Matt Lowe, Collections Manager at the Museum of Zoology, writes: A couple of months ago my wife and I were tidying up the pots of herbs we keep next to kitchen door when we heard a shuffling noise and what sounded awfully like snoring. That was when I realised I had succeeded in giving an overwintering hedgehog a home. In 2019, not long after we … Continue reading Herbie the Hedgehog’s winter hidey hole
For day two of our 12 Days of Winter Wildlife, we are celebrating our feathered friends. Winter can be tough for birds. As the temperature drops, they need more energy to keep warm. But once the bounty of berries and seeds of the autumn is over, food can be in short supply. Provide birds with food in your garden or outdoor space and you can … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Garden Birds
Roz Wade, Learning Officer at the Museum, writes: The garden pond has been thriving over the summer, and I have loved watching the wildlife it is supporting. Since the last episode of Pondwatch I have been pond dipping several times, and found some beautiful animals living in the water. It is wonderful to see so many baby newts, from tiny, almost transparent ones without any … Continue reading Pondwatch Episode 6: Summer in the Pond
Roz Wade, Learning Officer at the Museum, writes: It is always fun watching the birds coming to the bird feeders in the garden. We find the fat blocks prove particularly popular. It is lovely to see the robins and blue tits taking a morsel of food, particularly now with new fledglings come to feed, but I get particularly excited when a nuthatch comes to visit. … Continue reading Nuthatch, Sitta europaea
Moths are a widespread and diverse group of insects, but they can often be overlooked. A large part of this is due to many species being active at night, meaning that people have fewer opportunities to interact with them. They also rely heavily on camouflage and have a reputation for being more ‘drab’ in colour than their day-flying butterfly relatives. However, there are many exceptions … Continue reading Build your own Moth Trap
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Kate Risely British Trust for Ornithology “My work is in monitoring garden wildlife. I’m particularly interested in how birds use the resources in green spaces in our towns and cities, and the benefits to human wellbeing from everyday … Continue reading The value of gardens for birds
Creating a pond is one of the best ways to provide a diverse range of habitats and attract a wide variety of new species to any outdoor space. You are likely to encounter wildlife you would otherwise never see, which makes pond dipping popular amongst children and adults alike. If you only have a small garden, or no outdoor space at all, then don’t worry … Continue reading Build your own Mini-Pond
Discover the extraordinary life of bee-flies with our Curator of Insects, Dr Ed Turner. Continue reading The wonderful world of bee-flies
Explore the wildlife in your garden pond with the team from the Museum of Zoology. Continue reading Pondwatch Episode 1
Museum of Zoology Blog 