Birmingham – #CannedWildlife

A Greener Childhood

Mar 10, 2021Mar 10, 2021Posted in BBC, Conservation, Countryside, Environmental, Greenbelt, Literature, Natural History, WoodlandTagged 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birding, Birds, Birmingham, Conservation, Countryfile, Countryside, CPRE, Encounter, Environment, Environmental, Frankley, Garden, Green Birmingham, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Outdoors, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, The Wildlife Trust, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wildlife, Wildlife TrustsLeave a comment

. . .I remember more countryside, more greenspaces, more woodland, more birdsong, more sightings of wildlife, such as rabbits, foxes and badgers.

Sunny days. Less pollution, less superficial ideas and materialism.

Fun was exploring and adventures outdoors; the new park, or going to a country park – for the first time.

Everyone cared about nature, everyone wanted to see it, talk about it.

The environment is for all ages, all stages of life.

I remember a greener childhood. . .

#GardeningForNature

Sep 15, 2020Sep 17, 2020Posted in Amphibians, BBC, Conservation, Countryside, Encounters, Environmental, Farm, Film, Garden, Greenbelt, Insects, Local, Mammals, Natural History, Nature Reserve, Nest, Plants, TV, Video, VlogTagged #MyWildLife, #WildTime, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birds, Birmingham, Conservation, Countryfile, Countryside, Environment, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Garden, Green Birmingham, My Wild Life, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Springwatch, Suburban, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wildlife, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

Many of us have experienced a heightened love for our gardens, wildlife and green space this year. Ajay Tegala and Adam O’Hare 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.

“During lockdown, lots of my friends and relatives were sending me pictures and stories of their gardens and their local wildlife,”
says Ajay.

“It was clear how much local green spaces and nature were benefitting so many people”.
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.

“It 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 mind”.
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.

“It was a labour of love, sharing our gardens and local wildlife over the internet.”
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 7pm

Part 3 goes live / online Friday 18th September at 7pm

Warmest regards,
#GardeningForNature x

Local Natural Heritage

Sep 2, 2020Sep 3, 2020Posted in BBC, Birds, Conservation, Country Park, Countryside, Environmental, Exploration, Farm, Film, Greenbelt, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, Plants, TV, Video, Vlog, Walk, WoodlandTagged #MyWildLife, #WildTime, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, Autumnwatch, Autumnwatch 2020, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Springwatch, BBC Wildlife, Birmingham, Birmingham UK, Bromsgrove, Campaign, Conservation, Countryfile, Countryside, COVID-19, Documentary, Earth Capture, Environment, Environmental, Frankley, Frankley Beeches, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Landmark, Landmark Trust, Midlands, My Wild Life, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Our Plastic Feedback, Outdoors, Semirural, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, The Campaign for Rural England, Video, Vlog, War On Plastic, West Midlands, Wild Time, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife Vlog, WorcestershireLeave a comment

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 haven’t 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. I’m 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 🤔 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…

💚 Thanks for visiting x

House Sparrows Trail CAM

Jul 4, 2020Posted in Birds, Environmental, Film, Garden, Local, Natural History, Video, VlogTagged #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Bill Oddie, Birder, Birders, Birding, Birds, Birdwatching, Birmingham, BTO, BTO Garden BirdWatch, Camera Trap, Creative Conservation, DEFRA, Earth Capture, Earth on Location, Environment, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Garden, Garden BirdWatch, Gay Birders, Green Birmingham, House Sparrows, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Ornithology, Outdoors, RSPB, Semirural, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, Summer 2020, The Wildlife Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Trail Camera, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmaker, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Vlog, WildlifeKate, WLT Bigger Picture, World Land TrustLeave a comment

Last night I popped my Trail CAM in one of the trees at the bottom of the garden. Below is what it managed to capture this morning 😊

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 30 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 30, 2020Jun 30, 2020Posted in BBC, Birds, Challenge, Conservation, Countryside, Encounters, Environmental, Exploration, Film, Garden, Greenbelt, Insects, Local, Natural History, Nature Art, Nature Reserve, Plants, TV, Video, Vlog, Walk, WoodlandTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Bugs Life, A Focus On Nature, A Fork-tailed Flower Bee (Anthophora furcata), Action For Insects, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, Antz, ARG UK, Artwork, Bat Conservation Trust, Batcam, Bats, BBC, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Bees, Bill Oddie, Birder, Birds, Birds of Prey, Birdsong, Birmingham, Black Ants, Blackbird, Botany, BTO Garden BirdWatch, Bugs, Bumblebees, Butterflies, Challenge, Chickens, Chris Packham, Collaboration, Conservation, Conservationists, Countryfile, Countrylife, Countryside, CPRE, Cranesbill Geraniums, Creative Conservation, Dance in a downpour, Dancing in the Rain, David Oakes, Dawn Chorus, Days Out, DEFRA, Design, Devon Bat Project, Do Something Great, Documentary, Drawing, Dunnock, Earth Capture, Encounter, Entomology, Environment, Environmental, Exporation, Farm, Farmers, Film, Forget-me-not, Frankley, Garden, Gay Birders, Gay Farmers, Get Your Boots On, Greater Horseshoe Bat, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Horticulture, House Sparrows, Random Acts of Wildness, Springwatch, Summer 2020, The Wildlife Trusts, Vlog, Wild June, Wildlife FilmmakerLeave a comment

There we have it, 30 Days Wild! Today is the last day of Random Acts of Wildness 🥳 So I am looking back over the past 29 days, and in this post I am sharing my highlights 💚

Thanks for visiting! 🤙🏻 x

Day 29 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 29, 2020Jun 29, 2020Posted in Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Environmental, Natural History, Nature Art, ReptilesTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Beach, Bempton Cliffs, Birmingham, Bridlington, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Conservationists, Countryfile, Countrylife, David Oakes, Days Out, DEFRA, Design, Drawing, Earth Capture, Earth on Location, Encounter, Environment, Environmental, For The Love Of, Frankley, Gannets, Green Birmingham, Herptiles, High Summer, Illustration, Island, Isle, Jack Perks, June, Made in Birmingham, Marine life, Merseyside, Migration, My Wild Life, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature Art, New Frankley, Norfolk, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Planet Earth 2, Pond, Random Acts of Wildness, Reptiles, RSPB, Sea Life, Sea Turtles, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Summer, Summer 2020, The Wildlife Trust, West Country, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife TrustsLeave a comment

The weather has been similar to yesterday, so I got cosy and added colour to the drawing I did yesterday.

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 28 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 28, 2020Jun 29, 2020Posted in Challenge, Conservation, Environmental, Natural History, Nature Art, West CountryTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, Amphibians, Artwork, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birmingham, Bridlington, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Conservationists, Countryfile, Countrylife, Countryside, CPRE, Days Out, DEFRA, Design, Drawing, Environment, Environmental, For The Love Of, Frankley, Gannets, Herptiles, Illustration, Island, Isle, June, Made in Birmingham, Marine life, Merseyside, Migration, My Wild Life, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature Art, New Frankley, Norfolk, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Planet Earth 2, Pond, Random Acts of Wildness, Reptiles, Rewildling, RSPB, Sea Life, Sea Turtles, Somerset, Springwatch, Summer, Summer 2020, The Campaign for Rural England, The Countryside Charity, The Wildlife Trust, West Country, West Midlands, Wild Art, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife TrustsLeave a comment

The weather has been very temperamental here, windy & raining, with sunny spells. So after pottering in the garden, I did some drawing 🙂

My niece really likes Turtles (Marine / Sea ones, not the species which Americans call Tortoises). My sister asked me to draw her one ☺️

I like to take pictures at different stages, to see / show my progression 😊

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 27 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 27, 2020Jun 29, 2020Posted in Birds, Challenge, Encounters, Environmental, Film, Garden, Local, Mammals, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Big Garden Birdwatch, Birder, Birding, Birds, Birdwatching, Birmingham, Blackbird, BTO Garden BirdWatch, Challenge, Earth Capture, Encounter, Environmental, Feeding Birds, Film, Frankley, Garden, Garden BirdWatch, Gay Birders, Green Birmingham, Huawei, June, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Ornithology, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Simon King, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, Summer 2020, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Vlog, WLT Bigger Picture, World Land TrustLeave a comment

Was chilling out in the garden, when I heard a Blackbird singing close & loud, it then got closer – so I filmed it 😆

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 25 + 26 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 26, 2020Jul 4, 2020Posted in BBC, Birds, Challenge, Conservation, Encounters, Environmental, Film, Garden, Natural History, Nature Reserve, TV, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Big Garden Birdwatch, Bill Oddie, Birder, Birders, Birding, Birds, Birdsong, Birdwatching, Birmingham, BTO, BTO Garden BirdWatch, Camera Trap, Challenge, Conservation, David Lindo, Dawn Chorus, Dunnock, Earth Capture, Earth on Location, Encounter, Environment, Environmental, Feeding Birds, Film, Frankley, Garden, Garden BirdWatch, Gay Birders, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, House Sparrows, June, Made in Birmingham, Meadow, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, New Frankley, Ornithology, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, Rewildling, Robin, RSPB, Semirural, Simon King, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, Summer 2020, The Urban Birder, The Wildlife Trust, Trail Camera, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

My new toy arrived, a 4K video-recording 20MP photo-taking Trail CAM! 💖

Late in the afternoon I set it up in our new Wildlife Corner of the garden.

This morning I reviewed the footage that was recorded from yesterday afternoon, the evening & from this morning. I am over the moon with what the Trail CAM managed to capture! 💚

Thanks for visiting! ☺️

Day 23 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 23, 2020Jun 23, 2020Posted in Challenge, Conservation, Encounters, Environmental, Film, Garden, Insects, Natural History, Nest, TV, Video, VlogTagged #MyAutumn, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, A Fork-tailed Flower Bee (Anthophora furcata), Action For Insects, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Bees, Birmingham, Bugs, Challenge, DEFRA, Earth Capture, Encounter, Entomology, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Garden, Green Birmingham, Huawei, Insects, Invertebrates, June, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, National Insect Week, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, Nest, Nest Building, Nesting, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, Summer 2020, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Vlog, WLT Bigger Picture, World Land TrustLeave a comment

I am delighted & amazed at what I am discovering in the garden lately. Today I was pottering about & I could hear a munching / crunching sound coming from the gate.

At first I thought it may have been a Wasp, but I couldn’t see it. Then after looking the gate up & down I noticed a wee Bee in a crevice! 🐝

A Fork-tailed Flower Bee (Anthophora furcata).

Thanks for visiting! 💚