BLOODY-NOSED BEETLEThis remarkable name derives from their defensive mechanism: they squirt foul-tasting red drops from their mouths when threatened. This...
WESTERN HEMLOCKA native of North America’s west coast, the one I saw was in the Holbeck Wood on the Chevin. What drew me to this tall conifer was the...
LIME HAWK MOTHThis moth only flies on warm nights between May and July, but can be found resting on walls, tree trunks and lime tree foliage. The adult...
GREENFINCHNot as frequent a visitor to the gardens of Otley as it used to be, due to the effect of a deadly parasite that jumped from pigeons in...
18 MONTHS OF PROGRESSDuring lockdown we've had the time to produce our first Annual Report, charting progress since our launch in January 2019 until the end...
ELDERWe’re making “elderflower champagne” soon, and later in the year people will use the elderberries to make wine. Historically there have...
DRONEFLYThe Drone Fly is very common around Otley, this time of year. It is an accomplished honeybee mimic, with brown and orange markings, but...
WRENThis very small bird makes a very big noise – a scolding torrent of up to 740 notes a minute. An ancient fable crowned it the king of...
DAME'S ROCKETThese tall plants are numerous on the north bank of the river to the east of town. Alternative names such as Night Scented Gilliflower...
MUTE SWANThese popular birds have successfully raised cygnets on the Wharfe, but if you get too close, you’ll see behaviour that contrasts with...