Week three of noticing and writing about the small joys of nature was one of both deliberately searching for seasonal treasures, and of experiencing the unexpected. The male pigeons are busy turning in circles on Beccy’s roof, trying to impress the females. Nothing unusual there in spring, but surely the one I heard this morningContinue reading “Hairy feet and talking pigeons”
Tag Archives: #nature
Double Dandy, Double Delight
When you’re cycling uphill, you don’t usually want to stop. You lose momentum, and it’s hard to get started again. But sometimes you notice something that makes the effort worthwhile. As I pedalled from Hazel Road shore, uphill past the boarded up Yacht Tavern, towards the railway bridge on Sea Road, this stunning double dandelionContinue reading “Double Dandy, Double Delight”
It started with the Dunnock
He’s recently been singing from the crab apple in our garden. Yes, I miss hearing a Blackbird, but it occurred to me that, wow, the Dunnock is a really impressive singer. It’s time to appreciate him more. He’s inspired me to share more moments from this week that have made my heart sing. Flowers areContinue reading “It started with the Dunnock”
A bird to be treasured
“I am a blackbird, singing my song” This is what I used to hear when I opened the front door early in the morning. That is, I heard a blackbird from across the street, and the first part of his song sounded just like, “I am a blackbird”, and I added the rest (and more,Continue reading “A bird to be treasured”
Woolston Station Gardens – for wildlife and people
We launched Woolston Station Garden Club in May 2025 to revive the station gardens. Long-term volunteer Bridget was the only remaining gardener still available when Charlene Arrondeau, Hampshire Community Rail Officer, contacted me in my Wilder Southampton role with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. My work schedule was full, so I decided toContinue reading “Woolston Station Gardens – for wildlife and people”
Big Garden Birdwatch Plus
Twenty-five starlings, two bluetits, a wood pigeon, a magpie, two or three greenfinches …. I can more or less predict how many birds of each species I’ll see when I take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. What I’m less sure of is what they’ll be doing. And that, for me, is theContinue reading “Big Garden Birdwatch Plus”
Pollinating Peartree: Itchen Ferry Memorial Garden
Near where I live, there used to be a village called Itchen Ferry. Most of it was destroyed during World War 2, as it was close to the Supermarine factory where Spitfires were built, and now there’s a memorial with a garden. The memorial plaque states that, in 1985, pupils from class 3B at LudlowContinue reading “Pollinating Peartree: Itchen Ferry Memorial Garden”
Badger Green
Places like Badger Green seem to be overlooked when people talk of ‘access to nature’ or ‘green spaces’. I’m not sure why this is. Has someone decided a ‘green space’ should be a minimum size, or that it must be designated a ‘park’? Southampton City Council’s website has a category called ‘parks and open spaces‘.Continue reading “Badger Green”
Hedgehogs Return
A few days ago, on a dark February morning around 6 a.m., I opened my front door to see a hedgehog snuffling around the mat in the porch. He or she dashed into the shrubs at the side, but those few seconds were enough to make my day. In fact, it’s made my month! ThatContinue reading “Hedgehogs Return”
Stories from a silver birch
Christmas Day 2023: Day One of 12 Days Wild, the Wildlife Trusts winter challenge to do something wild each day. I started by sitting in the garden in the dark at 7 am with a hot chocolate, taking advantage of the quiet to listen to the birds waking up. On a normal Monday there would beContinue reading “Stories from a silver birch”
Dandelion Nature 