush is a familiar bird, brown above, with a white belly covered in black, drop-shaped spots, they are a smaller bird than the...

One of the absolute joys of early spring is catching sight of a fluttering, lemon yellow butterfly. Amazingly the word ‘butter-fly’ is...

Winter has its advantages, with no leaves on many of our trees its easier than any season to watch some birds. Such as the very smart,...

With a population of 75 million, the field vole is one of the UK's most common mammals. To put that number in perspective, the UK’s human...

Christmas is not going to be the same this year, but some things remain the same, like our constant friend throughout the seasons, the...

Along with their more easily identifiable Redwing cousins, Fieldfares have arrived in Otley! I often feel a little sad noticing all our...

At this time of year Atlantic salmon join our more familiar brown trout in the high jump contest taking place up our fast-flowing weir to...