Feed

Day 23, a nature ramble and mini beasts hunt around Dundonald.

Day 22.

I count myself lucky that I don't normally need to go to London, but a recent meeting made me think how to make the best of it. It was tempting to get there and back in as little time as possible but even then I'd probably get home frazzled and with little time or energy to enjoy the evening. The answer lay in an early start, allowing a relaxed walk down tree shaded streets and parks, and a similar return journey with a local meal added in. So what could have been a rushed and stressful day proved to be an active and enjoyable day, with cheaper trains off peak, and no Underground fares. #goodlifegoals #moveandsmilemore #walkmoreeatvegsaveenergy

Lots going on at the moment and I had no time or motivation to leave the office for my bumblebee & butterfly survey on the NCN nearby, but - thank-you, John Muir Award and 30 Days Wild! - I went anyway. I'm always amazed at the ability of taking a break outside to re-set the head. Sun, plenty of bumblebees, no butterflies, but chiff-chaffs, bullfinches, blackbirds and chaffinches singing, and a song thrush lurking in the undergrowth looking for snails, plus woody nightshade, bladder campion and feverfew all flowering in the verges. I spotted this feather, and wondered what bird it was from as I picked it up, but as soon as the sun hit it and the edge sparkled blue, it was clear it was a magpie. So beautiful to see close-up and now sitting on my desk to remind me to go outside even when I don't think I can.

A few days of beautiful scenery, sometimes exciting kayaking, relaxed camping and some wierd seaweed! All good for the mind, body and soul. #goodlifegoals #moveandsmilemore #lovealllifeandgetoutdoors

My favourite part of the John Muir award is that you get to go out doors more often and have fun. We planted a lot of wild flower plants and watered them. We did a Bio Blitz when we had bug nets and collected alot of flies and beetles. Tt was really great fun. We played a lot of games like when three quarters of the class where birds and the other quarter were trees. The birds had to fly around and when the Ranger shouted oxygen the birds had to land on the branch of a tree. Some of the birds die because they have no trees to make oxygen to breathe so they go to the side. Then Ranger Greig cut down some trees and the last person standing won! To finish our award we lit fires and made some smores.

Day 21, nature ramble at the Dean country park.

Over the year we have done so many different activities outside. My favourite thing we did was make a rope swing on a tree and lifted people up to reach the branch of the tree. We also did den building. A lot of the time we picked rosebay willow herb. It is an invasive plant which is taking over our wild place. We are taking it away to help other wild flowers grow to help biodiversity. We also talked to Ranger Greig who is an expert at nature.