Park – Canned Wildlife

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

Mar 2, 2023Mar 3, 2023Posted in Birds, Canal, Countryside, Exploration, Garden, Greenbelt, Insects, Lakes, Local, Natural History, Plants, Walk, WoodlandTagged A Bugs Life, Action For Insects, Alder, April, BBC Countryfile, BBC Springwatch, BBC Wildlife, Botany, Canal, Canal Walk, CPRE, Days Out, February, Flora, Gay Naturalist, March, Natural History, Nature, Park, Rewildling, River, RSPB, Springwatch, Suburban, The Wildlife Trust, Tree Hugging, Trees, Walk, Wetlands, Wildflowers, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Wildlife Gardening, Wildlife TV Presenter, Woodland, Woodland TrustLeave a comment

Dwelling in moist places; Alder grow near rivers, ponds, lakes and in wet, swampy woods, also known as Carrs.

Their flowers were used as green dye, to colour and camouflage the clothes of outlaws, like Robin Hood and to also colour the clothes of fairies 🧚🏻‍♂️

Flowering between February and April, Alder catkins provide an early source of nectar and pollen for Bees, and the seeds are eaten by Goldfinches, Siskins and Redpolls.

The pale wood turns a deep orange after being cut, giving the impression of bleeding. So, in the past, many people feared them and the Irish thought it was unlucky to pass one on a journey 😅

The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules, conditioning the soil and improving soil fertility on former industrial wasteland and brownfield sites.

Alder leaf beetles (Agelastica alni) feed on the leaves of alder trees. They’ve become common in parts of England and Wales since 2004.

It was said that a few Alder leaves placed in the shoes before a long journey would cool the feet and prevent swelling 🤷🏻‍♂️

Being a tough species of tree, their wood doesn’t rot when waterlogged, instead it makes them harder and stronger. Plus, mature trees can reach a height of approximately 28 metres and live to around 60 years.

Thanks for reading ✌🏻

Day 22 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 22, 2020Posted in Challenge, Conservation, Countryside, Encounters, Environmental, Film, Greenbelt, Insects, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, Video, Vlog, WalkTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Action For Insects, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birmingham, Bugs, Butterflies, Challenge, Conservation, Countryfile, Countryside, CPRE, Days Out, DEFRA, Earth Capture, Encounter, Entomology, Environment, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Get Your Boots On, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Huawei, Invertebrates, June, Made in Birmingham, Meadow, My Wild Life, National Insect Week, Natural England, Natural History, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Park, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, The Campaign for Rural England, The Countryside Charity, The Wild Side, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, Walk, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

It’s the beginning of National Insect Week, so there was only one thing for it! Get out & film (video below) some cool Insects!

I was happy to find some obliging Butterflies 🦋

Thanks for visiting 💚

Day 20 + 21 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 21, 2020Jun 22, 2020Posted in BBC, Challenge, Conservation, Environmental, Film, Fungi, Greenbelt, Interview, Natural History, TV, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Wildlife, Big Wild Quiz, Birders, Birmingham, Broadcast, Challenge, Collaboration, Conservation, Conservationists, Countryfile, Countryside, David Oakes, Days Out, Earth Capture, Environment, Environmental, Exporation, Film, Fly Agaric, Frankley, Fungi, Get Your Boots On, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Huawei, June, Made in Birmingham, Meadow, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nest, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Park, Presenting, Random Acts of Wildness, River, River Rea, RSPB, Semirural, Sophie Pavelle, Spring, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Suburban, Suburbia, Summer, The Campaign for Rural England, The Countryside Charity, The Wild Side, The Wildlife Trust, Trees, Video, Virtual Quiz, Vlog, Walk, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wild Webcam, Wilder Future, Wildflower, Wildflowers, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife TV Presenter, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

Yesterday I had a wee trip to my local town & I documented how green the journey there is 🏞️

Today I celebrated Father’s Day with some of my family & we had a BBQ, which my Brother-in-law & I tended to 🙂

When the evening arrived, it was time to prepare for the Big Wild Quiz, hosted by Sophie Pavelle and David Oakes. Which kicked off just after 7pm, it was great fun & a laugh! 💚

You can see my score in the comments 😆

Thanks for visiting! 👍🏻

Day 14 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 14, 2020Jun 14, 2020Posted in BBC, Canal, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Country Park, Countryside, Environmental, Exploration, Greenbelt, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, Video, Vlog, WoodlandTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Action For Insects, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birmingham, Birmingham City Council, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Conservationists, country park, Countryfile, Countrylife, Countryside, CPRE, Days Out, DEFRA, Do Something Great, Documentary, Earth Capture, Environment, Environmental, Exporation, Film, For The Love Of, Frankley, Frankley Beeches, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, HS2, Huawei, Journalism, June, Made in Birmingham, Meadow, My Wild Life, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Park, Presenting, Random Acts of Wildness, Rewildling, River, River Rea, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Suburban, Summer, The Campaign for Rural England, The Conservation Volunteers, The Countryside Charity, The Wild Side, The Wildlife Trust, Trees, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder FutureLeave a comment

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.

Thanks for visiting 💚

Day 1 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 1, 2020Jun 5, 2020Posted in Birds, Challenge, Encounters, Environmental, Film, Garden, Insects, Natural History, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Wildlife, Birder, Birders, Birding, Birds, Birdsong, Birdwatching, Birmingham, Butterflies, Chaffinch, CPRE, Dawn Chorus, Earth Capture, Encounter, Environmental, Frankley, Garden, Garden BirdWatch, Gay Birders, Green Birmingham, Invertebrates, June, Moths, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Ornithology, Park, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Springwatch 2020, Suburban, Suburbia, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, Waseley Hills Country Park, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again! To do something nature related & connect with the natural world every day in June, a “Random Act of Wildness” – as suggested by The Wildlife Trusts.

This morning I got up at 4pm to listen to the Dawn Chorus 💚 🐦 🎶 (Then went back to sleep 😆).

Yesterday I saw a lovely species of Moth in the Garden, for the first time, so I have included a video of that video too! 😀 🦋

In the early evening I went for a lovely walk with my Mom, around the Waseley Hills Country Park 🏞️ ❤️

You can make out the Malvern Hills AONB in the distance 😍

Thanks for visiting! ☺️

Day 4 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 4, 2015Mar 17, 2016Posted in Birds, Challenge, Film, Local, Nature Reserve, Plants, Walk, WoodlandTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Film, Park, Springwatch, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Walk1 Comment

“Discover urban wildness and mini habitats.”

I was at work again today, so went with a simple Random Act of Wildness – on the days I’m not at work they’ll be somewhat elaborate 😉 I chose “Discover urban wildness and mini habitats.” – from the booklet and decided I would complete this challenge by walking home from work and passing by certain places and stopping when something catches my eye etc. Again, I filmed (with my phone) and have a video for you to see!

Brownfield along the Northfield Relief Road.

BYPASS
I left Sainsbury’s and walked down the relief road/bypass, knowing a short walk down it there is a Brownfield site adjacent and that I’d see something there. A patch of land with scrub and a smattering of wildflowers – Poppies being the more obvious flower. I witnessed a skirmish between two male House Sparrows and heard a Dunnock and Blackcap singing. At the top there is a really nice amount of Ivy growing onto of some Hawthorn.

The Dunnock and Blackcap were somewhere in the Ivy. A short distance past the Ivy is a Alder tree, which had a Harlequin Ladybird on it – which features in the video.

Buttercups growing in an unkempt feature thing

BUZZING
Off the bypass is Bristol Road South, I crossed over and headed down there and came across some Buttercups growing on top of some sort of feature; a raised garden brick-structure-thing and saw a few Bees flying around! I climbed on top to get a closer look etc.

BROOK
I carried on down the road and admired the grass verge that separates both lanes, as some parts of it haven’t been mown – to deliberately leave strips of wildflower! I passed by a lovely park called Manor Farm Park, but decided not to venture into the park and head on down to Merritts Brook Greenway, where I took the pictures blow and end my short film.

Wild Garlic (Ramsons) flowers past their best

I’ll say no more and let the video say the rest 😉 Enjoy! 🙂