#30DaysWild Day 11!

Ophrys apifera - Bee Orchid

So today I visited somewhere pretty special to me, I like to think it's the place that made me fall in love with nature.

Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley (See their website here) is a 126 acre park that has been regenerated from abandoned coal spills to a beautiful park. budding with life every single which way you look. I was a frequent weekly volunteer on the park for over 18 months, working alongside the Park Rangers and the truly valiant group of volunteers who truly keep the park going. And it's pretty safe to say I enjoyed every minute of it (okay, except that day of pulling ragwort on a cold and drizzly day, yep totally didn't enjoy that bit so much ... )

There had been a few new caches put about the park and surrounding area, so for my day off I go up early and got the bus back to my home village. (It's so weird how everything always seems so much smaller than you remember!) In total I wandered around the park, and its many trails and habitats, for about six hours. After a major Geocaching App malfunction (thanks to a souvenier day!) I only managed to find 3 caches :( Some of them were pretty tricky, so I will have to come back and find them!

But no doubt, today was all about the wildlife, as always some of the photo quality is pretty poor, but at the moment there really isn't much I can do about it! The park's natural wild meadow is coming along nicely, with a few years of maturity behind it now, where the Bee Orchid and the Common Spotted Orchids are standing proudly.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii - Common Spotted Orchid

I then went to have a look at the newly refurbished Easy Access Pool, having helped inlay the new wooden sidewalk panels myself. and to see it had now been finished off with a new tarmac surface was brilliant! I sat and watched a moorhen happily collect materials for its nest (I wasn't about to catch a glimpse without risk of being in the pond myself!) I then carried onto the bird hide, a place where I hadn't really had loads of luck, but as I unlatched the shutter, there perched proudly was a vibrant Kingfisher (A bit like buses you see, you wait ages for one and then they all turn up!) I watched it for almost an hour, as it fished for its lunch.

Alcedines - Kingfisher

Gallinula - Moorhen

Possibly a Common Blue Butterfly? 

As I was leaving the park I was instructed my other volunteers to check out the Kestrel nest, which of course I did. Now no photos I'm afraid, there was no way my puny iPhone was going to manage a distance of over 100 meters! (I mean my binoculars only really managed to show me just enough to keep my excited!)

Inside the next was three fluffy chicks, with their proud Momma just standing outside, it really was a sight to see, and its really topped off an already amazing day!

Here's to the next adventure!

Devil's Spittleful

If I could sum up today's walk in one word it would definitely be: RAIN. I set out at midday and I was soaked through by one o'clock. It was today that I rigorously questioned whether or not I was crazy, or just really stupid. (the answer I settled on was both)

So I set about on finding the 'Devious Devil' series of Caches, starting adjacent to the West Midlands Safari Park. Taking a wooded path behind the Safari Park's fencing was quite exciting, although I couldn't see any baby kangaroos through the chain-link. I found these caches pretty easy to find, which I was very thankful of because the miserable weather was quickly turning my mood sour! For each log that I found and signed, there had been two other names signed on this very same day. Although I didn't come across a single soul whilst I was out.

I came home with 7 Finds, and 3 DNFs, although I didn't log any of these as I know I didn't do a thorough look, so I will be going back soon to have a proper rummage! I also didn't go up to the top of Devil's Spittle Rock, I really just wanted to keep trudging along to get home. But I will be sure to go back very soon. (When it isn't raining hopefully!) But either way, the surrounding nature reserve was a beautiful sight, even in the gloomy settings. I can't wait to go back and take my time there.

Calluna - Common Heather

I have given myself a little research project (don't you just love the word project!) Anyway, I want to educate myself of Heathland habitats before I go back. So I can truly understand and appreciate the habitat when I am there, and this is something I would like to do before I go to any new area. I want to learn, not just observe. I think it would also be pretty cool to share these findings as maybe 'Idiots Guides' mhmm, that'd be pretty cool!

Devils's Spittleful Nature Reserve 

A few things I learnt from today's Geocaching adventure: 

1. I really need to buy a small first aid kit, just in case!
2. I really need to bring a small hand towel, signing logs with wet hands is not ideal!
3. I should buy a pair of weatherproof gloves. 
4. My iPhone doesn't do great in the rain ... (shocker) 

Geocaching Trio

On Sunday (16th August 2015) I met up with two complete strangers.  Being pretty new to Geocaching I'd only really ever gone alone, or gone with friends I had introduced to it. And here I was, approaching a stranger I didn't know, to check if he was in the fact the man I had agreed to meet. Having introduced ourselves, we chatted whilst we waited for the third and final Cacher. One thing became very apparent: Geocachers are inherently incapable of finding each other. Eventually we found the third and final Geocacher.

We followed the riverside footpath from Bewdley to Stourport, then crossed the river and walked back along the other side. And boy, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Around 15 caches found with ease (perks of walking with experts eh!) with just one DNF :(

It was definately a lovely experience, to be able to share the day with two lovely people, who both loved to do this same thing! And they also kindly answered all my lame newbie questions, so I am now slightly more knowledgeable now. 

I am now planning a short day trip for this Sunday, hopefully to pick up another 15 odd Caches, and I am also planning a two night solo camp over at Arley to pick up quite a few! (Just hoping I can get everything I need before the summer season dissipates!) Has anyone got any camping tips they could pass on? 

The Importance of Binoculars

Pyronia Tithonus - Gatekeeper Butterlfy 

This is becoming a regular thing, myself apologising whole heartedly for not posting for sooooo long. So here I am again, now that life in my new house is all settled, determined to keep this blog going! (Promise!)

Today my lovely friend Sarah  joined me in Bewdley before she jets off to Canada for a whole year!! So we decided on a stroll along the river, having persuaded her to try out some Geocaching! We ended up finding four caches in total, and I think she may be hooked! A good day in my book. We also had a very good day wildlife wise too, although both annoyed we brought no binoculars with us!

A Dopping of Female Goosanders 

We spotted a butterfly on the vegetation alongside the river bank, snapped a picture and carried on. Having come home we were able to identify it as the Gatekeeper Butterfly. We almost settled on identifying it as the Small Heath Butterfly, until we noticed the number of white dots on the wing! (Gatekeepers have two not one!)
Sarah also spied a Kingfisher darting into the shrubbery on the other side of the river, but after waiting silently for some time, we decided to walk on.
I also spotted a dopping of female Goosanders on the river, a bird I had no seen before, so that was exciting, but gutted having no binoculars!
I promise to post again very soon!
If you'd like check out my instagram to see what I'm up to!

The Wilderness Warrior

Hitting The Trails

Already I am half way through my holiday- why does it go so quick!? Me and the old man have spent the last few days hitting the trails near Galashiels. We went rambling in the 'New Wood' (Or rather, the wood my Dad had no idea was there for the last 12 years!) Where earlier  in the year he had spotted some wild Deer, however no luck for us - just a very startled Hare. Nevertheless the area was beautiful, and in true scottish style, it was pretty steep! We were looking for a camping spot to try out, but with the steep gradient and rocky coverage we found no place suitable for the two of us to camp. However, we did find a wood pile, one that belonged to another Bush crafter.  My Father has been studying the Bushcraft pool of knowledge intensely, and to his knowledge he expected the pile was put together for the puroose of fire wood, with most of it stacked off the wet ground and  some peices perched upright to keep dry. Although the quantity of menacing cob webs fortells a bushcrafter that never came back for it!

As for yesterday - for the 30 Days Wild Challenge I wanted to learn a new skill. So I learnt how to make a fire, pretty useful I' d say, and it wasnt even that difficult!  Started off by making 'Feather Sticks' and then igniting Birch bark shavings  with a Ferro Rod.

And today we hit the trails again! It was just a short walk to find some Geocaches, and all were found!  (Unlike all the others we've been trying to find) No complaints either with sunny weather with the odd shower and views to die for! We even spotted the rump of a startled deer, but it was too quick and we spotted nothing else.

Not too sure what tomorrow brings, but no doubt it will be wild!

All the best,
The Wilderness Warrior

Random Acts of Kindness

So here it is, my list of some of the random acts of kindness I am going to try to accomplish this June!

1. Make a bug hotel
2. Plant some bee friendly plants 
3. Learn a new skill 
4. Visit somewhere new
5. Do a nature sketch
6. Go pond dipping
7. Watch the sunrise
8. Hug a tree 
9. Follow a bee 
10. Introduce a friend to nature 
11. Create a nature Pinterest board 
12. Go stargazing 
13. Learn some facts 
14. Make a bird feeder 
15. Make a paracord spider 
16. Take a friend Geocaching 
17. Scribble a poem 
18. Make a boat 
19. Lunch in the wild 
20. Feel the grass under your feet 
21. Hush in a hide
22. Investigate tracks 
23. Note sightings 
24. Buy a wild magazine 
25. Dance in the rain 
26. Tweet for the wild 
27. .....
28. ......
29. ......
30. .....

Have you guys got anymore ideas for me to fill in the last four? It would be much appreciated!!

All the best, 

The Wilderness Warrior 

The Art of Geocaching

You'll never forget your first one. The pounding in your chest as you spot it. The moment of euphoria as the realisation hits you. Your first find.

And yes, it is that thrilling.

Geocaching is an activity that is sweeping the nation, engrossing it's players into a global game of treasure hunt. Warning: yes, it is addictive. So please, read on with caution.

Essentially, players follow set co-ordinates on a GPS unit, which will take you to a location in which a Cache is hidden.And that's the easy part. Many caches involve working out a rhyme, riddle or clue to find the caches specific whereabouts, and some range from large trunks to tiny pots (and don't even get me start on micro-caches!)

There are approximately 2.5 Million of these little buggers hidden worldwide, and counting.

To help you, I have searched and accumulated a list of key terms to help you better understand:

 Geocache - a hidden container, that will contain a log book for searchers to find, but may also contains other goodies! (read on for more information!)

Swag - these are trade items that are left in caches for other player, I have heard that the rule here is that if you wish to take an item, then you must swap if with an item of equal or greater value. (Pretty exciting huh?)

Travel Bug - These are trackable items that players can add to caches, in the hope that other players will take it, and drop it in another cache, letting it explore the world!

If you're looking for ways to be creative and have fun outdoors, then I really would give Geocaching a shot! You are guaranteed to explore and stumble upon new places and brand new adventures.

Take a look! 

Geocaching Website 

Geocaching UK on Facebook 

All the best explorers!

The Wilderness Warrior