Elle Mason – Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

Guest blog from Charlie Tallis: BS3 Moth Club on a mission

Created by mother-daughter duo Charlie and Willow, the BS3 Moth Club is a brilliant initiative that aims to introduce people to the magic of moth-trapping and the amazing wildlife present on our doorsteps. As big supporters of the BS3 Moth Club’s mission, we were delighted to donate one of our NHBS Moth Traps and see it put to good use in the club’s community moth mornings across Bristol. Here, Charlie Tallis (BS3MothClub@gmail.com) shows us how they got on with the trap, tells us more about how the project began, and shares some tips on how to start your journey into the world of moth-trapping.

Charlie writes:

Nothing beats starting your day with moths.

You step outside, cup of tea in hand, still half asleep, and head towards the moth trap you left glowing in the garden overnight. You lift the lid… and suddenly the morning becomes a treasure hunt. You genuinely have no idea what will be inside.

Sometimes it’s a handful of familiar regulars. Sometimes it’s something you’ve never seen before. And occasionally It’s a species so beautiful, bizarre, or perfectly disguised that you can’t believe it’s been living in your garden all along. That sense of surprise is one of the reasons moth trapping is so addictive.

It fits neatly into real life too. Set the trap the night before, go to bed, and in the morning, before the school run or the commute, you get to experience something genuinely wild. It tunes you into the seasons in a way that little else does. Moths become your calendar.

NHBS Moth Trap at night. — NHBS Moth Trap at night

Seeing a moth up close is often a revelation. The intricate patterns, clever camouflage, and soft, furry textures are impossible to appreciate when they’re fluttering around a streetlight. Some look exactly like a broken twig. Some travel thousands of miles to reach your garden. All are vital to the ecosystem, supporting the birds, mammals and amphibians that feed on them, and acting as exceptional pollinators. Extraordinary creatures, hiding in plain sight.

We decided to make it our job to bring them out of the shadows and make these humble garden visitors visible to all.

Which is why, back in April 2024, my ten-year-old daughter, Willow, and I launched BS3 Moth Club: a community project with a simple mission – to help the world fall in love with moths, starting in BS3 (South Bristol).

We travel around with our moth trap, running moth mornings where neighbours can see what appeared overnight in their gardens or community spaces. There’s always excitement, curiosity, and genuine surprise that these marvellous creatures can be found right here. For many, it’s their first real encounter with moths at all.

To reach beyond BS3, we share photos and videos on Instagram, deliver talks, and create zines and fact sheets, spreading the word that extraordinary wildlife lives in the most ordinary places. We want people not just to fall in love with moths, but to understand how to support them in their own gardens, and why that matters. The macro picture, informing micro actions, shared in a fun and positive way.

The dream is to run free, accessible community moth mornings across the city, funded by private sessions, membership and talks.

So, you want to give moth trapping a go?

We’re lucky that our garden in BS3 backs onto a park, so we get a wonderful mix of species. Some of our personal favourites include:

The Lime Hawk-moth, the first hawk-moth we ever found in the trap.

The Oak Eggar, just like a warm, fuzzy teddy bear!

The Black Arches, whose hand-drawn scribbles are mesmerising.

The Large Emerald, so elegant and impossibly green all over.

If you fancy trying it yourself, warm, still, overcast nights are usually best. Numbers really pick up from April and peak through summer, though you can find moths year-round. Check the trap as close to dawn as possible, and look carefully around it before you open it up, as moths often settle nearby. Take your time. Being out in the fresh morning air that early is a such a special experience. It sets you up for the day in the best way.

For identification, ObsIdentify and iNaturalist are brilliant on your phone, alongside a good field guide for the trickier ones. We love the Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Once you’re done, you can leave the trap in a cool, shady spot for moths to disperse naturally at dusk, or gently move them to sheltered spots in your garden.

There are a lot of species to get to grips with at first, but it comes with practice. Moth encounters are so magical, the names just stick. And if you’re able to, submitting records to your local recording scheme, Butterfly Conservation, or iNaturalist means your findings contribute to national data, turning curiosity into something genuinely valuable.

Remember to have fun! When we host larger moth mornings, we don’t obsess over documenting every species. It’s more about connection and curiosity. There’s room to enjoy wildlife in all kinds of ways. Spreadsheets aren’t for everyone, but if they are for you – hurrah!

So if you’re even a little bit curious, find us on Instagram @BS3MothClub, join a moth morning, or treat yourself to your own trap. You won’t regret it.

Charlie Tallis BS3 Moth Club

Interview with Emma Onyejekwe: Mammal Society’s Mammal Champion 2026

Emma Onyejekwe is a Registered Veterinary Nurse and Citizen Scientist with a lifelong passion for helping animals and conserving wildlife. After qualifying she volunteered internationally before the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her focus to the UK. Alongside her veterinary role, Emma began volunteering locally and developed a strong interest in British wildlife. In 2021, her involvement with the Royal Parks ‘Hedgehog Heroes’ inspired Emma to explore hedgehog presence on Mitcham Common, where surveys confirmed their presence and led to the creation of the voluntary Mitcham Hedgehog Project.

We recently caught up with Emma to discuss her conservation project, Mammal Champion of the Year award, and plans for the future.

To start with, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how your passion for wildlife first began?

I’ve always been driven by a deep love for animals, which originally led me become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. For seven years, I worked within small animal clinical practices, but I always carried a dream of working with wildlife. In my early career, this took the form of traveling abroad to volunteer on various projects with wildlife.

However, my specific passion for British wildlife actually began closer to home during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the world slowed down, I found myself truly noticing and appreciating the local species in my own back garden. That newfound connection inspired me to start volunteering at a local wildlife hospital, and it ultimately became the catalyst for my decision to pivot my career toward wildlife conservation.

Congratulations on being named the Mammal Society’s Mammal Champion 2026. This award recognised your work on the Mitcham Hedgehog Project – could you explain the project’s aims and what inspired it?

Thank you! It’s an honour to be recognised. The primary goal of the Mitcham Hedgehog Project is to identify where hedgehogs are present in the residential areas and green spaces around Mitcham Common. We aim to support hedgehogs in our area by uniting the community and local stakeholders while promoting conservation efforts. These efforts include citizen science surveys, the creation of hedgehog highways, and the development of hedgehog-friendly greenspaces.

The inspiration for the project came from my time volunteering with The Royal Parks’ ‘Hedgehog Heroes’ survey. It made me wonder if hedgehogs were present on my own local Common. Collaborating with the Friends of Mitcham Common and securing a grant from the Mitcham Common Education Trust, we conducted initial surveys in 2022 and 2023. Confirming their presence was what encouraged me to launch the project in 2024. I was also inspired by the work being carried out by ZSL London Hogwatch, following my time volunteering with them.

What survey methods did you use during the project, and did any of the results surprise or particularly interest you?

Our main survey methods involve footprint tunnels and trail cameras. We’ve been very fortunate to have the ongoing support of ZSL London Hogwatch for our garden camera surveys, and we also conduct spotlight surveys under a Natural England license.

One particular garden survey stood out as a highlight. I worked with residents who had lived in their home for 26 years and had never once seen a hedgehog in their garden. They were so fond of the species that they had recently installed a ‘hedgehog hole’ in their metal gate and even travelled all the way to a rescue centre in Lewes just to see one up close! Though they were convinced we wouldn’t find anything, they agreed to a camera for two weeks. To everyone’s surprise, the camera captured a hedgehog. We were curious to see if they used the hedgehog hole, so set up another camera up for two weeks – this time capturing video footage. This revealed that at least one hedgehog was visiting every single night! It was a wonderful to see. The residents have since encouraged one of their neighbours to create a hedgehog hole and have set up a feeding station. Since the garden is opposite the Common, it was also a vital piece of data confirming that hedgehogs are crossing the road to utilise residential habitats.

In what ways did the project benefit wildlife on the common, as well as the surrounding local community?

For wildlife, our survey data directly influenced an amendment to the Common’s management plan. They now cut and clear selected grassland areas to maintain a mosaic of cut and uncut areas in any one parcel in any one given year. This benefits not just hedgehogs, but a whole host of other species.

For the community, it’s been wonderful to see people connect over a shared purpose. As one of our volunteers beautifully put it: ‘Being outside with a group of likeminded, decent people was rewarding in itself! I’ve been inspired to learn so much more about our spiky friends—and, more importantly, exactly what to do to help them.’

Finally, what’s next for you – are you planning to expand the project, or looking for something new?

I’m definitely looking to grow the project! I’m currently planning to expand the project into the neighbouring borough of Croydon to support the hedgehog population there.

One thing I’ve learned is that because hedgehogs are nocturnal and naturally elusive, it can be a slight barrier to community engagement. To help with this, I’ve set up a constituted community group – Our Wild Life – to connect people and wildlife, forming a general wildlife group, with a strong community focus. Hedgehog’s will always have my heart though!

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026: Interview with Dr Antje Steinfurth

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in STEM we chatted with Dr Antje Steinfurth, Conservation Scientist at the RSPB.

Antje has been studying Penguins for over two decades and is the RSPB’s resident expert on these birds. Antje currently focuses on the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, a very remote, volcanic island in the South Atlantic which is a haven for many globally rare animals and plants, including shearwater species and an endemic albatross. Antje’s penguin expertise is helping to protect one of the islands’ most charismatic but threatened species, the Northern Rockhopper.

We had the pleasure of asking Antje a few questions about her extraordinary career and the importance of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in conservation science?

I have always been drawn to nature and wildlife, which led me to study Biology at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Wanting to focus more on marine ecology, I later moved to Kiel University, where I completed my Diploma in Biology and, subsequently, a PhD in Marine Zoology.

Increasing awareness of the threats facing biodiversity motivated me to use science not just to understand wildlife, but to actively help protect it. After albatrosses, penguins are the second most threatened family of seabirds, with currently ten of the 19 species being of global conservation concern. During my Diploma studies, I worked on the foraging behaviour of Magellanic Penguins in Argentina. What I didn’t realise at the time was that penguins would accompany me throughout my professional life – literally leading me from the equator to Antarctica.

Supported by a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship, my doctoral research took me to the Galápagos Islands, where I spent two and a half years studying the marine ecology and conservation of the endangered, endemic Galápagos Penguin. After completing my PhD, I was a visiting scientist at the University of Bristol, contributing to an international, interdisciplinary project on African Penguins, another banded species now listed as Critically Endangered.

I then took up a postdoctoral position at the University of Cape Town, working on a range of seabird conservation projects and joining the South African National Antarctic Programme. Through this work, the sub-Antarctic islands became a second home. A project on the endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguins eventually led me to Tristan da Cunha, the world’s most remote inhabited island, which has been my ‘home away from home’ since 2012.

Since 2017, I have been based in Cambridge, UK, working as a scientist at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) where I continued my work on Northern Rockhopper Penguins and now lead the science and monitoring programme for threatened seabird species on Gough Island.

Science alone cannot save threatened species, but it provides a powerful tool to transform data into practical and hopefully long-lasting conservation outcomes.

What does your current role at the RSPB involve?

I work as a Conservation Scientist with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the UK. My research focuses on the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha in the central South Atlantic, where I collaborate closely with local partners and the community to support the sustainable protection and management of globally important habitats and species.

Embedded within the Gough Island Restoration Programme, I lead the long-term science and monitoring programme on Gough Island, supporting efforts to restore one of the world’s most important seabird breeding sites.

I am also, unofficially, RSPB’s ‘penguinologist in residence’. With more than two decades of experience in penguin research, I work closely with the Tristan Conservation Department to help protect one of the islands’ most charismatic yet endangered species, the Northern Rockhopper Penguin.

More broadly, my work aims to improve understanding of the processes that shape species distributions, demography, and population dynamics, in order to inform effective conservation strategies. From 2020 to 2022, I also served as RSPB Project Manager for the UK Seabirds Count, coordinating RSPB’s delivery of this national monitoring programme.

Is there a female role model in the conservation sector who has influenced you, and what makes her inspiring to you?

For many women of my generation, figures like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey have been important role models. They challenged expectations, broke barriers, and pursued their passions with remarkable curiosity, courage and dedication. Their commitment to species and habitat conservation, often in the face of significant obstacles, has been deeply inspiring. Jane Goodall, in particular, has always reminded me that hope is essential, and that believing change is possible is just as important today as it ever was.

Despite progress, gender bias in STEM still exists. I feel fortunate to work in a field that attracts a more balanced mix of genders and to be surrounded by inspiring women and supportive colleagues of all genders. Being part of an organisation with visible female leadership and a genuinely inclusive culture has been crucial in shaping my confidence, career progression, and sense of belonging in STEM.

One woman I especially want to highlight is Juliet Vickery, now CEO of the BTO. When I joined the RSPB, she was Head of the International Section in the Conservation Science Department and later became my line manager. She has been an invaluable mentor and a true inspiration, in both leadership and pursuing a career in conservation science with scientific rigor, care and compassion.

She is a true champion for women in STEM, advocating for equality, supporting career development, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. I am deeply grateful for her guidance, support, and unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment.

The Big Garden Birdwatch: NHBS Staff Results 2026

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch took place between Friday 23rd and Sunday 25th January 2026. This is an annual event is one of the largest citizen science wildlife surveys in the UK and helps us gain an understanding of how our garden bird populations are changing in abundance and distribution over time.

In last year’s event, over 590,000 people across the UK took part, counting 9.1 million birds! While House Sparrows took the top spot, counts of this species are down by 64% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979, mirroring a wider and worrying decline in our bird populations: we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in just the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch and continue monitoring their fortunes.

Although the Big Garden Birdwatch has finished, there is still time to submit your results on the RSPB website. Even if you didn’t see anything, it still counts!

Greater spotted woodpecker by Oli Haines

Results

Many of our colleagues took part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch from our gardens or local parks, recording the species that visited our patch. With weather warnings across Devon it was a wet and windy weekend, but despite the conditions we were treated to some wonderful sightings and as a group spotted 17 different species.

Some of us were luckier than others:

Laura (Technical Advisor) did the bird count from her local park and saw:

3 Carrion Crow
3 Goldcrest
1 Blackbird
1 Robin
2 Woodpigeon
1 Herring Gull
2 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
1 Dunnock

Oli (Graphic Designer) saw:

2 Woodpigeon
1 Wren
1 Dunnock

Ruth (Sewing Specialist) saw:

1 Pheasant

Steve (Head of Product and Purchasing) saw:

2 Robin
3 Goldfinch
8 Chaffinch
2 Blue Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Woodpigeons
1 Starling
2 House Sparrow
1 Great Tit

Goldfinch (left) and Greenfinch (right) by Steve Powell

And Elle (Marketing Coordinator) recorded:

1 Blue Tit
1 Robin

RSPB

For more information on UK garden birds, the Big Garden Birdwatch and how you can help them, please visit www.rspb.org.uk. Here you will find a wealth of information to help you find and identify UK bird species.

Our staff favourites of 2025

Every year at NHBS, a wonderful variety of books and equipment passes through our offices and warehouse, moving from desks and shelves before heading out in parcels to our valued customers. Along the way, we inevitably end up being tempted to buy some of these items for ourselves, while others become thoughtful presents for friends and family. Here, our team shares the books and products we’re most excited to gift our loved ones this year.

European Bird ID Guide

I really like this ID guide because it’s detailed, with stunning illustrations, and helpful notes on behaviour and plumage. It’s a great gift for the birder in the family – or yourself!

Simon, Customer Service Manager

Tawny Owl Decoration

I bought this beautiful owl decoration as a gift for a family member who has a passion for owls. I know she will find the information on the back interesting and it will be a treasured addition to her collection of all things owl-related.

Fiona, Finance Manager

Spypoint Force-24 Trail Camera

I like the Spypoint Force-24 Trail Camera because the picture quality has been really clear, both day and night. I thought the setup was simple, and the battery life was impressive. A great trail camera that’s perfect for keeping an eye on wildlife.

Mark, Product and Purchasing Manager

Nightfox

Night vision aids have become increasingly popular tools for wildlife surveying in recent years and a real standout addition to our range this year has been the Nightfox Whisker Night Vision Binoculars.

Designed with the professional ecologist in mind but with a price point accessible to naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts, the Nightfox Whisker is incredibly easy to use and produces crisp clear images that can be saved to the included 32gb memory card and viewed through the built-in colour screen. Featuring a 57° field of view and an adjustable digital zoom, the Whisker is an ideal companion for any nocturnal wildlife viewing adventures.

Johnny, Senior Wildlife Equipment Specialist

Giant Butterfly Garden

This past season, I’ve loved using the Giant Butterfly Garden – and I can’t wait to do it all again next year. It’s a truly magical experience: watching tiny caterpillars grow tenfold before they pupate, and then witnessing their transformation into Painted Lady butterflies. The moment they emerge is pure wonder. The kit includes clear instructions and fascinating facts about Painted Ladies, making it easy and educational. The Butterfly Garden also comes in a standard size with five caterpillars and as a school kit with 33 caterpillars.

Daniel, Product and Purchasing Technical Advisor

Woolie

My choice this year is Woolie the sheep, a ceramic sheep with nesting wool. Filled with top-notch natural sheep’s wool, Woolie provides important nesting materials for your feathered friends. Its appealing design and frost-resistant construction make it a great addition to any bird lover’s garden.

Laura, Product and Purchasing Technical Advisor

The Penguin Book of Penguins

A book that pays homage to the non-flying bird in a tuxedo! This book brings together many observations and information about the penguin, produced by the husband-and-wife team of Peter and Lisa Fretwell. Written by a one of the British Antarctic Survey’s leading scientists, it’s a book that makes you feel good, and you can’t help smiling as you read it, turning a page and finding one of Lisa’s hand drawings!

Simon, Purchasing Coordinator

Num’axes Bird Feeder Camera

The thing I love most about the Num’axes Bird Feeder Camera is that it is so easy to set up and install. With an integral battery and built-in solar panels it means you can pop it up anywhere with ease. The image quality is fantastic and I know my daughter will delight in seeing the close-up footage of the birds feeding as well as some interesting nighttime shots of other garden visitors – a brilliant piece of kit to connect with nature!

Gemma, Managing Director

Raising Hare

Raising Hare is a delightful journey through the difficulties of Covid lockdown, remembering the connection many people found with nature. The unusual partnering of a London professional and a wild hare plays out beautifully.

Elle, Marketing Coordinator

Angela Harding Seasonal Quartet

This beautiful box set brings together the four volumes of renowned illustrator Angela Harding’s Seasonal Quartet. Angela Harding is one of the UK’s leading artists whose work features on many beautiful book covers and greetings cards. These seasonal books are a joy to pore over, lavishly decorated and thoughtfully curated.

Oli, Graphic Designer

Woolly Mammoth in a Tin

For my staff pick I have chosen the Woolly Mammoth in a Tin. The whole range from Apples to Pears are great little gifts and should keep my seven-year-old busy over Christmas. I think the T-rex will be the next one needed in our collection.

Jess, Purchasing Coordinator

Amazing British Nature Pairs Cards

These beautifully illustrated matching pair cards feature a wide range of British wildlife. They’ve become a firm favourite at home, though my six-year-old daughter almost always wins!

Steve, Head of Product and Purchasing

If you’re looking for further inspiration in the run up to Christmas, you’ll find hundreds of ideas in our Great Gifts for Nature Lovers collection – browse the full range here.

Supplier interview with Ferne Glannan-MacRae: Founder and illustrator at Ferne Creative

As a self-taught nature illustrator, Ferne Glannan-MacRae brings the intricacies of British species to life using Procreate on iPad. Her designs are inspired by a love for the environment and, in particular, British wildlife.

With a background in the design industry and a degree in wildlife photography, Ferne uses intricate line work and natural colour palettes to create products that celebrate the beauty of the natural world.

We recently spoke to Ferne about her company, Ferne Creative, where she told us why the business started, how she decides which species to include in her collections, which charities she supports through her work and what new products she has on the horizon.

You can browse the range from Ferne Creative available from us here.

Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to start Ferne Creative?

I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil, with many artists in my family. I actually studied Marine and Natural History Photography at university, but after my Masters degree I worked as a designer in the printing industry. I always knew that I would hate office work and during lockdown I started painting again and ventured into digital illustration. It was after people online started enjoying my work that I turned it into a business and decided to leave my job. My business is split in two – my product-based business, which focuses on species I want to draw and things to make for nature lovers, and the other commission-based work for charities, nature reserves and other wildlife organisations.

You have such a wide range of products on offer, with so many species featured. How do you choose which species would work on which product?

I often find that choosing what to draw is really hard, so I focus on species I would like to see – a manifestation list. I have started to create collections based on what other people are likely to try and find at nature reserves around the UK, such as Ospreys and puffins. As for which species suits which product, really I go with the flow of what product I want to focus on at that time based on what has been popular.

I love how you manage to ensure that the illustrations are true to life, and each animal or plant looks as it would in nature. Is this important to you and do you have a favourite species to portray?

I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, which I am trying to escape, but I do want all the species to have that sense of accuracy even if I am leaning away from 100% realism at times. My audience is nature lovers and they will notice and care if I miss something important from a drawing (I did get contacted about a ladybird with a missing spot before!). In terms of my favourite species to draw, I have found over time – and as will be clear from my products – that I love drawing birds! In particular, I love all the textures and patterns in their plumage.

You donate a percentage of sales from selected products to various wildlife and conservation charities. Which charities do you support?

I currently have two dedicated products from which I donate a percentage of sales. The first is my Hedgehog enamel pin, which started after my own experience with an injured Hedgehog and the desire to give back. The backing card that the pin comes on is a mini booklet with information to help people in similar situations with injured hogs and tips on who to call. In the past I donated to Secret World Wildlife Rescue, and now I rotate my donations to different Hedgehog-specific hospitals. My other product is an iron-on patch of a Scottish Wildcat. A portion of sales from these are donated to Saving Wildcats, a project aiming to help one of our rarest species through breeding programmes, releases and monitoring.

Do you have any new products on the horizon that you can tell us about?

After the launch of my bird of prey educational colouring book I have had my sights set on making a seabird version and there have been requests for one on butterflies. I love making these, with facts about the species, but I have been working on some simplified colouring books for younger children too.

Author interview with Joanna Wilbraham: Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts of the World

Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts of the World makes sense of this highly diverse group of miniature plants, differentiating between the three lineages and delving into their evolution, anatomy, and life cycles. The result is an unprecedented in-depth look at these exquisitely beautiful and often overlooked organisms.

Joanna Wilbraham is an active member of the British Bryological Society and Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum, London, where she leads the curatorial team responsible for the collections of algae, bryophytes, and lichens. At just over two million specimens, this is one of the most significant research collections of its kind in the world.

We recently spoke to Joanna about Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts of the World, where she told us how she decided which species to include, threats facing these groups and what projects are on her horizon.

Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and how you came to write this book?

I first became interested in bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) as an undergraduate student. I was keen to do my final research project in botany after an inspiring field trip to the Austrian Alps and was presented with two botanical options: an agricultural research experiment on wheat plants or a project working with bryophytes. Neither option sounded very appealing at the time, but I opted for the bryophytes and have never looked back. Almost immediately I noticed a tiny world I hadn’t previously paid any attention to. I was amazed to discover there was an actual club devoted to the study of these plants! I swiftly joined the British Bryological Society which led to many field excursions getting out and about with experts – undoubtedly the best way to get to get to know bryophytes and learn how to identify them.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with my favourite plant groups professionally over the course of my career. As a curator at the Natural History Museum, London, I specialised in cryptogamic botany, that’s those plants and plant-like groups that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. I focused on seaweeds and freshwater algae for many years though bryophytes have always stayed on my agenda. I am currently Curator of Mosses at the Museum, and I have the privilege of curating one of the largest and most significant collections of preserved moss specimens in the world.

When I was invited to write a book in Princeton’s ‘A Guide to Every Family’ series I saw an opportunity to bring the wonderful world of bryophytes to a wider audience and also a chance for me to spend time delving into some fascinating research along the way.

How did you decide which species to include in Mosses, Liverworts & Hornworts of the World?

The premise of books in this series is to provide a complete overview of a group at some appropriate taxonomic level. Classifications are constantly in flux as new research reveals more about the natural world but, at the time of writing the book, bryophytes were classified into 73 accepted taxonomic orders and this looked like a good starting point to base the narrative around. Some of these orders represent huge diverse groupings. For example, the Hypnales are an immense group of creeping mosses with over 4,000 genera, so I squeezed in a few example genus profiles here to showcase their diversity. In contrast, some other orders are only represented by one known extant genus, so for those the decision of what genera to include made itself. Some bryophytes are so charismatic that I simply had to include them, such as Dawsonia, the world’s largest free-standing moss. I did give in to some personal biases to include some of my favourite plants like the beautiful Myurium in the Hypnales. However, all the taxonomic entries had to pull their weight by contributing to the broader narrative of the book, such as revealing something about their evolutionary past, their adaptations to a world in miniature or how they are responding to a rapidly changing planet. Within these parameters, I chose 100 genera to illustrate the structural and evolutionary diversity of bryophytes from around the world.

Can you tell us about the most interesting species that you’ve learned about while researching your book? ?

There are many fascinating species I knew from the outset had to have their stories included. We meet a moss that glows in the dark; mosses that grow on dung and decaying corpses; a moss that could allegedly survive on Mars and a moss that saved the life of a Victorian explorer in western Africa. The structure of the book also forced me to peer around obscure taxonomic corners and investigate species which I hadn’t come across before. I got to know some new plants like the large charismatic tropical moss Sorapilla. This genus is so rare it was only known from a handful of historic herbarium specimens until a student on a botanical fieldtrip in the Queensland rainforest discovered a new population in 2015! It was also fun to discover more stories about people’s interactions with bryophytes. I needed to research the liverwort genus Solenostoma and in particular the species S. vulcanicola which has a remarkable capacity to thrive in acidic hot springs where is forms extensive, lime-green cushions. Known locally in Japan as the ‘Chatsubomi moss’, specialist tours are available to visit this plant on the Chatsubomi tour bus and now I really want to go to Japan!

Given our rapidly changing climate, what are the largest threats facing these groups, and how can we safeguard them going forward?

We are witness to increasing threats to the survival of bryophytes in their natural habitats around the world. Recent studies have reported that around 20% of European bryophyte species are threatened with extinction. These worrying declines result from the combined consequences of climate breakdown and habitat destruction.

The most immediate threat to bryophytes is the destruction and degradation of their natural habitats. Sphagnum mosses, which form peatlands, play an essential role in our planet’s biochemical cycles, sequestering huge quantities of carbon. The extensive peatlands of the boreal north store twice as much carbon as tropical forests. Alarmingly, increasing temperatures are threatening the existence of these peatland bogs as they risk drying out in warmer conditions. It is more imperative than ever that we protect these peat forming Sphagnum bogs and the wealth of biodiversity that they support. Sphagnum bogs should be treasured and certainly not destroyed for peat extraction to support the horticultural industry. Please make sure to buy peat-free at the garden centre and help save Sphagnum bogs by taking away the demand for these products.

Climate breakdown is having a huge impact on bryophytes. The story that resonated the most for me when I researched the book was that of the rare and enigmatic moss Takakia. This genus represents an ancient lineage and evidence suggests that Takakia plants have existed in the form we are familiar with today for at least 165 million years. Populations of Takakia on the Tibetan Plateau actually predate the uprising of the Himalayas! At a cellular level, these plants have had to adapt at phenomenal rates to protect themselves from the extreme increases in UV radiation and freezing conditions that one finds oneself exposed to when lifted up atop the world’s highest mountain range. However, Takakia faces its greatest challenge yet as the planet is now warming at such an unprecedented rate that even Takakia cannot adapt fast enough and the Tibetan populations are recorded to be steadily declining. Ultimately, the planet’s rapidly changing climate and our global ability to reduce carbon emissions going forward is the driving factor that will determine the fate of many bryophytes.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any other projects that we can hear about?

At the Natural History Museum, I’m responsible for curating and managing the moss herbarium which, with over 700,000 specimens, is one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. Herbaria are taxonomically arranged libraries of preserved plant specimens that provide spatial and temporal distribution data for species. New uses for these collections are constantly coming to light, so it’s a really exciting time for us in the curatorial team and we are busy working on some major projects to make these collections and their associated data more accessible for researchers around the world. I am particularly interested in how we can better leverage our bryophyte herbarium data to support biodiversity and conservation research that can lead to a positive impact for bryophytes in the wild.

The good thing about studying bryophytes is you don’t necessarily need to travel far and wide to find some beautiful species and contribute useful insights on their distribution or biology! I’m looking forward to getting back into some local recording when the hoped for autumn rains revitalise the poor drought frazzled bryophytes of South London. With a magnifying glass to hand there can always be something new to discover.

Making data work for nature: 25 years of the National Biodiversity Network Trust

The National Biodiversity Network Trust has been supporting the sharing of wildlife data since 2000. The trust consists of over 200 members, ranging from world renowned organisations to individual enthusiasts and there are now more than 300 million wildlife records available through the NBN Atlas.
Mandy Henshall, communications and engagement manager for NBN tells NHBS about the early days of the trust, achievements so far, how you can get involved and their hopes for the next 25 years.

How did the NBN Trust come into being in 2000?

It might come as a surprise, but there’s never been a legal requirement for any one organisation to collect or manage biological records over the long term.

Despite, or because of this, the Biological Records Centre (BRC) was set up in 1964 to bring together data, mostly from volunteer recording groups, share it with conservation organisations and publish the findings.

The BRC has done a brilliant job, but without a joined-up approach or enough resources to support both local and national recorders, no single organisation could get a full picture of what was going on. As the need to report on environmental issues grew, so did the pressure to make data more accessible.

The push to create the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) came from the Biodiversity Action Planning process, which followed the 1992 Rio Summit. A report from the Coordinating Commission for Biological Recording helped bring together UK organisations in 1997 to pool their efforts and make sharing data easier.

That’s how the NBN Trust came to be. It was set up as an independent charity in 2000 to help build and support the Network.

If you want to delve a little deeper, you can find out more about our story and our founding members on the NBN Trust website.

What was the early work focused on?

In the beginning, the focus was all about getting things off the ground and developing projects and activities that would help move the NBN Trust forward and support the wider Network. Some of the key things we worked on included:

Creating a shared set of principles for how data should be exchanged

Hosting an annual Conference to bring people together, share ideas, and build connections across the partnership

Launching the NBN Gateway — the first online platform for sharing biodiversity data (this was replaced by the NBN Atlas in 2017)

Building the Species Dictionary (now called the UK Species Inventory – UKSI) in 2003, which enabled data to be indexed and searched

Producing guidance on everything from managing and sharing data to handling sensitive information and intellectual property rights, so that data could be used more freely and confidently

Creating mapping resources to support better mapping and recording

Much of this is still central to our work today.

What has been the biggest change for the NBN Trust and wildlife recording since 2000?

There have been two major changes over the years:

The first is all about technology, specifically the launch of the NBN Atlas in 2017. This platform is based on the Atlas for Living Australia and was built to handle the growing amount of data being shared. When we moved from the NBN Gateway, we were making 117 million records available. Now, the NBN Atlas holds over 300 million species records, so almost double. Downloads have also increased significantly, with over 1 billion records downloaded by the end of 2024.

The second big change is how much easier it has become for anyone to record and share wildlife sightings. Thanks to apps and websites like iNaturalistUK, iRecord, and other platforms, many more people are getting involved. This new and accessible technology helps to standardise record collection and gather more valuable data, from experts and citizen scientists alike, which can be used to protect and restore nature.

Looking ahead: What might the next 25 years hold for the NBN Trust?

Undoubtedly, technology will continue to keep evolving and changing how we record and share biodiversity data. We’ve already started seeing this with the rise of environmental-derived DNA (eDNA) datasets on the NBN Atlas, and that’s only going to grow. We’ve made big upgrades to the Atlas to keep up with technological advances and the sheer volume of data, and we’ll need to keep adapting as new tools and techniques come along.

We might also see more automated data collection, like AI-powered species identification from photos or sounds, and even drones or remote sensors helping to monitor habitats in real time. These kinds of innovations could make recording faster, more accurate, and accessible to even more people.

It’s not just about technology though, who we engage with in the future will be crucial to our success. We’d like to increase our impact and our mission by working not only with data collectors, academics, and policy makers, but also with businesses, financial institutions, and the private sector all of whom have a crucial role to play in tackling the planetary emergencies through data, collaboration, and investment in nature. This will be a key change for us, but one which is really exciting.

Despite these broader changes, the heart of the Network will still be the recorders: the volunteers, the citizen scientists, and the organisations who collect, share and verify data. Without them, there wouldn’t be an NBN Atlas, or a National Biodiversity Network.

So, as we celebrate being 25, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s part of the NBN community. Whether you’re a member of or donor to the NBN Trust, a partner in the NBN, a data provider to the NBN Atlas, or someone who’s just started recording wildlife – you’re helping us to make data work for nature.

How can people get involved?

We’ve already talked about the importance of people and data to the Network, so one really important activity for people to do is to record the wildlife they see and to share the details. We’ve got information about this on the website – https://nbn.org.uk/record-share-explore-data/record-wildlife-a-fun-way-to-help-nature/

We have our annual NBN Conference on 20th November in Bristol. This will be themed around our 25 years anniversary and will delve into the past, present and future of the NBN. It’s also a great occasion to come together and celebrate the amazing people already recording nature through the NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording. The Awards’ shortlist can be found here and NHBS is one of our generous sponsors.

Finally, as a UK registered-charity, income generated from our donations and partnerships helps fund our vital work supporting the whole UK nature recovery sector with wildlife data.

We’re nothing without our members, supporters and donors and we’re grateful to every individual and organisation that contributes to our work. If you would like a future where nature is thriving everywhere, in all its diversity, please consider a donation. Every penny will go directly to our work – to make data work for nature. Thank you. https://nbn.org.uk/support-us/

Mandy Henshall Communications and Engagement Manager NBN

The Call of the Loon – pioneering seabird conservation research by kayak

NHBS was proud to support Roland Arnison and his 2025 Call of the Loon Expedition, providing him with monitoring equipment including trail cameras and audio recorders. Roland’s mission to document Scotland’s seabirds and explore innovative, low-impact survey methods aligns strongly with NHBS’ commitment to advancing field research and conservation. With so many seabird populations in sharp decline, we were pleased to contribute to this important work, which explores new ways to monitor and protect seabirds and could benefit future conservation projects.

We have really enjoyed following Roland’s progress and seeing some of the incredible photos and recordings he has captured, and we hope you will too.

I have spent the last two summers kayaking around the Hebrides in Scotland, on the hunt for seabirds. The heart of this solo expedition is my self-appointed mission to record the calls of all of Scotland’s seabird species. This has gone well and after kayaking 700 miles, visiting countless seabird colonies on remote islands, I have captured sound recordings of 25 of the 30 species on my list, including the bird after which the Call of the Loon expedition is named: the Great Northern Diver Gavia immer, aka the Loon.

The solo sea kayaking has been adventurous, challenging, and at times at little too perilous. In 2024, my kayak floated away from the shore (due to a momentary lapse of concentration!). My attempts to recover it by swimming in the cold waters off the Isle of Coll resulted in hypothermia, exhaustion, the intervention of the Coastguard- and no kayak. My precious kayak was later found off south Skye and I was reunited with it and able to continue the expedition. In 2025, the expedition took me to the Outer Hebrides and I grabbed the opportunity to paddle out to St Kilda, that magnificent compact rocky archipelago in the Atlantic with the tallest seacliffs in Britain, some 40 miles off the west coast of North Uist. St Kilda is a haven for seabirds, a World Heritage Site, managed by National Trust for Scotland and an obvious destination for me on my seabird expedition. But it did involve a memorable 14 hour, 60km epic solo paddle to get there.

The Call of the Loon expedition has a particular relevance due to the ecological state of Britain’s seabirds. Most of our seabirds have seen significant declines in the last 20 years, due to climate change, overfishing, and the impact of invasive predator species amongst other factors. Of the 25 seabird species that regularly breed in Scotland, 21 are on the Red or Amber lists of Birds of Conservation Concern. In Scotland, over twenty years, puffin populations have dropped by 32%, Arctic Skua numbers fell by 66% and the rare Leach’s Storm Petrel is now classed as ‘critically endangered’ in the UK, with its Scottish population crashing by almost 80%. The bird flu epidemic in recent years has also hit some species such as Gannets and Great Skuas very hard.

The Call of the Loon expedition has broader research aims beyond the quest to record the sounds of seabirds. One, disarmingly simple, research question I have been trying to answer is: is it possible to carry out transect surveys of seabirds from the cockpit of a sea kayak while paddling along coastlines and across the open sea? So far, my practical trials have shown some successes, recording both digitally (on a tablet or phone in Aquapac waterproof cases) and through use of waterproof notebooks. More specific research aims include using remote recording equipment to identify the presence of particular seabird species or to reveal certain behaviours, while minimising disturbance of the birds. The Song Meter Micro 2 remote audio recorder has been an essential piece of equipment, allowing me to capture recordings of seabird calls that I would not otherwise have been able to achieve, and providing evidence of the presence of nocturnal seabirds – notably European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus and Leach’s Storm Petrel Hydrobates leucorhous. Like many seabird species, these petrels spend most of their time at sea, only visiting land for the summer breeding season. In Britain, they only nest on remote rocky islands, far from humans (and rats). They only come and go from their crevice or burrow nests on dark nights, as a predator avoidance tactic. So, you can appreciate that these seabirds are not easy to find. Leach’s petrel is especially rare in Britain, only a handful of known colonies nest on offshore islands off the Outer Hebrides, with around 90% of them on St Kilda. The use of a sea kayak to reach their remote colonies and the deployment of the Song Meter Micro 2 have been powerful tools to find and record their calls.

A Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 trail camera has also been useful. I have used this remote camera to record images of puffins as they visit their burrow nests. The initial idea was to capture photos of Puffins carrying fish in their beaks to feed to their puffling chicks. These photos can be used to identify the type and quantities of fish that puffins are catching, as researched by National Trust for Scotland’s ‘Puffarazi’ citizen science project: https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/seabirds-camera-action But use of the camera trap outside a puffin burrow also revealed simpler data: how often the puffins visit their nests and at which times of day.

Experimenting with the Song Meter Micro 2 and Browning Elite has opened up new possibilities in potential applications in seabird research, and I am currently developing a plan for a future seabird research expedition using remote recording devices. Anyone interested in collaborating with me on this can contact me on roland@shearwater.me.uk

NHBS has been a very supportive partner in the Call of the Loon expedition, through supplying the research equipment and their technical advice and I would like to thank them hugely for their support.

The Call of the Loon expedition is also supported by Sea Kayaking UK, Celtic Paddles, Sennheiser, Whetman Equipment, Reed Chillcheater, Aquapac and the European Nature Trust.

If you are interested in the Call of the Loon expedition, you can read more and sign up to the newsletter on the Call of the Loon website: https://rolandarnison.co.uk/call-of-the-loon-expedition/ and support the expedition through the Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/call-of-the-loon-expedition-2025 You can read and subscribe to the expedition blogs: https://rolandarnisonadventures.wordpress.com/category/call-of-the-loon-2025/ and follow the expedition on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roland.arnison and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolandarnisonadventures/

Author – Roland Arnison

Dave Ellacott – Reserves Warden for Wild Planet Trust

NHBS has teamed up with the Wild Planet Trust as part of our ongoing commitment to support wildlife and conservation. We have donated over 30 habitat boxes alongside wildlife cameras for use both on their local reserves and zoo sites.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Reserves Warden Dave Ellacott, who is responsible for both the Primely and Clennon reserves. This week, we chatted to him about the work of the trust, his plans for the donated boxes and what successes and challenges he faces in his work.

Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about Wild Planet Trust, what you do and how the organisation began?

Wild Planet Trust – previously called the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust – operates zoos, but we also manage nature reserves. I look after two of them: Primley and Clennon. Primley is what remains of the old garden and parkland that surrounded Primley House, the former estate of the Whitley family and residence of the zoo’s founder, Herbert Whitley. In 1995, the first warden was brought in to transform it into a local nature reserve and public open space. It’s been a popular spot for locals ever since. Clennon serves a slightly different purpose. For the most part, there is no public access. This allows us to safeguard the habitat from disturbances caused by human presence. However, Paignton Zoo’s Nature Trail, which zoo visitors can access, offers the public the opportunity to experience a small corner of this reserve, including our traditionally managed coppice woodland. Both reserves play their part in supporting local ecosystems while offering people genuinely rewarding places to connect with nature.

What are you hoping to achieve with the installation of our habitat boxes across your three nature reserves?

These sites already have considerable natural assets – caves, some magnificent veteran trees, and areas we deliberately leave undisturbed. The habitat boxes should provide those additional ecological niches that might otherwise be absent. It’s about creating opportunities for species that need very specific conditions for nesting or shelter. Every habitat has its gaps, and these installations should help fill some of those spaces. We’re curious to see what takes up residence and how it might shift the balance of wildlife we’re already supporting.

A large part of the work that Wild Planet Trust does is focused on educating the next generation on the natural world. Why do you think this is so important?

While education isn’t really my area – I’m more focused on the practical side of habitat management – I can see how these reserves function as living demonstrations of what healthy ecosystems actually look like. When families explore the Nature Trail at Clennon or spend time wandering Primley’s varied landscapes, they’re experiencing woodland, meadow, and wetland habitats firsthand rather than just reading about them. There’s something valuable in that direct encounter with nature that you simply can’t replicate in a classroom. People need to feel that connection before they truly understand why conservation matters.

What conservation challenges have you faced over the past few years?

Ash Dieback has been particularly challenging – it’s an ongoing process of assessment, removal, and replanting that’s fundamentally altered the character of our woodlands. You’re constantly weighing safety against habitat value and planning for a very different canopy structure than what was there before. Then there’s the perpetual balancing act between maintaining public access and protecting sensitive habitats – you want people to engage with these places without compromising their ecological integrity. But we’re increasingly seeing the impact from climate change too, which adds another layer of complexity. From gradual shifts in species behaviour and plant communities, to the sudden loss of our 230-year-old Lucombe oak in Primley during Storm Kathleen last year – we’re continuously having to adapt our management approaches while working within realistic resource constraints. All of this means being strategic about where you can make the most meaningful impact.

Halting species decline and preserving vital ecosystems is a key aspect of the work you do. Do you have a favourite success story that you can share with us?

The transformation of Primley’s meadowland over the past three decades is probably our most satisfying long-term achievement. It’s been a simple but persistent approach – removing the annual hay crop to gradually reduce soil fertility and allow a more diverse plant community to establish. What was once a rather monotonous sward dominated by aggressive grasses has evolved into diverse wildflower meadow. The change has been incremental but vital for native biodiversity, supporting insects, birds, and small mammals. It’s a perfect example of how patient, consistent management can restore ecosystems, even if the results take decades to fully appreciate.

Finally, are you working on any other conservation projects at the moment that we can hear about?

Maintaining what we have certainly keeps us occupied, but we’re also developing some thoughtful enhancement projects. We’re planning watercourse improvements across both sites – installing leaky dams and other features that should improve flood resilience while creating diverse wetland habitats. The Ash Dieback situation, while challenging, has also created opportunities to diversify our woodland structure with more resilient native species. We’re thinking carefully about connectivity too – how these reserves can better serve as stepping stones in the broader landscape for wildlife movement. It’s about working pragmatically with the challenges we face while looking for those opportunities to genuinely improve what we can offer.