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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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The World of Wood Ants

The World of Wood Ants

Wood ants are some of the most conspicuous invertebrates in the Caledonian Forest and fulfil a number of important roles within the ecosystem. Their distinctive nests can be up to a metre tall, over 100 years in age and home to more than 100,000 ants. These social insects have complex, sophisticated lives, which include ‘farming’ aphids for their honeydew, and building their nests to maximise the amount of heat they receive from solar energy.

This presentation covers many aspects of the lives of wood ants, from their foraging for food and their predation on other insects to the techniques they use to regulate the temperature in their nest at the optimum level for the development of their young. Illustrated by high quality macro photographs, it reveals the hidden life of some of the under-appreciated but crucially important species in the forest, and will open the eyes to some of the miniature wonders in the natural world around us.

If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

TEDx TEDx – Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Recent posts

  • A shieldbug extravaganza, part 2
  • A shieldbug extravaganza, part 1
  • Life on a spear thistle
  • A twinflower day
  • Unseen biodiversity of Glen Affric, part 3

News

  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshop scheduled for 28 August – 4th September 2021
  • Interviews for the Accidental Gods podcast series
  • Beavers are still facing an uncertain future in Scotland
  • The Nature Talks: Reconnecting People and Planet Now More Than Ever
  • Trees and Bees Conference 19 March 2021

I’m speaking at…

  • Online presentation to the Elders Action Network, 6th June 2021 – 6 June 2021
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 28 August 2021–
    4 September 2021

Over on Twitter…

Alan Watson FeatherstoneFollow

Alan Watson Featherstone
AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
11h

Even if there were no other valid & compelling reasons for Scotland to become independent, this alone would be sufficient cause. Additional nuclear weapons being installed in Scotland without public knowledge or consent is an outrage against democracy.

The Ferret@FerretScot

In 2018 @NukewatchUK estimated three new #nuclear warheads arrived at Coulport on the Clyde. Then nine in 2019, and 13 in 2020.

https://theferret.scot/sleekit-increase-trident-nuclear-warheads/

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
20h

From Siberia to the Amazon & Borneo, forest fires are a major cause of the biodiversity crisis, often for agriculture. "in India most of such fires are deliberately caused by people mainly for agricultural purposes" We need planet-friendly agriculture! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56671148

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
20h

This is an excellent article about @royhdennis in the Guardian today. I've known Roy for many years & he's one of those rare people who just gets on & does inspiring, positive work for nature, not letting bureaucracies & mainstream inertia stop him. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/16/conservation-legend-roy-dennis-were-facing-an-ecological-crisis-but-its-exciting-too

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