Prof Pen Holland's Avatar

Prof Pen Holland

@anaspene

Quantitative ecology (especially seeds, and all who eat them), game-based/playful learning, ducks, cats, flowers, fantasy fiction and storytelling. Views my own.

500
Followers
210
Following
116
Posts
03.07.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Prof Pen Holland @anaspene

Definitely, yes please, especially roasted potatoes with a sprinkling of gravy…

05.03.2026 21:10 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I love this! Where do I sign up?

04.03.2026 09:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Journal of Imaginary Research abstract works of fiction // fictional abstracts

I’m a big fan of the Journal of Imaginary Research: journalofimaginaryresearch.home.blog

04.03.2026 07:30 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

We're finally seeing the sun at BES HQ in London 🌞 and it feels like t-shirt weather!

To celebrate, there's free UK shipping on BES t-shirts - and everything else in our shop - this weekend πŸ‘•

Order from 9am Friday to midnight Sunday (GMT) - no codes needed 😎 britishecologicalsociety.teemill.com

25.02.2026 14:33 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
We are looking at a section of stone wall down from which is a grassy green slope with some hardy daffodils bobbing their heads in the February sunshine.

We are looking at a section of stone wall down from which is a grassy green slope with some hardy daffodils bobbing their heads in the February sunshine.

Oh look at that, it’s raining again.

Let’s look at some early daffodils on York’s walls instead.

15.02.2026 08:23 πŸ‘ 136 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
A purple crocus painted in watercolour. Tentatively identified as Crocus vernus, but opinions may vary! Spring flowering anyway, currently blooming in a northern English February.

A purple crocus painted in watercolour. Tentatively identified as Crocus vernus, but opinions may vary! Spring flowering anyway, currently blooming in a northern English February.

I painted a whole year of flowers in 2025, then had a quiet month to recover, conveniently coinciding with a month of rain and mud. But it turns out that I miss the mindfulness of seeing colour in the hedgerows and putting it onto paper, so here’s a crocus to celebrate today’s sunshine. β˜€οΈπŸŽ¨πŸŒΈ

14.02.2026 12:29 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

If you're an active researcher or practitioner working in the field of applied ecology - why not apply to join us as an Associate Editor?🌍

We're seeking a range of expertise such as marine ecology, disease ecology & local knowledge!πŸ§ͺ

Find out more πŸ‘‡
www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

28.01.2026 09:18 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Print of a tree between two hills against a golden sunset

Print of a tree between two hills against a golden sunset

'Sunset #SycamoreGap' etching by contemporary Northumberland based UK printmaker Rebecca Vincent #WomensArt

08.02.2026 05:54 πŸ‘ 640 πŸ” 89 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 4
Stained glass artwork featuring a landscape with primrose plant in the foreground and house in silhouette on a grassy hill by a tree under a stormy purple sky

Stained glass artwork featuring a landscape with primrose plant in the foreground and house in silhouette on a grassy hill by a tree under a stormy purple sky

Deborah Lowe, contemporary stained glass artist, UK #WomensArt

07.02.2026 05:35 πŸ‘ 604 πŸ” 87 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

Hi Playful Blueskyers... just a reminder that the call for submissions for this year's Playful Learning Conference is end of play on Mon 2nd Feb. Don't miss out! playfullearningassoc.co.uk/submit-a-ses...

30.01.2026 14:49 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Print featuring a plant with dark green speared leaves and blue and yellow flowers against a white background

Print featuring a plant with dark green speared leaves and blue and yellow flowers against a white background

'Running Iris' linocut by Australian printmaker Rachel Newling #WomensArt

30.01.2026 06:49 πŸ‘ 707 πŸ” 110 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 4

If you're looking for new volunteering opportunities, then this post is for you πŸ‘‡

We are now recruiting for roles in the EDGE Network, Climate Change Group, Welsh Policy Group and Alder Network.Β 

Keep reading to find the role that best matches your interests and experience.

29.01.2026 14:31 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
An Exclusive Look Inside My Writing Routine I normally wake just before 3am, get immediately into my tracksuit and go for a little run around the bathroom, but not for long, since writing time is of the utmost value to me and I’m at the height ...

An Exclusive Look Inside My Writing Routine: www.tom-cox.com/an-exclusive...

29.01.2026 16:03 πŸ‘ 72 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 10
Photo featuring the a view to the front of a very tall buildings with a large scale mural of a pink blossom on a stem against a yellow background, the building towers above a street with motorcyclists

Photo featuring the a view to the front of a very tall buildings with a large scale mural of a pink blossom on a stem against a yellow background, the building towers above a street with motorcyclists

Mona Caron, contemporary Swiss-born artist, known for her large scale murals of wild flowers connecting to environmental concerns #WomensArt

23.01.2026 13:14 πŸ‘ 338 πŸ” 68 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 3
Print featuring a snowy woodland as snow melts forming a puddle of water reflecting trees and sky

Print featuring a snowy woodland as snow melts forming a puddle of water reflecting trees and sky

'January Thaw' by contemporary US printmaker Jeanne Amato #WomensArt

24.01.2026 04:12 πŸ‘ 713 πŸ” 96 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Announcing the second round of BES Fellows - British Ecological Society Meet our second round of Fellows of the British Ecological Society (FBES), a new cohort of ecologists making lasting impact on the discipline.

Introducing the second cohort of BES Fellows πŸ™ŒΒ 

We are delighted to announce that 23 outstanding ecologists have been selected to join our prestigious membership category.Β 

πŸ‘‡Meet our new Fellows hereΒ 

19.01.2026 17:04 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 7
We are looking at the Great Hall - a timber framed hall with a vast oak roof. Sun shines through the Georgian sash windows casting puddles of light on the pine floor boards. The Hall is empty but is warm and quiet.

We are looking at the Great Hall - a timber framed hall with a vast oak roof. Sun shines through the Georgian sash windows casting puddles of light on the pine floor boards. The Hall is empty but is warm and quiet.

Tough day? Tough week? Tough 2026?

May the Hall on a sunny day bring you peace. 🧘

15.01.2026 19:39 πŸ‘ 148 πŸ” 32 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
A lovely mossy boulder with a face. I walked past this venerable stone gentleman on Dartmoor when I was beginning to write my first novel, Villager, and it whispered all 104,000 words of the book to me. So now I have to pay it all of my royalties. Unfortunately my ex-publisher stopped paying me royalties last year. Understandable, the boulder was not happy. But now I have a new publisher and the book is being republished this Thursday. So remember if you purchase a copy you will be helping a boulder to eat, pay the rent on his riverside moss garden, and feed his boulder family.

A lovely mossy boulder with a face. I walked past this venerable stone gentleman on Dartmoor when I was beginning to write my first novel, Villager, and it whispered all 104,000 words of the book to me. So now I have to pay it all of my royalties. Unfortunately my ex-publisher stopped paying me royalties last year. Understandable, the boulder was not happy. But now I have a new publisher and the book is being republished this Thursday. So remember if you purchase a copy you will be helping a boulder to eat, pay the rent on his riverside moss garden, and feed his boulder family.

Yes it could be argued that keeping up with world events is important but alternatively can I interest you in hugging an ancient mossy boulder that looks like a face and quietly listening while it tells you stories from centuries cloaked in mist.

07.09.2025 15:47 πŸ‘ 920 πŸ” 237 πŸ’¬ 30 πŸ“Œ 25
Recruitment poster for 12 botanical or entomological field surveyors, April-September 2026. Closing date: January 30, 2026.

Recruitment poster for 12 botanical or entomological field surveyors, April-September 2026. Closing date: January 30, 2026.

πŸ¦‹πŸŒΏHiring 12 x Botanists or Entomologists for 2026 field surveys in England!

4-month, full-time roles from late April to early September.

Field sites in Yorkshire, Devon, Warwickshire, Kent/Sussex, Lincolnshire/Cambridge, Essex/Suffolk.

Apply now: ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CEH_Ca... πŸ§ͺ

09.01.2026 09:36 πŸ‘ 61 πŸ” 88 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 5
Print with three trees on a hill to the left and a large flock of flying birds above right in a tight formation in a blue sky

Print with three trees on a hill to the left and a large flock of flying birds above right in a tight formation in a blue sky

'Murmuration' by contemporary UK printmaker Hester Cox #WomensArt

13.01.2026 05:35 πŸ‘ 855 πŸ” 122 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Apply to be a BES Associate Editor - British Ecological Society Help advance outstanding ecological research by joining our Editorial Boards! Applications are now open across all seven BES journals.

Reminder: open call for Associate Editors for @britishecologicalsociety.org journals closes 23 Feb. Come join us at @jappliedecology.bsky.social or choose your favourite BES journal to apply for. Please share!
www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

10.01.2026 02:30 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Pictorial textile artwork featuring a view of a snow covered country lane with trees on either side under a blue sky

Pictorial textile artwork featuring a view of a snow covered country lane with trees on either side under a blue sky

Machine and hand embroidered lanscape artwork by Alison Holt, UK textile artist #WomensArt

07.01.2026 04:32 πŸ‘ 555 πŸ” 86 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 6
Collage resembling a white flower on green stalks against a black background

Collage resembling a white flower on green stalks against a black background

The snowdrop is a messenger of the seasons, the darkest moment of winter has passed. It is a messenger of hope. #January1st #NewYearsDay

Mary Delany, Galanthus Nivalis, Single Snowdrop, 1777 #womensart

01.01.2026 05:57 πŸ‘ 485 πŸ” 104 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2

Well…I definitely have to finish the final page, right? 🌼

21.12.2025 16:31 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
360 watercolour flowers painted stamp size across 18 pages of paper, laid out across a large dining table

360 watercolour flowers painted stamp size across 18 pages of paper, laid out across a large dining table

The final five panels of watercolour flowers in bloom in late December in Yorkshire

The final five panels of watercolour flowers in bloom in late December in Yorkshire

The first flower: a snowdrop painted on 22 December 2024

The first flower: a snowdrop painted on 22 December 2024

The last flower, Viburnum against a blue sky, painted on 21 December 2025

The last flower, Viburnum against a blue sky, painted on 21 December 2025

And that’s a wrap on a year of watercolour #WildflowerHour: 365 flowers painted within a week of blooming. Mostly wildflowers, with a few garden escapes, and a whole lot of joy.

21.12.2025 16:20 πŸ‘ 28 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

The daffs are showing their stalks here but I haven’t seen any daring to flower yet. The cowslips, on the other hand, came back for round two in the snow…

14.12.2025 20:44 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
First snowdrops flowering in a bed of dead leaves

First snowdrops flowering in a bed of dead leaves

Red campion clinging on to bloom

Red campion clinging on to bloom

Dandelion looking bright against wet grass

Dandelion looking bright against wet grass

Marzipan roses, fox and cubs, and a cornflower

Marzipan roses, fox and cubs, and a cornflower

First snowdrops flowering in a sheltered courtyard in York, while the red campion clings on to summer and the dandelions remain bright. I’m celebrating #WildflowerHour with marzipan flowers for the Christmas cake this year.

14.12.2025 20:20 πŸ‘ 37 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Everyone Keeps Saying Probably - PSYCHOPOMP.COM Publisher's Note: Please enjoy this short story by Premee Mohamed, who, coincidentally(!!), has a book out from Psychopomp on February 11th. It's called One

Anyway is this the story I had published this year that made the most people claim to have leaked their precious vital essences out of their eyes? MAYBE. Am I thinking about the end of the world a lot? (A lot a lot a lot?) YES.

psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...

05.12.2025 21:29 πŸ‘ 222 πŸ” 61 πŸ’¬ 8 πŸ“Œ 6
Post image

We're currently looking for new Associate Editors to join our Editorial Board! 🌎πŸ§ͺ

If you're interested in contributing to the publishing landscape, check out the link below πŸ‘‡
www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

24.11.2025 11:53 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 23 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Another self-heal to mark 330 flowers, as I approach the end of this year-long watercolour self-challenge. The really big question is, with 20 panels per page, will I stop at 365 flowers, finish the page at 380, or just keep going forever and ever and ever… 🌸

17.11.2025 19:38 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0