Strensall Common Nature Reserve
York's busy ring road seems a million miles away once you're out for a stroll on Strensall Common, savouring its expansive beauty and abundant wildlife.
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Snap, cackle and flop: trying to photograph laughing green woodpeckers at Barlow Common
They’ve been laughing at me all day. I first heard them within a few minutes of arriving at Barlow Common at 8.30am on this dazzlingly bright spring morning, and their raucous “yaffle” calls have…
Common cotton-grass
The fluffy, white heads of common cotton-grass dot our brown, boggy moors and heaths as if a giant bag of cotton wool balls has been thrown across the landscape!
Fire at Allerthorpe Common
Our statement on the recent fire at Allerthorpe Common.
Common skate
Despite its name, the "common" skate is not so common anymore. In fact, they are Critically Endangered.
Common seal
The smaller of our two UK seal species, common seals are also known as harbour seals. Despite being called "Common", they are actually less common than grey seals!
Common juniper
A sprawling, spiny evergreen, common juniper is famous for its traditional role in gin-making. Once common on downland, moorland and coastal heathland, it is now much rarer due to habitat loss.…
Common sorrel
Common sorrel is a common plant of grasslands, woodland edges, roadside verges and gardens. It is also known as 'sour ducks' because its leaves taste tart.
Common gull
Despite its name, the common gull is not as common as some of our other gulls. It can be spotted breeding at the coast, but is also partial to sports fields, landfill sites and housing estates in…
Common whitebeam
Common whitebeam is not a common tree, despite its name. It can be found growing wild in a variety of habitats, but is also planted in towns and gardens. Look for shiny, oval leaves with white…
Common puffball
This common fungus puffs out clouds of spores when it's mature.
Common rosefinch
The common rosefinch is a rare visitor to the UK, usually passing through in autumn.