Long time since I posted a crossword here!
So, this isn’t just any old crossword. This is based on a format originally invented by Araucaria* which I absolutely love: the word ladder crossword. Rules are fairly simple:
Each answer is 8 letters long, but can be split into two 4 letter parts (which may not always be valid words on their own). The clue is then a series of synonyms indicating the various steps in a word ladder linking the first part to the second, changing one letter at a time. So the two halves of BUSY BEES can be linked in a word ladder “BUSY – BUST – BEST – BEET – BEES”, which might be clued as “Destroy perfect vegetable” (“bust best beet”). The first and last words themselves are not clued.
The puzzle is nature-themed, and every answer refers to an animal, plant or landscape. The solutions are all shown in photographs below, which are presented in a random order.
You can download a printable PDF version and the solution below:

ACROSS
1. Plain blue street bay
5. Like sherry? Like porridge? Promise girl pets belonging to peaceniks.
6. Scoop: asked for naked poet
7. Legendary birds on fields of old Europe
DOWN
1. Part of speech: “Protect fat”
2. Fabric shortage chance
3. Pitt gave birth and wept
4. All of the Germans and that woman from France (Eleanor) like 7? Trust!
Images (click to expand)
by Charles J Sharp by Jim Clark by Elşad İbrahimov by Ján Svetlík by MDE by Ecomare/Sytske Dijksen by Benny Briard by Krzysztof Golik
*Puzzle no. 37 in vol. 2 of the Chambers Book of Araucaria Crosswords, if you want to try it for yourself