Welcome to chXout’s Nature Notes, a miscellany of topical nature facts and stories where we will drift through the months and seasons of beautiful Co. Durham, highlighting our discourse with a generous smattering of cutting edge nature science from the Durham Genome Centre.
In Co. Durham we are blessed with some extraordinary countryside and interesting ecosystems – no need to go on an African safari – interesting nature is all around us and it is often right under your feet!
So many humans focus on “big animal stuff” often as a barometer for eco-health, but we prefer to start with the tiny, from the bacteria and fungi which make up the plethora of microbiomes and biofilms that occupy every surface around us, to the plants, invertebrates and eventually the iconic vertebrates we all love to see.
Each of course, garner their livelihoods from each other. Delicate, balanced and flowing with the seasons and weather, but oh so easy to disrupt and sometimes permanently, with those rarely beneficial invasive species.
We hope you enjoy our anecdotes…