Many of us have experienced a heightened love for our gardens, wildlife and green space this year. Ajay Tegala and Adam OโHare are two such people, both passionate about encouraging nature. Wildlife Presenter & Countryside Ranger, Ajay is based in Cambridgeshire and Communicator & Filmmaker, Adam is based in Birmingham.
Together they made the mini-series of videos entitled Gardening for Nature, sharing what they have been doing to encourage wildlife into their gardens, along with contributions from other like-minded people (such as Joshua Styles); also enthusiastic about providing homes for nature alongside our own.
โDuring lockdown, lots of my friends and relatives were sending me pictures and stories of their gardens and their local wildlife,โ
says Ajay.
“It was clear how much local green spaces and nature were benefitting so many peopleโ.
At the same time, Adam was also making short films in his garden 100 miles away.
They decided to put together a series of three short videos [5 to 6 minutes each] about what simple steps you can take to encourage nature to come closer to our doorsteps, and how rewarding it can be.
โIt was quite unique that we were based in completely different parts of the country, but had similar approaches to managing our gardens with nature very much in mindโ.
Adam visited a micro-farm near his Birmingham home. He also teamed up with plant enthusiast and internet sensation, Joshua Styles – via video call – to identify some of the plants growing near his home.
โIt was a labour of love, sharing our gardens and local wildlife over the internet.โ
Now, you too can see their passion for wildlife and how they have attracted wildlife into their gardens!
Part 1 went online Monday 14th September (at 7pm)
Part 2 goes live online Wednesday 16th September at 7pmย
Part 3 goes live / online Friday 18th September at 7pm
A few years ago and around May last year; I visited the Frankley Beeches woodland. I noticed it was being ill-managed and not really being cared for.
I have grown up with this remarkable wood, as my local landmark for 30 years (my entire life), and despite it looking lovely on the outside, it unfortunately is not the same on the inside!
Research concluded that it is the National Trust that havenโt been doing (their job) anything with it for years, and Bromsgrove District Council cannot have cared much either…
When I visited it last, it was in much need of restoration & conservation, within the wood there are dead & damaged trees, plus rubbish & disturbed soil from its careless visitors. The anthropogenic effect on the woodland is very much the same to this day!
I recently did a Tweet, tagging in those who it concerns and may care about the Frankley Beeches, and yesterday (01.09.2020) I visited there and made this video:
It appears there has been some removal of the added non-wild flora, which is great and I didn’t really notice any non-native invasion flora.
Today (02.09.2020) the National Trust in the Midlands got back to me on Twitter:
“…thank you for raising your concerns with us. Iโm pleased to hear that you have seen a difference to the site. Unfortunately, like many places, we only have a small team who can complete essential tasks right now but we will make sure to take on your feedback when we update the conservation management plan. We did not put in place the plastic tree guards, but I have let the team at Clent Hills know that they are now littered around…”
So it’s the Clent Team who (are to blame) haven’t been doing anything for years, until fairly recently ๐ค I am pleased they finally replied to me, as a few years ago, I emailed them and was ignored!
Sorry to hear of their small team, thus causing neglect and negative knock-on effects to much cherished places…
There we have it, 30 Days Wild! Today is the last day of Random Acts of Wildness ๐ฅณ So I am looking back over the past 29 days, and in this post I am sharing my highlights ๐
This morning I unsure what to do, thankfully a friend reminded me that I’m passionate about Green-belt & suggested I make a video (below) regarding its benefits.
On Monday, whilst walking passed some Foxgloves with my Mom up the Waseley Hills Country Park, I remembered that we had some seeds at the back of one of the kitchen cupboards ๐