Outdoor volunteering opportunities

I’m not one for making new year resolutions; however, I often muse on things I can do to improve myself and my surroundings. Since getting a puppy in October, we’ve begun spending more time outdoors again. In so doing, we’ve been getting fitter, getting to know our environs better and meeting new people… and dogs.

I’ve been thinking that stepping it up a notch and getting into outdoor volunteering opportunities is something I can do in 2022.

The Wildlife Trusts
There are 260 different opportunities available at present on their website; from tree planting in Devon, livestock checking in Hertfordshire to Peatland Restoration Conservation Days in Cumbria.
The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, on a mission to restore a third of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030. We believe everyone, everywhere, should have access to nature and the joy and health benefits it brings.
RSPB
They offer residential opportunities such as 4 weeks in the Lake District dry stone walling, mending fences and helping in the tree nursery and with the badger hide or 6 months in Surrey surveying & managing heathland where species such as woodlarks and nightjars call home.
If you only have a day or a few hours per week there are many things all around the country in which you can get involved. For instance, one of the opportunities not far from us is practical habitat management at the nature reserve, Ynys-hir. There are even opportunities suitable for under 18s.
Check out some of their volunteering stories over on their Facebook volunteering page.

Trash Free Trails C.I.C.
I was so excited to come across this project – I’ve already signed up!
For years, seeing litter while out on dog walks and rambles put a dampener on the otherwise pleasurable experience of being in the great outdoors. I usually took it upon myself to collect it all up to take home to put into the recycling/rubbish bin. And now I have found a community getting together to share what they do! It something you can do on your own, with friends or as an organised group.
…To reduce plastic pollution on our trails and wild places by 75% by 2025 and (re)connect people with nature through purposeful adventure.

Mushrooms add magic to our autumn walks

We love our countryside walks – we find them restorative and uplifting. In fact, the abundance of paths and trails on the doorstep was a big factor when deciding to buy this new house. Each season has its own charms… and now it’s the turn of autumn. Misty mornings, stunning leaf colours, fruits, berries and of course, mushrooms.

After a heavy night’s rain, we woke up to the sun breaking through on Saturday morning, so we headed out. We have lots of woodland close by, and the open access allowed by Welsh Forestry is fabulous. We saw buzzards, red kites – and a gorgeous hare that was nestling down in the track-side grass – who, sensing us watching him, shot off through the dense trees like a pale ghost.

It was also perfect conditions for fungi & mushrooms – and our walk was punctuated by some lovely specimens of which we duly took pictures.

We’re getting a little better at identifying the different species… although we’ve got a long way to go. We think our sightings included Yellow Stagshorn, Ochre Brittlegill, Common Earthball, Peziza Badia and the unmistakeable Fly Agaric to name a few. Please feel free to fill in any gaps in our mushroom knowledge (or mistaken identities!).

These little jewels of colour, shape and texture are such a joy. It’s amazing that all these different types of fungi were photographed in a relatively small area, on the same day.

And when we got home, our new Esse kitchen range (installed on Thursday) was chuffing away. We had freshly brewed coffee – and bacon sandwiches/cheese toasties respectively – what a joy after a couple of months with no cooker. The perfect end to a wonderful morning!

Helping wildlife survive the winter

You might have noticed your garden bursting with wildlife over the long, hot summer we’ve enjoyed this year. From butterflies to birds, insects to frogs, even toads, foxes and hedgehogs. It’s a great feeling knowing that nature can get so close! But now that summer’s over, and the weather is changing, you might be wondering how the wildlife will cope when the temperature begins to plummet.

Well, don’t worry. Read on for some helpful ideas and tips of how you can give nature a little bit of help this winter and enjoy the sight of wildlife in your garden once more.

Keep it wild… a little bit

It’s important to keep your lawn well maintained during the colder months of the year, you’ll need to mow it at least one more time before wet weather sets in and also consider fertilising it with some grass seed to help it stay strong and healthy – check out this grass seed calculator if you’re unsure of how much you’ll need. However, if you’re hoping to help wildlife, then try leaving a few wild areas of your garden for insects and you’ll also create the perfect place for animals to rest and shelter from the cold.

Your pond

If you have a pond in your garden, then chances are it’s going to freeze over when the temperature drops. You need to prepare for this by creating a hole in the ice. Why? Because the toxic gases given off by dead plants and foliage in the water, will kill any fish or frogs that may be hibernating at the bottom of the pond out of sight. One way to create a hole in the ice to release these gases is to place a pan of hot water on the ice and allow it to thaw.

Provide fresh water

Access to fresh water might be limited for wildlife in the colder months, so make sure you keep your bird baths filled with fresh water and provide saucers of water for any visiting hedgehogs, foxes or even badgers. If they know they have access to fresh water in your garden, then they’ll be back!

A bug’s life

Insects like butterflies and bees and mini beasts all need somewhere to shelter over the cold months of the year, but you don’t have to build or create anything fancy. If you have lots of empty plant pots stack them all together and you’ll see insect maybe even some little mammals take residence.

Create a bat friendly garden

Because of their nocturnal nature, we often forget about the plight of bats but don’t worry – there are a couple of things you can do to encourage these incredible creatures into your garden while you’re tucked up in bed.

You can increase their food supply by planting plants and flowers that attract their food such as moths and other creatures. If you’ve followed the step above then you might have already provided them with a food source. Bats can rest in places that are dark and dry during the day, like under that pile of tiles you’ve been meaning to move or head to your garden centre and pick up a bat box.

Will you be doing anything to help the wildlife in your garden this winter?

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H is for Home Harbinger

Category: nature