I spent hours with my partner and his parents happily listening and watching the reedbeds in anticipation on a visit to RSPB Titchwell last year. The weather was gorgeous and we had a wonderful day – the highlight being watching a pair of Marsh Harriers “sky dancing” against the cloudless sky as the sun began... Continue Reading →
I could get lost in watching a wood ant nest for hours… if standing next to one didn’t make me an immediate target for the little guys to start nipping to warn me off. Their enormous nests may be made from dead vegetation, but seem almost alive in themselves. I find it mesmerising to see... Continue Reading →
I’ve been enjoying watching the little wildflower patch I planted in my parents’ garden earlier in the year as it’s bloomed and done a fine job of attracting and feeding plenty of pollinators. Even now, it’s still growing new flowers and it’s a pleasure to potter outside with the dog to see how it’s getting... Continue Reading →
For a couple of week’s worth of mornings earlier in the month, I was being pelted in the face by daddy long legs. Their flailing legs and wings have been slapping me in the cheeks, nose, mouth, eyes and ears – basically all exposed parts of my head. I was quite indifferent to them before,... Continue Reading →
Who doesn't like bumblebees? They're colourful, small and fluffy, all the things we associate with cuteness, whilst also being a constant of sunny summer days. There's also been a great increase in awareness in recent years about how vital they are for survival due to their pollination services. I love bumblebees, and have learnt a... Continue Reading →
I’ve been using the same brand of deodorant for years. It smells like fresh washing and works perfectly even in “extreme” conditions… speed-walking between tube stations and onto stuffy, sweaty underground trains, hiking from one side of London to the other during tube strikes, digging holes in concrete-filled ground in the heat of July, and... Continue Reading →
Content “warning” – Female-specific issues below. If you’re not interested, then give it a miss! Over the coppicing season, my job involves helping with coppicing at a wood near to the site at which I’m usually based. There’s no toilet at the site, which got me thinking about how best to deal with periods whilst... Continue Reading →
I was lucky to spend a spectacular week on the Isle of Mull recently. One afternoon, we set out on a relaxed walk/climb up the hill behind our camping spot. Having reached the top, enjoyed the view, chilled with the sheep, dodged the naughty Shetland ponies and been pleased with our solo-discoveries of wild orchids... Continue Reading →
…Do you really need to mow the whole lawn? I’ve been noticing more and more how amazing wildflowers are, and feeling it’s a shame that many people like to keep their gardens clear of them. I thought I’d look into where the idea of “bowling green” lawns originally came from. Apparently, people have been striving... Continue Reading →
I’ve been excited to catch a glimpse of what’s been using my little pond. For anyone interested in making their own little container pond, or anyone interested in general, I wanted to write about what I’ve seen so far and the adjustments I’ve made since setting it up. When I looked into making it, I... Continue Reading →
Welcoming Wildlife 