Kate Jones

Allotmenteer, lover of countryside, coast and Creme Eggs.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@PhilipsWriting They look a lot like the spent cowslips in my garden, but tricky to tell for sure without the leaves.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

Found huge numbers of what I think are bee moth caterpillars/cocoons when re-tiling a small lean/to shed, along with a veritable wood mouse city! Can anyone confirm if these are bee moths? I’ll put them somewhere dry and hope they continue to pupate #ukmoths

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@FrimblesFarm We grew Emir this year and they were super. Sniff test is good, but perhaps tricky to tell which the ripe ones are if you have that many! Ours turned a bit orange when ripe, and also practically separated themselves from the vine which seems to be a key indicator.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

Over the moon to find a female wasp spider IN OUR GARDEN!! Lovely to find things we wouldn’t previously have seen moving into the garden meadow. Build it and they will come etc. @Buzz_dont_tweet @SomersetWT

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@clothofnature These are really beautiful (and you’ve got gorgeous handwriting!). I think your Self-heal in the second photo might be Betony? Just because I went ‘Ooo Betony!’ before reading your label!

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@PhilipsWriting @JWentomologist @B_Strawbridge @Buzz_dont_tweet Thanks Philip, not to worry - just thought I’d ask as they all seemed very similar to me!

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

Hello bee folk! Is anyone able to identify this species of bee please? @JWentomologist @B_Strawbridge @Buzz_dont_tweet @PhilipsWriting I have assumed a Colletes sp. and perhaps a Davies due to distribution (South Somerset)… 1/2

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@B_Strawbridge @DearUniverse_cs @Eucera Yes, this year’s went on irecord. Interestingly there were two other records locally (next village) from last year and this year, so might be a local population establishing.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

But I’ve read that it nests in vertical mud/sandy banks, whereas this was in a flat garden lawn on heavy clay (on a mown path through flowering ‘meadow’ grass). So I may be completely wrong! Many thanks. 2/2

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@BBCSpringwatch @BBCiPlayer @HannahStitfall @RSPBArne Morning! Any ideas which species of (presumably?) woodpecker might be making this warning call? Coming from the largest of one of a few holes in a dead tree in Somerset - all quite low down (<2m) but very active judging by wood shavings beneath. Thank you! #springwatch

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@Shitlawns We’ve perhaps done a bit too well with the yellow rattle, but all geared up now for ‘let it bloom June’ and ‘knee high July’!

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

My first bee-fly of the year in Somerset today, and it was a Dotted Bee-fly. It’s officially Spring! Logged on iRecord for #beeflywatch.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@NTGates Thanks. Yep, I can’t wait! It is definitely damp in parts - the snakes heads were a bit of a punt but they’re thriving. It’s the first year that self-seeded youngsters have flowered so really nice to see them spreading.

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

Nice to spend 20mins low down in the garden meadow to see what’s coming up in its third year - thanks to @NTGates for the prompt! We’ve got (I think) Lesser Celandine, Primrose, (Field?) Scabious, and Ox-eye Daisy…

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@NTGates And finally… a ? Hypericum, Ragged Robin, and (Lesser?) Knapweed. Hoping for an excellent year!

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@NTGates Cowslips, (Greater?) Birdsfoot Trefoil, Wild Carrot, and Salad Burnet…

[Kate Jones @kjsomerset]

@NTGates Great stuff, thanks Nick. We’re now in year 3 of our meadow, and lots has taken well. Do you know if you can have too much yellow rattle? We’ve got some patches that are now just solid YR amongst moss. I’d thought it might balance itself out, but it just increases each year!