Meet the ancients
The New Forest is not new as its name suggests and is home to many ancient trees. Remarkably old and full of character, ancient oak and beech trees are a living timeline to the Forest’s past and provide valuable homes … Continued
Nest Weavers
Birds build a nest to lay their eggs in and to safely hold their growing brood until they fledge. There a many ingenious nest designs which range from delicate cups of woven moss, lichen and spider webs to nests made … Continued
Our future naturalists – bird watching with children
It surprised me that there doesn’t seem to be that much on the web about birdwatching activities with children. So I decided to put down a few of the ideas that I have used to nurture childrens’ natural curiosity and … Continued
Autumn well-being
As daylight hours shorten it is fascinating to pay attention to the changes in the natural world around us and how our own bodies feel as we adjust to the rhythms of a new season. Walking in nature helps us … Continued
It’s easy-beezy to learn about and help bees!
Bees are very special insects. They are fascinating to learn about and it is simple to do a few things to help bees in your local area. Did you know there are over 250 species of bee in the British … Continued
Nature’s Great Producers
Just a few weeks ago our woodlands and hedgerows appeared barren but now there is an explosion of new life and colour. How does this happen? Dormant buds, which will become this year’s leaves and flowers, were grown last summer … Continued
Wanderings in nature
With a new year stretching ahead of us, we naturally begin to think about and reflect upon past experiences and future hopes. A great way to do this is on the move in nature. Being ‘mindful’ in, and connecting to, … Continued
Stranger Things
What are those strange lumps and bumps on the underside of some leaves and those odd-shaped growths on acorns that look like woody asteroids? These bizarre plant growths become more noticeable in the autumn amongst the piles of fallen leaves, … Continued
Wild Foods of the Forest – the good forager
Autumn is my favourite season of the year; I enjoy the changing colours of the woodlands, dewy spider webs and especially the ‘wild food’ treasures hung brightly within hedgerows. ‘Blackberrying’ is often one of our first experiences of nature. … Continued
Fledgling birds
Whilst many baby birds are only now eagerly poking their heads out of nests, some parent birds are already encouraging reluctant youngsters to leave the safety of the nest. Most of our common woodland and garden birds such as robins, … Continued