Here comes the Sun...

There's no doubting it, the winter just gone was definately mild by everyone's standard, but I am oh so happy for the warmer weather and longer days!

Looking back over the adventures of last summer has really made me miss the outdoors, working tirelessly at work and on my potential new academic adventure has made my life feel very very busy.

So Happy Spring! To anyone and everyone who still happens to read this, what started out as a passionate project of my love for the outdoors quickly turned stale as I failed to update when I say I would. And for that I feel really bad, and undoubtedly pretty annoyed at myself.

So a new leaf is to be turned over this Spring as I venture into something new, in the Autumn I begin my journey through university, where I will be studying Geography and the University of Worcester.

A new adventure I am countlessly counting away the days too, and it is my aim to blog my learning and love as I go, on trips and lectures that inspire me, and on subjects that bring me to question everything I thought I knew.

After publishing this I am going to sit long and hard and really think about what I want this blog to be, and plan out my ideas, because without a plan, a wish is just a wish.

You will hear from me soon!
Tayla

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.

“The Only Thing That Satisfies the Soul is Passionate Life.”

Right now my whole life is consumed by passion and ambition. 
Days are flying away with me. 
I wake up with pure excitement and drive to get closer and closer to my goals.

I have set myself some targets: 

1. Blog More! (obvious I know seeing as this page is practically growing cobwebs at the moment, so sorry!!!) 
2. Apply to University - CHECK! 
3. Complete my vocational qualifications with top marks - pending 
4. Pray I land a new job opportunity as a Woodland Trust writer!! 

Right so the only difference between a wish and a goal is an actual plan! (although time consuming and tricky, there are undoubtedly high in reward) 

I mean, how often do you get to make what you love both your hobby and potentially your job!? (The answer is pretty often if you work hard and find the opportunities you're looking for!) 

To be honest, this post was a bit pointless, it was just another approach to apologising for being rubbish at blogging. (See bullet point 1 and previous post for further details!) But I just wanted to let the odd people who do check this out that I am working hard, just behind the scenes. 

Maybe I should just commit to a regular day that I'll post?

Yeah - I'm going to do that. 

Okay so every Monday evening (London Time) they'll be a new post to see!

(Oh man I've committed to that now!!)

 

Okay Bye!

Have a picture I took the other day! (also pointless but beautiful!)

Blogger Awards!

I think I win for worst blogger of the year award! I mean I've been missing almost 2 months, I hope you weren't all worried about me ....

So here are my lists of excuses for you:

1. I've been focusing a lot on my coursework at the moment because I left it all last minute (Standard) 
2. I have made the decision  to apply to study Geography at the University of Worcester, so I have been busy on my application!
3. Summer has all of a sudden disappeared and I was not mentally prepared for the seasonal change. (A very poor excuse I know) 

So, there you go, read them and weep, that's all I could come up with to make up for my complete inability to work on my blog. 

Tomorrow's a new day though right? 

I will be posting more often I promise! 

The Wilderness Warrior

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.

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)