Tag Archives: campus

Bees in the grass

Every one loves bees these days and pretty much everyone loves bee orchids (Ophrys apifera) too! The University of Reading campus is no exception and there is a small population flourishing in purposefully unmown grass opposite the Hopkins Building and … Continue reading

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Spangle leaf-manglers: Neuroterus spp.

If you’ve spent any time admiring the variety of oaks (Quercus spp.) on campus, you may have noticed strange growths on various parts of the trees. During last week’s Vegetation Survey and Assessment session, I came across a badly affected … Continue reading

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Leaf-mining moths going conkers…

While strolling around the campus grounds, have you been wondering what’s happening to our horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L., Sapindaceae) trees? Are those brown leaves really showing signs of an early autumn? These leaves are actually changing colour for a … Continue reading

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False teeth in the Harris Garden.

The Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria, is a curious parasitic plant in the Orobanchaceae (Broomrape family) that may have gained its English name due to the flower spikes looking like rows of teeth.  The Latin name is perhaps rather more informative of … Continue reading

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Campus Lake Part Three – Other Water Birds and Edge Species

The third and final part to my blogs on the bird species that can be found on the Whiteknights campus lake. Today, I am including the rest of the water birds which were sighted during the survey period, and some … Continue reading

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Is the Ash tree at risk?

When walking around Whiteknights campus you will see numerous Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), especially in the woodland of the Wilderness. These members of the Olive family (Oleaceae) are easily recognised by their toothed pinnate leaves and grey fissured bark. Many people … Continue reading

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The Campus Lake

The lake at Whiteknights campus is one of my favourite places to walk; it is surrounded by a woodland border which shows a great diversity in plants, fungi and invertebrates as well as birds. In addition to the species I witnessed … Continue reading

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