The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species

Jane’s chosen species is Dabberlocks Alaria esculenta.

Jane is a professional phycologist living in Yorkshire. From a young age she spent many happy hours peering into rock pools, and it was this childhood fascination that led to her lifelong passion for intertidal ecology, specifically seaweeds.

Cath’s chosen species is the Beaver Castor fiber.

Cath is an ecologist with Forestry England and is involved in the management of the natural heritage of their land holding in Yorkshire Forest District. She works on projects for specific species such as Pine Marten, Water Vole, Turtle Dove, and Eurasian Beaver.

Helen’s chosen species is the Sundew Plume Moth Buckleria paludum.

Helen is passionate about environmental conservation and wildlife and is a keen peat campaigner and field naturalist. She is largely a local patch worker on Thorne and Hatfield Moors just outside of Doncaster, and was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2013 for her services to nature conservation at the site.

Howard’s chosen species is the diminutive but beautiful Teesdale Violet Viola rupestris.

Howard has worked as a freelance writer and photographer for over thirty years. In 2018 he became a member of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and the following year he was signed up as a volunteer botanist with Natural England, working on the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Geoff’s chosen species is the Russet Funnelweb Spider Tegenaria ferruginea.

Geoff Oxford is currently an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Biology, University of York, where he taught genetics and evolution for nearly 40 years. He has been interested in spiders for almost half a century and is an active Council member of the British Arachnological Society.

Terry Crawford and Adrian Norris are both experienced conchologists, with decades of experience in recording and studying molluscs in Yorkshire. Their chosen species are the Fylingthorpe Slug Limax cf. dacampi and the Wall Whorl Snail Vertigo pusilla.

Jeff’s chosen species is one of our iconic waders, the Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria.

Jeff Lunn is Chairman of the Garganey Trust, a nature conservation charity. Jeff has worked all over Great Britain for nature conservation organisations, notably the Nature Conservancy Council and its successors, and has a passionate interest in the wildlife of Yorkshire.

Africa’s chosen species is the Willow Emerald Damselfly Chalcolestes viridis.

Dr Africa Gómez is a lecturer in Biology at the University of Hull. She’s been interested in natural history for as long as she can remember. She’s an enthusiastic biological recorder, mainly of birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and is involved in several regular volunteer surveys for the BTO, always with a strong urban focus.

Ed’s chosen species is the elusive and enigmatic Pine Marten Martes martes.

Ed Snell is the Project Support & Development Manager at NatureSpy, a conservation social enterprise run by wildlife biologists. They are experts in wildlife technology, particularly camera traps, and seek to observe, research, and showcase unique glimpses of UK and world wildlife in a sustainable and respectful way.

Claire’s chosen species is the beautiful Field Gentian Gentianella campestris.

Claire is a freelance Farm Conservation Advisor based in North Yorkshire. She also does some habitat survey work, and works as a guide for Yorkshire Coast Nature where she leads wild flower walks. She has a special interest in native plants and enjoys studying botany in her spare time.

Heather’s chosen species is one of our true seabirds, the Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla.

As the Development Officer for the Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership (YMNP), Heather works with a wide variety of organisations to care for, manage, and improve our knowledge of Yorkshire’s important marine and coastal environment.

Andy’s chosen species is Chrysis corusca, one of our elusive and beautiful aculeate species.

Andy’s interest in natural history is varied, but his focus is Bees, Wasps & Ants (aculeates), for which he is the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union (YNU) recorder. He is currently Chair of the YNU Executive Committee and tutors on an Open University module in Environmental Science.

Simon’s chosen species to kick off the 100 Species project is the festive Mistletoe Viscum album.

Simon is responsible for the running of NEYEDC and for developing its longer-term strategy. You can find him on LinkedIn, email him at simon.pickles@neyedc.co.uk, or find out more about NEYEDC on their website.