Burnet Moths love Cowbar Knapweed!
One of our most eye-catching moths is back. In the summer, there are plenty of six-spotted Burnet Moths on Cowbar, settling on common knapweed or thistles, their regular choice…
Cowbar Yarrow – medicine and myth
Holding him by the heel, the Greek goddess, Thetis, bathed her little boy, Achilles, in water fortified by a local plant that would make him invincible. Shame about the heel,…
Cowbar Autumn Goldfinches
A cloud of Goldfinches feasting on seeds on Cowbar this August A group of goldfinches is called a 'charm'. This term comes from the Old English word 'c'irm' and refers…
The Big (Cowbar) Butterfly Count is back!
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count begins on July 15th and will run until August 10th. So far, over a million butterflies have been added to the count nationally. The Big…
The Cowbar Barn Owl
All through December, we have seen the barn owl out hunting over the Cowbar grassland in daylight. Although barn owls' eyes are specially adapted to function in low light conditions…
Honey bees on Cowbar
A tiny colony of honey bees ( Apis mellifera) has build a little nest on a sturdy cabbage plant stalk by the Cleveland Way. They arrived during the last week…
What to look for on Cowbar in July and August
These four plants are looking particularly splendid on Cowbar in July. As August moves on, they will be joined by stands of Knapweed, Fleabane and Common Sow Thistle. The slow…
Summer visitors on Cowbar
There are some wild summer visitors on Cowbar. Click here to find out more.
Have you seen these Orchids?
The wet weather this spring has delayed many of the flowers we expect on Cowbar. Click here to see a spectacular plant which has just begun to bloom!