The NatureSpot Species of the Month for October is this image of Bilberry flowers, taken by NatureSpot contributor Ron. Bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, has a limited distribution in Leicestershire because of its dependence on nutrient-poor, acidic soils rich in organic matter such as peat.
Each autumn, millions of tonnes of leaves fall to the ground. While the reflex for many gardeners is to dispose of them, leaving leaves in place provides enormous benefits, supporting invertebrates, enriching soil and capturing carbon.
It's been a month now since we launched our redesigned website. Behind the scenes we're still working to resolve a few issues arising from the update, but mostly everything works now, and most people seem to like the new version. NatureSpot would like to thank Leicester City Council for helping to fund our new design.
