Through Amy's Lens

Through Amy's Lens Welcome to my page .. Trying to bring a bit of positivity and good vibes to your news feed️ ✨️All things nature based. 📸🖼💚

Have you spotted an Emperor Dragonfly? 💙One of our largest and most impressive dragonflies, this powerful species can of...
06/07/2026

Have you spotted an Emperor Dragonfly? 💙

One of our largest and most impressive dragonflies, this powerful species can often be seen patrolling ponds and wetlands, rarely stopping to rest.

Look out for the bright blue abdomen of males, while females are typically greener. They’re on the wing throughout summer and can turn up around surprisingly small bodies of water!

If you spot one, please add your sighting to and help us learn more about local wildlife.

🛡️ Meet the Shield Bug: Nature’s Little Knight! Ever spotted one of these tiny, shield-shaped hitchhikers? This little g...
25/03/2026

🛡️ Meet the Shield Bug: Nature’s Little Knight!

Ever spotted one of these tiny, shield-shaped hitchhikers? This little guy is a Shield Bug (also known as a Stink Bug), and it’s one of nature's most fascinating garden residents!

🔍 Quick Facts:

Built-in Armor: Their bodies are shaped exactly like a medieval shield, which is how they got their name.

Seasonal Wardrobe: Some species, like the Common Green Shieldbug, actually change color! They turn from bright green to this bronzy-brown in the fall to camouflage for winter. 🍂

The Smell Test: They have scent glands that release a funky odor if they feel threatened. It’s their way of saying "Please don't eat me!" 👃🚫

🏡 What to do if you find one inside:
As the weather cools down, these tiny "knights" often look for a cozy spot to hibernate. If one wanders into your home, don't worry—they don't bite or sting! Just gently scoop them up and pop them back outside near some bushes.
Have you seen any of these around lately?

Let me know in the comments! 👇

🌱 GROW YOUR OWN WITH THE KIDS! 🌱 Does your garden have space to grow food… but you’re not sure where to start? Let me he...
21/03/2026

🌱 GROW YOUR OWN WITH THE KIDS! 🌱

Does your garden have space to grow food… but you’re not sure where to start? Let me help!

✨ Why choose me?
With previous experience as a Nature Ranger AND my very own allotment, I’ve got the knowledge and passion to make learning fun, hands-on, and full of nature magic! 🐝🌿

We’ll get stuck into:
🍓 Growing fruit, veg & herbs
🐝 Learning about wildlife & habitats
🪵 Building bee & bug hotels
🌸 Creating beautiful wildflower patches

🌿 Everything you need included – even the seeds!
🌿 Perfect for families & little nature lovers
🌿 You provide the space… I’ll do the rest!

💬 Prices arranged to suit your needs
📩 Drop me a message to book your session!

Lamium purpureum. It’s a very common wild edible in the UK and is part of the mint family. Good news: it’s safe to forag...
10/03/2026

Lamium purpureum.

It’s a very common wild edible in the UK and is part of the mint family. Good news: it’s safe to forage and quite nutritious. 🌿

Pick the young tops – the top 5–8 cm where the purple flowers and soft leaves are. These are the most tender.

Avoid roadside plants – choose areas away from traffic, dog walking hotspots, or sprayed land.

Harvest lightly – take a little from each patch so the plant can keep growing.

Tip: It doesn’t sting (despite the “nettle” name).
Best Ways to Prepare It

1. Eat it Raw (Mild & Nutty)
Rinse well in cold water.
Add to salads, sandwiches, or wraps.
The small purple flowers are edible and look great sprinkled on food.

2. Make a Wild Pesto 🌿
Blend:
A handful of purple dead-nettle
Olive oil
Garlic
Nuts or seeds (pine nuts, sunflower seeds)
Lemon juice
Parmesan (optional)
Great on pasta or toast.

3. Cook Like Spinach
You can sauté it lightly:
Heat butter or oil
Add garlic
Toss the leaves for 1–2 minutes
It shrinks like spinach and becomes mild.

4. Herbal Tea
Use fresh or dried leaves
Pour boiling water over a small handful
Steep 5–10 minutes
It has a gentle earthy taste.
Quick Forager Fact 🌼
Purple dead-nettle is:
Rich in vitamin C and iron
A great early-spring pollinator plant
One of the first edible greens available after winter...

✅ Beginner tip: Mix it with other mild wild greens like chickweed in salads so the flavour isn’t too strong

This is a Giant Spiny Stick Insect, also known as MacLeay’s Spectre (Extatosoma tiaratum) — and it’s basically evolution...
03/03/2026

This is a Giant Spiny Stick Insect, also known as MacLeay’s Spectre (Extatosoma tiaratum) — and it’s basically evolution showing off...

Native to eastern Australia, where they live in eucalyptus forests.

Those dramatic spikes aren’t for attacking — they’re defensive camouflage, helping them look like dried, damaged leaves.

Females can grow up to 20cm long — one of the larger stick insect species kept in captivity.

When threatened, they rear up and curl their abdomen like a scorpion to look intimidating… but they can’t sting and are completely harmless..

They can reproduce through parthenogenesis, meaning females can lay fertile eggs without a male. (Independent queens 👑)

Their eggs look like tiny plant seeds and are often taken into ant nests in the wild, which helps protect them until they hatch.

So basically… It’s a walking leaf, covered in armour, that throws dramatic poses when startled.

Nature: 1
Special effects department: 0

European robins have a biological compass in their right eye. Scientists believe they can actually see the Earth's magne...
10/01/2026

European robins have a biological compass in their right eye. Scientists believe they can actually see the Earth's magnetic field as a visual overlay on their surroundings, which helps them navigate during migration.compared to their body size, allowing them to forage in very low light. This also explains why they are often the first birds to start the "dawn chorus" or why they continue singing late into the night under streetlights. European robins are surprisingly observant of humans. They can recognize individual faces and schedules, often following a "trusted" gardener to catch unearthed worms. In a grim historical twist, robin skins were once popular decorations for ladies' hats during the Victorian era.While they are fierce with their own kind, robins have been documented feeding the chicks of other bird species, showing a parental instinct that sometimes overrides their territorial nature.Roughly 75% of robins do not survive their first year. If they do make it past their first birthday, their life expectancy jumps to about 5-6 years.

4 days in Scotland well spent managed to get some great shots on the camera 📷..Where's your favourite place to visit 🏴󠁧󠁢...
02/12/2025

4 days in Scotland well spent managed to get some great shots on the camera 📷..

Where's your favourite place to visit 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Kingston Upon Hull

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