Currently drowning in Assignments ...

My first christmas as a university student has found me buried beneath two assignments, an exam and an assessed presentation in January. So having decided to stay on campus a little longer to get ahead on all the reading I need to do, it all got a little overwhelming. To clear my head, I set an early alarm on Saturday and was up and out just as the sun was rising. (one of the perks of winter daylight times - I don't have to get up so early to see the sunrise!) It wasn't too cold thankfully, but was beautifully quiet. I had a gander across the racecourse in Worcester, which led me to a small park. I have been trying to find the right settings on my camera for landscape photography, but I am still disappointed, I feel they don't have the depth of detail I'm wanting. I have followed the manual settings guidelines for landscapes, so perhaps it is the lens that I use perhaps. But anyway, here are the photos I managed to capture ... anything to get put off all the work I have!

I am going home this week, so will hopefully be able to get out to my favourite country park and bird hide, which I am very much looking forward to, so there will be at least one more post on here before christmas day! (But you can always stay updated on my twitter account! @thegeogstudent )

The Art of Birdwatching

Now, this is not something you are born with, but is something to be gained through sheer guts and determination. For only the truly strong will survive into professionalism.

But all jokes aside, birdwatching most definately isn't for everyone, and takes a good deal of practice, but often with unmistakable benefits. I remember the first time I sat in a bird hide, cold, confused and simply impatient. And of course I wasn't going to see anything, mostly because I simply didn't want it enough, and because nature takes time. It's really as simple as that!

My top 3 tips for birdwatching:
1. Wrap up warm (Obviously) Often times I have been sat on a cold morning much longer than I initially anticipated too, after all, some days can just be really good like that!
2. Invest in a decent thermos flask! Much related to the previous point, it really is important to make yourself comfortable whilst you're waiting about.
3. And while you're waiting, get used to the scenery. In my case I spend this time setting up my camera settings, trying out settings in order to get the best shot when the opportunity arises. There really is nothing worse than not being camera ready when a beautiful bird finally decides to grace you with it's presence.

Now, about a fortnight ago (can you tell I've been super busy with first university assignments) I had the opportunity to go back to the Severn Valley Country Park, so sat in the bird hide for almost 2 hours in the morning. At first there was nothing, but the key here is to be stubborn and wait it out a bit longer. And I am yet to be disappointed. Like buses, many came at once. Groups of Great Tits, Blue Tits, a pair of Pheasants, A shy Heron and an inquisitive Robin. And perhaps, if my ID is correct a little Dunnock. (which is a first for me I believe)

I would ID this little fellow as a Dunnock, any other suggestions? 

Fairground and Fireworks

Not exactly nature related, (okay so not at all, but it's my blog guys!) As you all may know last night was bonfire night, and my first here in Worcester! The Racecourse held the biggest one this year, and seeing as it was a five minute walk away, it'd be rude not to go. I was really pleased with how my camera worked, and had a lot of fun with the exposure settings too!

Next week I hope to have some amazing pictures, as I am going back home and having a day at the Severn Valley Country Park again, and I'm already really excited! (I really really hope the Kingfisher is there again!)

Anyways, I should really get back to my assignment now, I'm only posting this small update because I'm procrastinating, haha oops!

Right so where have I been and what have I been doing you ask? (I mean, you're probably not, you've probably just assumed this silence meant I was DEAD, ((Really don't blame you to be honest hahaha))

First things first, blogging daily for the #30DaysWild Challenge absolutely burnt me out, it left me no desire to blog any time soon, which really sucks!

However, because it is the summer, I have also been working most of the time, so I haven't had the chance to get out and about and do anything exciting at all!

But I have got a few pictures from a week away in North Berwick, Scotland.

National Garden Month!

So April marks National Garden Month, the celebration of a hobby I know little about and have never really experienced. But what better time to at least make a try. Perhaps the only memory I have stems from my great-grandfather's abandoned greenhouse, where I would potter about as a child, replanting dead plants for no good reason at all. But most of all I recall that earthy smell of soil. For me it is a grounding and comforting smell that simply transports me back to my careless days as a child.

But as I grew older a garden become a place where things were left to grow of their own accord, and for old rusty bikes to become lost in the wilderness. And from that I knew nothing more than a small concrete yard where a brave weed would grow desperately between the cracks.

Since then I have moved out to a place of my own, and a garden was something that never even came into consideration when I was checking the market. Not a single fragment of the nerves in my brain even comprehended a thought. And that was simply because it was something I knew nothing off, and felt completely unaffected by.

Luckily I did have a dry and overgrown window box at the front of the house, and a small space in which a few potted plants could happily be homed. All I did was simply pull out the dead plants and neaten everything up, and thinking a good job done. I'm going to make National Garden Month change that. Well technically, while I sit cosied up on a brisk English evening writing this post, I have already started making my tiny green abode into an abundant address simply brimming with life.

But why bother? Of course there is the simple benefit of a lovely looking area. But I can't quite reason that to be enough in return for the hours of work and somewhat unending patience. So I did a little research, why do so people invest so much into such a hobby?

It turns out that there are much more benefits to it that I even realised. Research suggests that the presence of flowers actually comforts a part of our human makeup, in that the appreciation of beauty has much more of an emotional and cultural importance to us.This not only helps with our mental and emotional health, but as found to have profoundly positive effects on our physical health too. The simple and low impact regime of gardening, no matter how small, has been seen to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and help improves concentration. Some effects of which are some of the leading groundworks for modern day illnesses.

Gardening is also considered an 'altered state of conscious inducing activity' - alongside running and yoga, where the individual simply zones out and focuses on nothing but the activity. A state that is thought to be both magical and spiritual, and time when a participant can simply experience the best of who they are. Pretty cool huh.

Not only all of this lovely stuff, but gardening has an obvious benefit to the environment, with pollinating flowers encouraging the visits of small insects like bees! (I shall be going on a 'save the bees' rant very soon on my blog!)

Anyways, I'm sure you all get the point, gardening is actually really cool. So here's to April- the month I attempt to keep something alive!

Here's what I've been doing so far...

Planted some Parsley and Rosemary in my neat little window box, and have since
 added a sweet-pea plant and sowed some chive seeds!

Potted some seeds too! All bee friendly species, let just hope they grow! 

I have promised to whisper positive quotes to my little garden everytime I go past, ya know, because a little positivity goes a long way! But of course I shall keep you updated on progress!

Until next time!

p.s my new walking boots came! (if you follow me on twitter you will already know this haha!) but anyways, I am hoping to have a small adventure soon so I can try them out and give you guys another review! So as always, keep your eyes peeled!

Bewdley's Bursting Banks

Though slightly overdue as the water levels are slowly decreasing now, Bewdley's flood defence barriers have been up again! Last week locals were issued weather warnings, following expected heavy weather in the Welsh hills. (Note: the source of the River Severn is situated  in Cambrian Mountains)

Water levels were noted to start rising on Tuesday 1st December, and the barriers were swiftly constructed the following day. The entirety of the defence system was not put up, only the barriers alongside Severnside North, where the pavement sits lower. Large debris such as logs and a few whole trees have been seen to be floating down with the fast current.

With water levels now dropping again, and pavements beginning to emerge from the murky depths of the Severn, it looks like another successful intervention from the Environment Agency. Quick thinking and very effective communication to the people bewdley helped to save many homes and businesses, with very little disturbance.

Here's to next years events! (Don't get me wrong, a flooding like this has been catastrophic to homes in Bewdley, but with new defences in place, we all feel much safer! And anyways, businesses in Bewdley that rely on tourists, its events like this catch people's attention!)

The view down Severnside South, the blue on the other side are temporary barriers to protect homes and roads.

Devil's Spittleful (Revisited) and Burlish Top

Gosh, it's been two weeks since I last posted, I hadn't realised how quickly time was passing! So here is my apology to those few that have been checking this space most days. I am sorry but also thank-you! (I like to pretend I'm not actually just talking to myself over here, ha!)

I haven't really been out and about much recently, work has been super busy and the recent autumnal change in the weather has had me snuggled under the duvet.  But, I suppose I should just put my big girls pants on and get outside, seeing as that's where all the adventures happen.

Right, so where have I been in the last 17 days...

Well, firstly I have revisited Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve (with much better weather this time!) and then followed on to Burlish Top before going home.

As a result of more favourable weather I was able to truly appreciate the landscape and beauty of the heathland habitat. I also managed to find a few caches that I was unable to on the last trip (hoorah!)

Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve 

View from the top of Devil's Spittleful Rock 

 I then went onto Burlish Top Nature Reserve, which consists of lowland heath, oak and birch woodland and acidic grassland. There are various easy access trails

 spreading across the reserve. There were around 6 caches within the trails, 2 of which I was unable to find that day.

Lowland Heath habitat of Burlish Top 

Lowland Heath habitat of Burlish Top 

Common Red Clover 

Hoverfly - any idea on plant species? 

Bombus Hortorium amidst a flowering Himalayan Balsam 

Speckled Wood Butterfly

Severn Valley Country Park

This is the place that made me fall in love with nature.
I became encompassed with beauty and life, I would go a wandering for hours on end, lunch packed and trails to follow and explore.
The Severn Valley Country Park is a 120+ Acre park of absolute habitat heaven. Built upon the ruin of a 400 year old coal mine, the park is made up of a variety of woodland, river banks, orchids, wild flower meadows, ponds and grassland. All of these habitats are passionately looked after my a team of rangers and dedicated volunteers, a group that has now been running since the Park's opening, back in 1992.

With such a vast variety of well kept habitats it is no surprise that the variety of wildlife and plant-life is vast too. Precious Bee Orchids and vibrant King Fishers all make this park their home. The river banks are bursting with life, colourful Common Darters and resting Moorhens. The woodlands enchanting, Tawny Owls sleeping and an all matter of Tits going about their business!(Hur hur)

This is an absolute gem located in the Midlands that I really do think you should go and visit


.
You can check out there webpage here.)

I began enjoying the park around 12 years ago, and I became an official volunteer at the park when I was about 18. And I can safely say that I have enjoyed every minute of it, okay well maybe not the Ragwort pulling. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many truly beautiful and kind people, and the opportunity to help look after the place I love. And it has definitely made me realise that this is what I want to do, I want to submerse myself in the natural world, learn everything I can to help better my understanding. Because our country parks and reserves are such precious things, and we really need to look after them, now and for the future.

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

Home Sweet Home

My absolute sincerest apologies for my disappearance! All I can say is that it all happened very quickly! I fledged the nest! I am now a fully qualified adult! (so they say!) And seeing as the new place currently has no internet it is safe to say that it has been a pretty long week!
I am rather saddened that I haven't been able to keep up with the 30 Days Wild Challenge, but I have been out exploring my new area! I have moved into a lovely 17th Century House along the riverside in the town of Bewdley, Worcestershire.

30 Days Wild: Day One

So it's been a pretty soggy start to the 30 Days Wild Challenge!

What have you guys been up to?

Today I was meeting an old friend for lunch, so we went for a waterlogged walk around the town of Bridgnorth. Taking a moment to appreciate the local wild that is has to offer, and the breathtaking sea of green that historic towns are surrounded by.

So today I set myself the challenge of 'Introducing a friend to nature' because if you love something, you should share it!

But I will admit there is nothing better than getting home, jumping out of sodden clothes and putting the kettle on!

All the best,
The Wilderness Warrior