Red tailed bumble bee, Bombus lapidarius. One of the Big 7 widespread and abundant species, found in a wide range of habitats across the UK. Queens and workers are jet-black, with a bright red tail covering up to 50% of the abdomen. Males have yellow facial hair and bright yellow bands at the front and rear of the thorax, along […]
Remote sedge, Carex remota. Tufted plant with short rhizomes , forming small tussocks with bright green leaves up to 30 cm tall.
Rhopalus subrufus. Length 7 to 7.5 mm. This genus of bug closely associated with shield bugs comprises four species in the UK; all are rather hairy bugs with largely membranous forewings. It is usually found in association with St John’s-worts in rough grassland, brownfield land and woodland clearings.
Ribwort plantain, Plantago lanceolata. The deep veins visible on the leaves have earned the species its name ‘ribwort’. Ribwort plantain is probably the most constant and widespread component of natural and semi-natural grassland in Britain. Photo: www.wildlifeinsight.com
Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus. This is a relatively common species but isn’t seen so frequently on the Parkland Walk these days. It prefers damp woodland edges and clearings rather than exposed sunny meadows.
Robin, Erithacus rubecula. The UK’s favourite bird – with its bright red breast it is familiar throughout the year and especially at Christmas! Males and females look identical, and young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown. Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away […]
Roesel’s bush cricket,Metrioptera roeselii. Seen June to October favouring damp meadow and grassland. Found in South East England but spreading north and west. Photo Stephen Middleton
Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri. Despite it’s beautiful plumage and silhouette in flight, the rose-ringed parakeet (or ringneck parrot) has a hard time winning hearts. Maybe it’s that screechy voice. When it began to establish itself in the UK there were concerns that it would have a detrimental effect on our native wild birds. Recent research suggests their impact is not significant. They […]
Rosebay willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium. This species is abundant in wet slightly acidic open fields but it has earned the nicknames ‘fireweed’ and ‘bombweed’ as a result of its tendancy to colonize quickly on burnt ground and bomb sites during World War II. The plant’s rise from a local rarity is closely linked to the expansion of the railway network making it […]
Russian comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum. Comfrey is a particularly valuable source of fertility to the organic gardener and is used as a compost activator, liquid fertiliser, mulch or potting mixture. Comfreys have been used as traditional medicinal plants in Europe for centuries. Russian comfrey can be considered as a toxic plant and some comfrey products have been banned for human […]
