Article: June Nature Challenge
- Thread starter Tony
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I like the sound of this Tony.
Up in Dudley doing some indoor training and staying in a Premier Inn. No kids with me so I will go for a bimble and kick of with a wild flower or two.
I will look to get my kids involved when I get home.
Cheers
George
Up in Dudley doing some indoor training and staying in a Premier Inn. No kids with me so I will go for a bimble and kick of with a wild flower or two.
I will look to get my kids involved when I get home.
Cheers
George
Here we go - my bit of wildness for tonight was to just get out this evening from my rather corporate hotel and see what nature I could find in this urban environment (Stourbridge near Birmingham) and then record with my phone - not very wild granted but this did get me out for the evening.
Standing Proud - Ribwort Plantain
Deadly Double
A splash of red
The rest can be viewed here - http://www.bushcraftdays.com/30-days-of-wildness-day-1/
Cheers
George
Standing Proud - Ribwort Plantain
Deadly Double
A splash of red
The rest can be viewed here - http://www.bushcraftdays.com/30-days-of-wildness-day-1/
Cheers
George
I've just seen Georges post on fb and read links....
Oblivious to the Nature Challenge, the boys and I spent this afternoon in the sun pond-dipping and craft-making dragonflies! So it seems we are off to a good start!
Lets see what the rest of the month will bring...
Oblivious to the Nature Challenge, the boys and I spent this afternoon in the sun pond-dipping and craft-making dragonflies! So it seems we are off to a good start!
Lets see what the rest of the month will bring...
you could have a walk where The Dudley Bug was found, the most famous trilobite in the world, it was found at the Wrens Nest Nature Reserve in Dudley which is famous the world over for it's fossils.
we went out for a nice walk earlier today, down by the local river...
There's a disused rail line (all removed now) running down the right hand side in those trees...
This is where the old line went through a tunnel that's been blocked up with just a doorway left for walking through...
This is the other end of the tunnel which is about 150mt long and goes round a slight bend...
This one is from the doorway looking out...
There's a disused rail line (all removed now) running down the right hand side in those trees...
This is where the old line went through a tunnel that's been blocked up with just a doorway left for walking through...
This is the other end of the tunnel which is about 150mt long and goes round a slight bend...
This one is from the doorway looking out...
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Thanks for that Joonsy. If I get sent back up I will look to visit the reserve.
That looks like a great walk Tony especially that you got access into the tunnel.
I got back home from my trip and explained the challenge to my kids. Their thought was a bit of pond dipping. The water level is a bit low here but we set off to see what we could find and had a great evenings walk.
We visited two ponds and one stream but the ponds were fairly low and had a lot of pondweed. Once we got under the pondweed we started getting the beasties
The stream was much clearer but no fish in sight.
Our haul from the stream - small shrimp, a pond skater and a little worm
A few more here - 30 Days of Wildness - Day 2 - Pond Dipping
Cheers
George
This thirty day challenge is proving a bit of a challenge all right. Not for the activities but for just sorting the pictures. The kids are having a ball though.
Tonight I needed to finish building a Gibbet crane and I needed a fire to test the crane out. So instead of cracking on with it myself I got the kids involved.
First up we headed out to the wood pile and got a load of small twigs and small logs. Once collected Finlay and Catherine sorted them into different sizes by the firepit.
To light the fire we got a couple of firesteels out, had a little practice and then sparked up some char cloth.
The char cloth was popped into some hay and within a minute they had it well lit.
I got all my pictures of my crane sorted but the kids wanted the important stuff – marshmallows – could not disagree with them.
Quite happy to do this one tonight as I needed to light the fire but it was a nice change to get the kids involved in the fire making this time.
Cheers
George
Tonight I needed to finish building a Gibbet crane and I needed a fire to test the crane out. So instead of cracking on with it myself I got the kids involved.
First up we headed out to the wood pile and got a load of small twigs and small logs. Once collected Finlay and Catherine sorted them into different sizes by the firepit.
To light the fire we got a couple of firesteels out, had a little practice and then sparked up some char cloth.
The char cloth was popped into some hay and within a minute they had it well lit.
I got all my pictures of my crane sorted but the kids wanted the important stuff – marshmallows – could not disagree with them.
Quite happy to do this one tonight as I needed to light the fire but it was a nice change to get the kids involved in the fire making this time.
Cheers
George
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Spent today harvesting green windfall for carving - cherry, rowan and alder - picking ground elder, and munching some in the process, digging up dandelion roots to have a go at making dandelion coffee, and carving 3 spoons. And larking about in the garden and forest with a 3 year old. All of this only a few hundred metres from the house, except the windfall which was about a mile away, cycling through native pine forest and birch woods. It's pretty easy to do something wild every day round these parts!
What a cracking day it has been. I had no problem getting out and about for the thirty day challenge as it was such a lovely day.
We popped out to Clift Meadow here in Bramley for the 'Big Lunch' - my wife Alison had organised an excellent picnic for us. This is a one-day get together for neighbours to meet up and chat over a spot of lunch.
My son Finlay was off playing with his friends so after our picnic my daughter Catherine and I went off in hunt of some insects. We went to one of our favourite ponds that is full of Yellow Iris and Brooklime - a perfect attraction for insects.
We were hoping to spot some Mayflies but it was not to be. We did though spot some bees on the flowers on the way and at the pond itself a cricket and a small moth on the Brooklime.
Later on in the afternoon we jumped on our bikes and headed out to our local woods.
After hiding the bikes we spotted lots of deer tracks and had some fun on the old bridges.
The main reason to go to this spot was to look for some of the Common Spotted Orchids I know grow here. After a quick recce we soon found them.
It was soon time for dinner so we headed back for the bikes. On the way back we spotted a pigeon kill site. I had a look at the quills and none of them had been ripped off so I imagine it was a bird of prey that had its dinner here.
All in all a great day with the family.
Cheers
George
We popped out to Clift Meadow here in Bramley for the 'Big Lunch' - my wife Alison had organised an excellent picnic for us. This is a one-day get together for neighbours to meet up and chat over a spot of lunch.
My son Finlay was off playing with his friends so after our picnic my daughter Catherine and I went off in hunt of some insects. We went to one of our favourite ponds that is full of Yellow Iris and Brooklime - a perfect attraction for insects.
We were hoping to spot some Mayflies but it was not to be. We did though spot some bees on the flowers on the way and at the pond itself a cricket and a small moth on the Brooklime.
Later on in the afternoon we jumped on our bikes and headed out to our local woods.
After hiding the bikes we spotted lots of deer tracks and had some fun on the old bridges.
The main reason to go to this spot was to look for some of the Common Spotted Orchids I know grow here. After a quick recce we soon found them.
It was soon time for dinner so we headed back for the bikes. On the way back we spotted a pigeon kill site. I had a look at the quills and none of them had been ripped off so I imagine it was a bird of prey that had its dinner here.
All in all a great day with the family.
Cheers
George
It has been a busy day today with all the chores of most Sundays so the wildest we got today was the back garden to do the 30 day challenge.
A couple of years ago the kids each helped me build their father and son bows. These quick bows are made from Hazel and shoot just as well as the day they were made.
We have not had the bows out this year so after going through the basics again we had quite a few rounds shooting down the garden.
As the kids do not draw them back too far at the moment I was happy to have them shoot in the garden. Once they got their eye in they started to hit the targets.
Not to be outdone I had a little shoot myself and thoroughly enjoyed spending my evening with the kids.
I am off to Cardiff tomorrow for a couple of nights so I will have to go out for an evenings bimble to spot a bit of nature.
Cheers
George
A couple of years ago the kids each helped me build their father and son bows. These quick bows are made from Hazel and shoot just as well as the day they were made.
We have not had the bows out this year so after going through the basics again we had quite a few rounds shooting down the garden.
As the kids do not draw them back too far at the moment I was happy to have them shoot in the garden. Once they got their eye in they started to hit the targets.
Not to be outdone I had a little shoot myself and thoroughly enjoyed spending my evening with the kids.
I am off to Cardiff tomorrow for a couple of nights so I will have to go out for an evenings bimble to spot a bit of nature.
Cheers
George
I was hoping for now a few more posts on what everyone was getting up to this month.
For myself I found myself in Cardiff today with work. In the evening I took myself off to Cap'n Badgers world of Bute Park and what a place it turned out to be.
The first thing I found when I entered the park was this lovely carved bench identifying different trees by their leaves - better than any ID book.
The park is a beautiful place to have a bimble in the evening. Before I knew it carvings (natural and man made) were popping up everywhere with the odd little squirrel staring me out.
I took all the pictures with my phone camera (Sony Z3) and was quite chuffed to get close enough to the little fella in the bottom left picture to get a decent shot of him.
The park not only has beautiful sculptures it also has some stunning trees like the Cedar in the bottom picture.
Eventually I found the River Taff and this mature nettle perfectly silhouetted by the sun's reflection.
Further along the river bank I came across a downed Willow tree. The tree was over the river so as I scrambled over it I came across this little fella sitting on another tree by the bank. He was so chilled he let me get close enough that I could easily touch him.
The dominant flower along the length of the River Taff I walked was the beautiful Red Campion.
It was nice to walk through the park looking at and photographing both the fine detail and some of the bigger scenes.
The walk finished up at the back of Cardiff Castle.
I have never been to Bute Park before and I have to say it is probably the best city park I have ever come across.
I'll be back
Cheers
George
For myself I found myself in Cardiff today with work. In the evening I took myself off to Cap'n Badgers world of Bute Park and what a place it turned out to be.
The first thing I found when I entered the park was this lovely carved bench identifying different trees by their leaves - better than any ID book.
The park is a beautiful place to have a bimble in the evening. Before I knew it carvings (natural and man made) were popping up everywhere with the odd little squirrel staring me out.
I took all the pictures with my phone camera (Sony Z3) and was quite chuffed to get close enough to the little fella in the bottom left picture to get a decent shot of him.
The park not only has beautiful sculptures it also has some stunning trees like the Cedar in the bottom picture.
Eventually I found the River Taff and this mature nettle perfectly silhouetted by the sun's reflection.
Further along the river bank I came across a downed Willow tree. The tree was over the river so as I scrambled over it I came across this little fella sitting on another tree by the bank. He was so chilled he let me get close enough that I could easily touch him.
The dominant flower along the length of the River Taff I walked was the beautiful Red Campion.
It was nice to walk through the park looking at and photographing both the fine detail and some of the bigger scenes.
The walk finished up at the back of Cardiff Castle.
I have never been to Bute Park before and I have to say it is probably the best city park I have ever come across.
I'll be back
Cheers
George
George, we have an embarrassment of parks in Cardiff! And the Taff Trail along the river takes you through wonderful parks and riversides. I moved here three years ago and there is nothing bad about Cardiff in terms of the environment and access to beautiful spaces. Well done to the old Marquess of Bute, responsible for the bonkers castle and much of the parkland. If you are back this way again I can point you in direction of other great bits...
Thanks for that Lizz. I come over to Cardiff a few times a year so any pointers would be great.
I had a lovely evening walking around the Wetlands Nature Reserve in Cardiff Bay last night . Will post some pictures later.
Cheers
George
I had a lovely evening walking around the Wetlands Nature Reserve in Cardiff Bay last night . Will post some pictures later.
Cheers
George
Well, we've been doing stuff but it's been hard to record it, playing in the stream, walking, painting wild flowers, picking wild flowers, eating wild flowers and chopping some more wood
One of the things this is doing for me is reinvigorating my appreciation of where we live, it's beautiful, these are all just down the road...
Woodshed, there's actually a lot more in here than it looks
Views we see on our walks...
This is right near our house, a regular play area
One of the things this is doing for me is reinvigorating my appreciation of where we live, it's beautiful, these are all just down the road...
Woodshed, there's actually a lot more in here than it looks
Views we see on our walks...
This is right near our house, a regular play area
Attachments
lovely job george, good thread tony....and i see mrs angst has even posted.....oooooh!
found it alarming that ''only one in ten kids......''. certainly not the case in the angst household....which reminds me, today i've got carrots and chillis that need re-potting...then after olivers back from school we are off out for a picnic and to collect elderflower to make cordial...
e-z!
s
strawbs are looking good...
found it alarming that ''only one in ten kids......''. certainly not the case in the angst household....which reminds me, today i've got carrots and chillis that need re-potting...then after olivers back from school we are off out for a picnic and to collect elderflower to make cordial...
e-z!
s
strawbs are looking good...
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I carried on with the 30 Day Challenge but could not find time to write it up here every night.
I have taken one picture from each blog post I did over the month and posted them below (apart from a couple where I have added two).
Thank you Tony for spotting this challenge, it got me out every day be that on my own, with family or with friends.
Day 7 - Cardiff Bay
Day 8 - Bramley Sunsets
Day 9 - Bushcraft Prep
Day 10 - Bushcraft Set Up
Day 11 - Woodland Comfort
Day 12 - Campfire Cooking
Day 13 - Postcard Picturesque
Day 14 - Bramley Bimble
Day 15 - Duck Hunting
Day 16 - Hammock Time
Day 17 - Bird Watching
Day 18 - Shelter Building
Day 19 - Family Picnic
Day 20 - Firelighting with the Beavers
Day 21 - Finishing the Den
Day 22 - Finding Poison
Day 23 - Insect Spotting
Day 24 - Firespirit making
Day 25 - Bug Hunting at RAF Benson
Day 26 (Part 1) - More hammock time
Day 26 (Part 2) - Journey Sticks
Day 27 - Atlatls with the Beavers
Day 28 - Urban Beauty in Bradford
Day 29 - Travel Home
Day 30 (Part 1) - Sherfield Stroll
Day 30 (Part 2) - My family
I have taken one picture from each blog post I did over the month and posted them below (apart from a couple where I have added two).
Thank you Tony for spotting this challenge, it got me out every day be that on my own, with family or with friends.
Day 7 - Cardiff Bay
Day 8 - Bramley Sunsets
Day 9 - Bushcraft Prep
Day 10 - Bushcraft Set Up
Day 11 - Woodland Comfort
Day 12 - Campfire Cooking
Day 13 - Postcard Picturesque
Day 14 - Bramley Bimble
Day 15 - Duck Hunting
Day 16 - Hammock Time
Day 17 - Bird Watching
Day 18 - Shelter Building
Day 19 - Family Picnic
Day 20 - Firelighting with the Beavers
Day 21 - Finishing the Den
Day 22 - Finding Poison
Day 23 - Insect Spotting
Day 24 - Firespirit making
Day 25 - Bug Hunting at RAF Benson
Day 26 (Part 1) - More hammock time
Day 26 (Part 2) - Journey Sticks
Day 27 - Atlatls with the Beavers
Day 28 - Urban Beauty in Bradford
Day 29 - Travel Home
Day 30 (Part 1) - Sherfield Stroll
Day 30 (Part 2) - My family
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