As we head towards autumn, this late-flowering plant is just coming into bloom. Found on only a few sites around Britain, the Goldilocks Aster is one of the rare plants that we conserve on our limestone grasslands at Berry Head. #wildflowersuk #goldilocksaster #berryhead

Research has shown that 52% of autumn lady's tresses have flowers arranged in a counterclockwise direction, 39% clockwise & 9% to one side. This is to increase the chance of fertilisation according to different insects' preferences of direction.

Would you like to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue a career in the environmental sector?. We are recruiting trainee countryside rangers for Berry Head National Nature Reserve. For full details #TrainingOpportunity #berryhead

Our ranger team at Berry Head looks after many sections of footpath around the headland, helping to keep your favourite walks open along the coast. This week the team was out clearing a fallen tree at Sharkham. #countrysiderangers #fallentrees #footpathmaintenance #sharkham

Make sure you take time to look down in the vegetation, as well as at the views out to sea at Berry Head. The species-rich grasslands are full of insects at this time of year. #berryhead #insects #lesserhornethoverfly #silverwashedfritillary #smallskipper #sixspotburnetmoth

Despite some challenging weather this week, hundreds of common dolphins (some juveniles too), harbour porpoises & a grey seal were spotted off Berry Head for the National Whale & Dolphin Watch. This will contribute valuable data to the Sea Watch Foundation to help protect them.

The latest bat count at Berry Head has confirmed we have over 100+ bats living there - the highest number since 2005!. Pictured here are some of the greater horseshoe bat babies in the bat "hot box" on the ceiling where they roost. #greaterhorseshoebat

Beautiful Berry Head!. #berryhead #nationalnaturereserve

Autumn squill is currently flowering in abundance at Berry Head. This is a fairly rare, native plant that is often found in short grassland areas, usually near the sea. #autumnsquill #berryheadnationalnaturereserve #wildflowersuk

The National Whale & Dolphin Watch will be taking place across the country next week. Join us at Berry Head between 7am & 5pm from Monday 31st July until Friday 4th August to be involved in the watch. No need to book - just turn up at the end of the headland.

A fantastic recent find at Berry Head! This is a Large Scabious Mining Bee, which hasn't been spotted in Torbay in recent years. This one was spotted and very kindly shared with us by @billcoulson3. 📷 Bill Coulson. #largescabiousminingbee #berryheadnationalnaturereserve #aonb

The hemp-agrimony at Sharkham is proving popular with the butterflies, attracting red admirals, peacocks and gatekeepers, to name a few. #butterflies #hempagrimony #sharkham #peacockbutterflies #redadmiral #gatekeeperbutterflies

961 individual moths, which included 134 different species, were counted on a recent study carried out by members of the Devon Moth Group at Berry Head!. Although we don’t often see their hard work under the cover of darkness, moths are very good pollinators. 📷Devon Moth Group

Nearly 600 individual butterflies were counted on the last butterfly transect on Thursday at Berry Head!. Butterflies included silver-washed fritillaries, marbled whites, tortoiseshells (pictured) and large skippers (pictured). #butterflytransects #butterflies

This is just a snapshot of the number of insects that have been seen feeding on the knapweed at Berry Head! . Knapweed is a huge favourite with all types of butterflies and other pollinators too. #knapweed #berryhead #pollinators

Would you like to gain the knowledge, skills & confidence to pursue a career in the environmental sector? . We are recruiting trainee countryside rangers for Berry Head National Nature Reserve. Free accommodation & training budget included. For details

Our Hebridean sheep feeling a lot lighter and cooler after being shorn last week. These sheep play an important part in helping to keep the grass down and stop scrub encroachment on the headland, by feeding on new growth of blackthorn, gorse and bramble. #conservationgrazing

The team and volunteers carried out butterfly transects at Berry Head recently to monitor the populations of butterflies on the headland. They counted 155 individual butterflies which included many meadow browns and a few marbled whites. #butterflies #meadowbrown #marbledwhite

The team and volunteers at Berry Head have been doing a great job of pulling and cutting the thick woody stems of the wild cabbage that has been slowly encroaching across the footpaths at Gillard Road Nature Reserve. #countrysiderangers #gillardroadnaturereserve

Here are two of the orchids that grow at Berry Head - the pyramidal orchid & bee orchid. Both are popular with insects. The bee orchid, in particular, cleverly mimics a bee, both in scent & appearance, to attract other bees, which in turn helps to pollinate the flower.