A shale path leads away through mossy evergreen trees, diminishing evening light in the distance.
One from yesterday's stroll around #cat during 'magic hour' before the evening light fully faded. #centreforalternativetechnology
At work today but noticed this 7-spotted ladybird pootling across a wood sorrel leaf (I think!) on my way in this morning, no doubt enjoying the sunshine 🐞🌞🌱
#springsunshine #takeiteasywhenyoucan
@nenature.bsky.social @commonbynature.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social
- the sun trying its best to shine (bit of a stiff breeze!) - delicate wild cherry blossom abounded - yellowy-green flowers of a norway maple tree popped against the darker trees - the omnipresent green man in the woods - the dried out remains of an earthstar fungi (and yes, the spores did spew out when we gentle squished it) - an answer to the invitation, 'how many shades of green can you find?'
Led another fun nature connection & wellbeing walk at #hebburnriversidepark this morning.
🔎 Lots to explore & experience, incl. cherry blossom 🌸, Norway maple flowers, a dried-out earth-star fungi 🍄, a 'green man', and a verdant response to my invitation "how many shades of green can you find?"🌱🌿🍃
#Signsofspring - yes, the cherry blossom is out but the less obvious one is all the scattered earth from the pots! Our female blackbird visitor (watched over by the male) has been vigorously searching for food - no doubt eggs are on the way 🐦🐣
Check out the Arrivals Board!
🐦Which birds return to the UK first in Spring 🐦
www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...
Little feet can take big steps for nature. Sign up for the #HedgehogWalk with your little ones and Aardman’s Timmy Time by walking 3km in a night – just like a hedgehog! 🦔 Raise money as you go and help save the wildlife you love! 👇www.wildlifetrusts.org/hedgehog-walk
Two photos - white wood anemone flowers with green leaves amongst fallen brown leaves; a woodland scene of fallen brown leaves, blue sky with sun shining through trees
A perfect spring day as I led my 1st lunchtime taster session of #forestbathingoncampus @durham.ac.uk - a chance for staff & students to find their relaxing 'sit spot' to appreciate the sun's warmth, birds chirping away & new growth shooting forth. Book onto May's event via #greenspace SharePoint
Agapanthus stalks and “skeletons” against a blue sky.
Before you cut everything back to make the garden look “neat” — pause.
Right now in Ireland and the UK, many insects are still overwintering inside last year’s hollow stems.
Most don’t emerge until temps are regularly above ~10–12°C (often late March–April).
“Tidy” can mean destroying shelter. 🌱🦋
Two examples of a yellow fungus, shaped in waves, growing from a branch
Found a corker of a fungus in the park today - 'yellow brain'
Also known as 'witches butter' - some fun folklore associated with it... www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...
Collage image: white snowdrops, yellow aconites and purple crocus shoots - growing up through last year's rotting brown leaves.
Spring's on her way, folks. We need to hold on for a bit longer... Always the second week of Feb onwards to really notice that shift towards more daylight. In the meantime, she sent some cheery forerunners - aconites, snowdrops and emerging crocus shoots - to lead the way.
Two bare trees against a winter dusk sky, snow on the ground
Chilly day 12 & #12dayswild gently ends. "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger – something better, pushing right back." Albert Camus
Blue sky with snow covered tree branches coming in from all sides
Day 11 #12dayswild back out in the beautiful northeast winter wonderland. Completely still compared with yesterday's biting breeze which made bird call ID much easier as we looked up at the trees/listened. A decent conversation going on between a couple of wrens, and of course a robin chuntering on!
Wintery images (1) snowy tree tunnel; (2) sunlight coming through brown snow covered leaves; (3) snow-covered dried hogweed flower
Day 10 #12dayswild and I couldn't not wrap up warm and go for a wander around in the newly fallen snow❄️
Nature was in her element- everything was elegantly dressed in white, from the trees to a dried-out hogweed flower. The sun and blue sky lit everything up - gorgeous!
Left - different coloured woods create the impression of a smiling face on a plank. Right - a simple smiling face cut into a stump from a recently felled tree
Day 9 #12dayswild looking for 'green men' in the woods - usually lumps, bumps and lines in the bark nobbles but found a couple of unusual ones this time!
Male and female mallard ducks dipping for food in a stream
Day 8 #12dayswild
Happy New Year and peace, love & joy to all! 🎊🕊️
Whilst many of us were resting, the ducks in the park were dipping & diving in search of food in the burn!
Top left - turkey tail fungi; Top right - robin on a branch; Bottom left, velvet shank fungi; bottom middle - daffodil shoots; Bottom right - grey squirrel on a stump
Day 7 #12dayswild a New Year's Eve brisk walk around the park yielded all sorts going on:
🐦A cheeky robin, a chirpy bluetit + an irrepressible squirrel 🐿️
🍄Fun fungi - turkey tail, velvet shank, fairy inkcap
And signs of spring! 🌱
Happy New Year everyone 🥳
With the year drawing to a close there’s no better time to think about the small changes we can make that multiplied up make a big difference to tackling the nature and climate crises.
This #12DaysWild make some New Year resolutions to help nature – we’d love to hear them!
Snap - I spotted a periwinkle today too!
Two purple periwinkle flowers and foliage
Day 6 #12dayswild a brisk walk around the block to get some fresh air and this gorgeous periwinkle was flowering in a neighborhood front garden.
Front cover of North East Naturalist volume 96, entitled 'Ladybirds of North East England' with the photograph of a single ladybird.
Day 5 and taking up the #12dayswild challenge of a nature-inspired poem or story. A hastily-composed haiku offering...
A cold twixmas day
but read about the many
fab ladybirds 🐞🐞🐞
@nenature.bsky.social @commonbynature.bsky.social
@northwildlife.bsky.social
@durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Top left, money spider walking across lichen; Top right, sunshine illuminates spider threads across grey stone + in the background a tall standing stone against a blue sky; Bottom left, moss on a tree root; Bottom right, a view of low winter sun shining brightly which is framed by an oak tree trunk and branch - green grass + standing stones in the distance
Day 4 #12dayswild a travelling day, stopping off at #longmegandherdaughters Looking closer at the stones + magnificent old oak trees, there's lots of life going on - money spiders marching about, their silken thread across the rock in swaths glinting in the light. Moss on roots + lichen everywhere.
collage of two photos of velvet shank fungi sprouting from breaks in tree bark
Day 3 #12dayswild Came across what I think is velvet shank fungi (not sulphur tuft or funeral bell).
Fun facts:
*winter food for woodland invertebrates
*contains high level of anti-cancer compounds
*can withstand frost&snow/ survive being frozen solid
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...
Sunlight in a wintery blue sky lands on dried out grasses
Day 2 #12dayswild Love the light on these dried out grasses blowing in the breeze. Got out for a proper walk to blow the cobwebs away and get a bit of a stomp on after lovely food yesterday.
12 days wild image of things to do each day
Day1 #12dayswild involved stepping outside this morning to feel a very fresh breeze on my face! The sun broke through the clouds twice today (for about a minute) and illuminated the living room each time. Such cheerful light 🌞
Merry Christmas everyone!
Blue sky with wispy clouds and a section of yellow umbrella visible. On the edge of the umbrella a seagull is visible flying in the sky above, wings outstretched, gliding.
Morning sea fret gave
Gentle way to warm sunshine.
Greedy seagulls watch!
A photo taken on top of a sand dune. Evening sun beams from the left fall on dune grasses. The blue sea is on the right, a few small waves break on the shore below. Other land is visible in the distant background.
Eeee gods, what an evening to be at the coast...
The damp salty air
Mixes with earthy land air;
Sunset approaches.
Never seen one of these until today - a hummingbird hawk moth - wow!
Agreed!
Thanks for sharing and for your interest in my shares! Till next time...
Close up of red valerian flowers
Day30 #30dayswild & a proper scorcher of a day. Sat out the back at 10.30pm with all the windows and doors open to let some air blow through! To celebrate the end of this challenge here's a favourite June bloom - red valerian - from our Sunday coastal walk.
Stay wild & true to yourself everyone :-)
