Spring – Canned Wildlife

Pilewort or Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)

Mar 5, 2023Mar 5, 2023Posted in Canal, Country Park, Countryside, Encounters, Exploration, Farm, Garden, Greenbelt, Lakes, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, Plants, River, Walk, WoodlandTagged Adam Frost, April, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Springwatch, BBC Wildlife, Botany, Bromsgrove, Bugs, Bumblebees, Butterflies, Canal, Canal Walk, Conservation, country park, Countryside, CPRE, Days Out, Encounter, Exploration, Farm, February, Flora, Garden, Gay Farmers, Gay Naturalist, Get Your Boots On, Green Belt, Green Space, Greenbelt, Horticulture, Huawei, March, Meadow, Micro Farm, Midlands, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Naturalist, Nature, Nature Reserve, Outdoors, Pond, Rewildling, River, RSPB, Semirural, Sir David Attenborough, Spring, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, The Campaign for Rural England, The Lakes, The Wildlife Trust, Walk, Waseley Hills Country Park, Wetlands, Wild Garden, Wildflower, Wildflowers, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Gardening, Woodland, Woodland Trust, Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Worcestershire, World Land TrustLeave a comment

Pilewort or Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), flowering between January and April; these lovers of damp woodland pathways, stream banks and ditches, can be found in gardens, meadows and shady hedgerows, and even Narnia, yes, Narnia! ✨

Ficaria verna growing on the bank of a field edge

An important nectar source for early emerging insects from hibernation, such as Queen Bumblebees 🐝

Lesser celandine were used to treat haemorrhoids, hence “Pilewort” and scurvy, due to being high in Vitamin C.

All in all, they are a pretty cool plant!

Thanks for reading! 😊

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. . .

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 19 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 19, 2020Jun 19, 2020Posted in Challenge, Encounters, Film, Garden, Local, Natural History, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Admire the setting Sun, AFON, BBC Earth, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birmingham, Black Slug, Challenge, Chris Packham, Earth Capture, Encounter, Film, Frankley, Garden, Gastropod, Green Birmingham, Huawei, Invertebrates, June, Land Slug, Made in Birmingham, Mollusc, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Outdoors, Raptors, RSPB, Semirural, Slugs, Spring, Springwatch, Suburbia, The Wildlife Trust, Timelapse, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Gardening, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Vlog, WLT Bigger Picture, World Land TrustLeave a comment

Yet another wet day… I was looking out of the window & saw a reasonably large Black Slug, that’s when I got the idea for todays video (below) 😉

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 18 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 18, 2020Jun 18, 2020Posted in Birds, Canal, Challenge, Conservation, Environmental, Film, Greenbelt, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, River, TV, Video, Vlog, WalkTagged #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, Birdsong, Birmingham, Challenge, Conservation, Conservationists, Countryfile, CPRE, Days Out, DEFRA, Earth Capture, Environment, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Gay Birders, Get Your Boots On, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Huawei, June, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, National Trust, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Ornithology, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, Rewildling, River, River Rea, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, The Campaign for Rural England, The Conservation Volunteers, The Countryside Charity, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wetlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

At the end of May I became an Ambassador for The Rivers Trust, so I decided to go sit next to a stretch of the River Rea, on the edge of Gannow Wood.

Thanks for visiting! 🏞️

Day 17 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 17, 2020Posted in Countryside, Environmental, Farm, Film, Greenbelt, Local, Natural History, Nature Reserve, TV, Video, Vlog, WalkTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Earth, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Birdsong, Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Challenge, Countryfile, Countrylife, Countryside, CPRE, Days Out, Earth Capture, Environment, Environmental, Farm, Film, Frankley, Get Your Boots On, Green Belt, Green Birmingham, Green Space, Greenbelt, Huawei, June, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, Nature Reserve, New Frankley, Outdoors, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, The Campaign for Rural England, The Countryside Charity, The Wild Side, The Wildlife Trust, Thunderstorm, Trees, Video, Vlog, Walk, West Midlands, Wild June, Wild Time, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Vlog, WoodlandLeave a comment

Went for a walk around my local Wood and Green-belt today, when I was out a storm rolled in 🌧️

Rather than head home, I decided to stay out a bit, to listen to the rain & thunder whilst outside ⛈️

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 16 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 16, 2020Jun 16, 2020Posted in Birds, Challenge, Environmental, Film, Garden, Local, Natural History, 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, Birdsong, Birmingham, BTO Garden BirdWatch, Challenge, Dance in a downpour, Dancing in the Rain, Earth Capture, Environmental, Film, Frankley, Garden, Garden BirdWatch, Gay Birders, Green Birmingham, iPhone, June, Made in Birmingham, My Wild Life, Natural England, Natural History, Nature, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Semirural, Spring, Springwatch, Suburban, Suburbia, The Wildlife Trust, Thunderstorm, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife VlogLeave a comment

This afternoon I was observing the clouds, watching them drift by, so I got footage of them ⛅️ But as I was editing, a Thunderstorm hit, so I focused my attention on that and recorded a chunk of the storm, to capture the amazing rolling thunder ⛈

Thanks for visiting! 💚

Day 15 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 15, 2020Jun 16, 2020Posted in BBC, Challenge, Conservation, Environmental, Farm, Film, Garden, Local, Natural History, Plants, TV, Video, VlogTagged #30DaysWild, #NowForNature, #TheTimeIsNow, #WilderFuture, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, A Focus On Nature, Action For Insects, Adam Canning, Adam O'Hare, AFON, BBC Countryfile, BBC Gardeners' World, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Wildlife, Bees, Birdsong, Birmingham, Botany, Brexit, Bumblebees, Butterflies, Challenge, Chickens, Collaboration, Countryfile, CPRE, Cranesbill Geraniums, Days Out, DEFRA, Do Something Great, Environmental, Exporation, Farm, Farmers, Feeding Birds, Film, Flora, For The Love Of, Frankley, Garden, Gay Farmers, Green Birmingham, Horticulture, Huawei, Iridescence, Journalism, June, Meet The Farmers, Micro Farm, My Wild Life, Nature On Screen, New Frankley, Now for Nature, Organic Farming, Outdoors, Presenting, Quail, Random Acts of Wildness, Rewildling, River Rea, RSPB, Salad, Semirural, Spring, Suburban, Suburbia, The Campaign for Rural England, The Conservation Volunteers, The Countryside Charity, The Wild Side, The Wildlife Trust, Urban, Video, Vlog, West Midlands, Wild Garden, Wild June, Wild Time, Wilder Future, Wildlife, Wildlife Filmmakers, Wildlife From My Window, Wildlife Garden, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife TV PresenterLeave a comment

Today I visited an Urban Organic Micro Farm, called Rea Spring Gardens – which is a short walk away. It is own and ran by a lovely, enthusiastic couple, Charlie and Ashley, who farm with wildlife and the environment in mind 🌍

In the video below, you get to see what they grow and the animals they keep! 👨🏻‍🌾

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.