I do a regular walk around our village - road verges, woodland margin and garden edges. It's the 28th May and I have never seen so little insect life. No bumble bees, no hover flies. Just a few aphids and honey bees.
Follow
Click to Follow shootsfilm
Laura Howard
@shootsfilm
Producer Director - Silverback Films.
Saving Our #WildIsles
Forcing people to like animals.
Slow runner, fast eater, loud laugher.
Saving Our #WildIsles
Forcing people to like animals.
Slow runner, fast eater, loud laugher.saveourwildisles.org.ukJoined February 2010
Laura Howard’s Tweets
It complicated we all have played a part in this if not directly
If we all make the conscious decision to make space for nature, in houses, in food systems & in the way we lead our lives
We have a lot to answer for, Only if we work collectively, it can provide the solutions
Quote Tweet
Why are we losing so many of our ground nesting birds? These are the scenes currently all over #Derbyshire & many counties - beautiful #wildflowermeadows mown down for silage (cattle feed).
Curlew, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher & Lapwing are ground nesting birds. Right…
Show this thread
11
21
82
36
224
579
Four for the price of one! A branchful of young Kingfishers by the River Weaver in Nantwich this morning.
35
170
1,444
I’ve just retweeted a photo of our nest of seven dead Blue Tit chicks. The parents had resorted to taking them sunflower hearts. They died either through starvation or dehydration. When nesting began we discussed getting live mealworms, but didn’t. We wish we had, for the fluid.
7
6
12
This is concerning. My blue tit parents are looking *utterly exhausted*. But more worryingly, they have started bringing back chunks of *SUET BALLS* to feed to the chicks 😔
Where are the insects?
Have you heard other reports of this ?
285
713
2,384
Have you noticed a lack of buzzing in your green & wild spaces this year?
🐝
#CitizenScientists needed!
👨🔬
#BugsMatter survey season is nearly here & we'd love to welcome more people to our buggy family!
👇 buglife.org.uk/get-involved/s
Lets find out what's going on!
Quote Tweet
Extra-profuse flowering of Hawthorn this year (presumably becos last summer's heat ripened the wood?), but virtually no insects on the blossom: hoverflies, beetles, bees etc. Will be interesting to see how abundant the berries are later...
Show this thread
15
66
94
Early silage cuts. I know why it gets done, I understand the pressure farms are under, and the connection between it and the public's demand for cheaper milk, and I'm not going to be naive enough to suggest there are easy solutions. It has virtually done for many lowland curlew.
Quote Tweet
#curlew looking for her nest after #silage cutting today 
how do we move away from this....
how do we move away from this....
0:07
98.9K views
9
23
85
Who else is noticing a real drop in insect abundance this year?
I definitely am 💯 - no lack of suitable plants but very few insects.
Only a handful of swifts & hirundines too.
Quote Tweet
A beautiful end to the day, but the garden is worryingly devoid of insects...
212
209
1,117
ALIEN was released 44 years ago today. One of the definitive science fiction/horror movies, its influence is still seen to this day. The behind-the-scenes story of how the film was made is a fascinating one...
A THREAD
1/38
766
26.5K
128.6K
Show this thread
Putting up House Martin boxes was probably the most outlandishly optimistic thing we've done this year. Absolute freefall.
21
39
87
Back in rural Oxfordshire 5 days, yet to see a single Swift or House Martin, in May, in village where they traditionally breed. I’ve seen exactly 3 butterflies. The Biodiversity shock after returning from Eastern Europe is staggering. England is deathly quiet. We’ve been robbed.
430
1,343
4,805
Show this thread
So intense, I had to watch in two sittings and so perfectly executed, well written and acted, I spontaneously clapped at the end!
INCREDIBLE. Do not underestimate this series.
Inside No. 9, Wise Owl: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod
1
3
For anyone who thinks that #NoMowMay is about leaving your grass to look scruffy, untidy and unkempt. A walkthrough of one of my client’s #wildlifegarden, embracing #NoMowSummer. You absolutely CAN have #nature friendly, yet retain an element of formality…😍👇🌱🐝 Perfection 💚
1:48
101.1K views
181
1,282
6,016
Show this thread
Battle of the Brimstones!
Amongst the nettles at Shapwick Heath NNR, just me, them and assorted warblers on a beautiful spring afternoon.
#Springwatch
0:21
1.3K views
6
18
107
Please could any birdy pals help to suggest bird song ID apps?
I'm looking at you
33
2
18
Love animals but don’t have a car?
Then get down to
Butterfield’s Walkaround Safari Park!
25
155
1,488
17
58
350
Show this thread
A sperm whale live stranded and died at Porth Neigwl, Ceredigion over the weekend. A CSIP team from are travelling to site today to conduct a field necropsy- highly unusual stranding, only the second sperm whale recorded in Wales over the last century.
21
96
390
Show this thread
Good morning . Meet Kush , he is a 32 year old NHS doctor and last week he was arrested for wearing a t shirt . That is where we are at . His t shirt said . What will yours say when you are arrested . . . because if you seriously think this will stop at environment…
826
7,294
18.1K
A spring jaunt...
Birdsong funnelling up onto Wavering Down, with an adder out in the sun and some early orchids. Concluded with some special light at sundown in the garden.
1
8
Finally. Having changed the grazing regime 2016 to allow some rough areas to develop, with support, we have our first curlew nest in 25 years. Yes!!
54
144
1,248
Show this thread
Just casually browsing to see if rail travel in Europe might be my bag this year... then I come across
Sweet LORD! You deserve a knighthood man!
BEST #travel website I have EVER seen!
2
1
54
The reality of having time off to enjoy myself in the glorious month of May...
Endless rain, home insurance renewals, buying Mother a dementia friendly velcro bra.
GIF
read image description
ALT
1
7
Yesterday I got arrested whilst filming a supporter holding a banner on the pavement near the coronation route. I'm a filmmaker and had my press accreditation visible around my neck.
Police deemed this to be "conspiracy to commit a public nuisance".
0:42
2.1M views
2,709
19.6K
29.7K
Show this thread
Interesting and very welcome - north Devon named UK’s first world surfing reserve
1
3
Absolute scenes - thrilled with this local result, still unsure what it means on the ground but very keen to connect with the community and see where the impetus came from.
Quote Tweet
RESULT DECLARED: Tom Nicholson (Green Party) and
Joe Tristram (Green Party) are elected to Banwell and Winscombe.
[1/2] #NSElections2023 #LocalElections2023
Show this thread
8
Labour takes control of Plymouth council - after Conservative administration 'tree massacre' in city centre
13
65
315
The pinnacle of fashion deserves the pinnacle of natural history, and we couldn't help but spot some fungal similarities, so here is the #MetGala2023 as Fungi!
Starting with Met Gala Queen Rihanna as Sparassis spathulata (cauliflower fungus)
read image description
ALT
38
624
1,762
Show this thread
Today our 1st #Swift came home. Exactly the same day as last year. Such a great feeling to see them back. 💚
0:03
28.4K views
32
201
1,638
HBRD!!! A true conservation HERO - getting things done since 1940.
Quote Tweet
Happy birthday to @royhdennis. A giant* of the conservation world who continues to do so much to restore nature. If you’ve enjoyed watching White-tailed Eagles or Ospreys recently then wish him happy birthday. *not in height, hence the box he stood on for this photo!
1
2
10
Water tower, Moncontour, Brittany.
I just adore how they’ve hidden it amongst the trees.
211
733
6,618
Two made up words I hate -
Holibobs
Furbaby
You're allowed two words or phrases which will be struck from existence, what are they?
375
30
335
Show this thread
You couldn’t make this up, no-one would ever believe you!
Quote Tweet
So @theresecoffey and @EnvAgencyAnglia have solved it. It's wild birds that are to blame
She told @clarissa_place "That pollution will not only be coming from humans, but from agriculture and wildlife. Especially wild birds that feed from the mudflats".
eadt.co.uk/news/23490001.
86
284
1,220
The Grimspound Morris Jack in the Green was out and about in Bovey Tracey yesterday!
25
354
2,102
I know which one I prefer!!
Quote Tweet
Our tiny front lawn isn’t mown & I get regular complaints about it looking a mess in comparison with my neighbour who has plastic grass. But its got dandelions & red deadnettles which the bees love & I think it looks beautiful!! #NoMowMay @Love_plants @ChrisGPackham @Shitlawns
6
1
1
26