Phil Gates

Phil Gates taught biology at Durham University and writes for The Guardian’s Country Diary column.

Recent articles by Phil Gates

Ivy Growing On Tree

Does ivy damage trees?

The Ophrys speculum which looks like an insect

Why some flowers look like insects

A picture of eelgrass, a crucial habitat for marine life

Eelgrass guide: what it is and why eelgrass meadows are crucial for some marine and bird life

Which flower has the most petals

Which flower has the most petals?

A picture showing crown shyness

Crown shyness: what it is and which trees it affects

What is the jelly-like substance on a tree?

What is the jelly-like substance on a tree?

English oak tree at sunrise in a field.

Oak tree guide: different species, how long they live and why oak trees are crucial for our ecosystem

Stinging nettles. © Adrian Flory/Getty

Do dock leaves really help nettle stings?

Collared earthstar in Thetford Forest, Norfolk, UK. © Dave Porter/Getty

Identify Wildlife

How to identify British earthstars

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) © Andia / UIG / Getty

Why do flowers point up or down?

Sea thrift wildflowers growing by the South West Coast Path. © AL Hedderly/Getty

How does thrift survive life on salty cliffs?

Trees have an ingenious way to avoid freezing. © Howard Oates/Getty

Does tree sap freeze?

Eelgrasses are flowering plants that spend their entire lives submerged in seawater. Illustration by Mike Langman.

7 eelgrass facts you need to know

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Hawfinch guide: how to identify, where to see,