The Grey Squirrel

This afternoon, whilst I was trying to be a good student (yaknow, studying hard and knuckling down over the weekend) a resident Grey Squirrel on my university campus decided to come nice and close to my window. I watched for a while, managing to take some pretty nice pictures, and watched as it bounced off in search of more food.

It was a lovely 10 minutes, and it conveniently gave me a short break from my studies. (Thanks Squirrel!)

 But then it got me thinking, this species is often seen merely as an alien, a pest on campus and an all round threat to be dealt with.

Now, I completely understand that alien species that are brought into the UK were done so with positive expectations, and as we can see now has had more of an invasive and destructive effect on our local habits.  But what happens when the above effects occur? We hunt them down. Now I am writing this from a completely humanist approach here, and I understand that for others pests are pests and must be dealt with accordingly.

And yet, I still found the time to sit and just appreciate the presence of this timid creature. Sure, as a species he doesn't quite understand the manners we have here, he may be the leading cause of the decline of our native Red Squirrels, or the destruction of our natural habitats. But the way I see it, we are the ones that brought the species onto our shores, and surely the responsibility of that should rest on our shoulders. I'm still not sure where I stand on the slaughter of wildlife for the sake of conservation.

On a more lighthearted note, enjoy some pictures of a campus Squirrel looking for lunch:

Forest of Dean and Update!

I cannot believe its been a whole two weeks since I last posted! Time is literally flying by!

So, What has happened?
- University life is well under way. freshers week already feels like a distant memory as looming Assignment dates are added to the diary!
- I have FINALLY purchased myself a proper camera! It's the Canon EOS 100D, and I'm so in love with it it's embarrassing hahahaha. (I've waited so so long to be able to buy it!) So fingers crossed I'll be able to get some really good pictures with it for the blog!
- I am really enjoying living in the city of Worcester, I can't quite get enough of the beautiful riverside walks! See below:

Taken this morning on my new camera, lots to learn with it still of course!

Last sunday I joined the Universities Nature Society to the Forest of Dean for the day, I already love the opportunities that come about as a university student! The forest walks were beautiful in every way, with a huge array of birds, bugs and boars! (Although we didn't actually see any Boars :( )

I will be attempting to provide some decent blog material soon, rather just pictures! (Although you have to admit, they are pretty good ones!)

Ta-ra for now!
Tayla

University Societies

On wednesday we had our University Sports and Society Fair, which was pretty much a hall packed with groups of people promoting their sport/hobby, trying to get you to join. Well naturally I signed up to the Geography Society, and the Nature Society.

On thursday evening I joined the Nature Society on a night safari around the campus, we detected bats, spied on badgers and trapped moths!

I learnt how to detect the difference between the common and the Suprano Pipistrelle Bat based purely on frequencies (Pretty snazzy if you ask me!)

The Moths we spotted that evening were:

• Lunar Underwing
• Angle Shades
• Light Emerald Moth 

Two Light Emerald Moths

University Societies

On wednesday we had our University Sports and Society Fair, which was pretty much a hall packed with groups of people promoting their sport/hobby, trying to get you to join. Well naturally I signed up to the Geography Society, and the Nature Society.

On thursday evening I joined the Nature Society on a night safari around the campus, we detected bats, spied on badgers and trapped moths!

I learnt how to detect the difference between the common and the Suprano Pipistrelle Bat based purely on frequencies (Pretty snazzy if you ask me!)

The Moths we spotted that evening were:

• Lunar Underwing
• Angle Shades
• Light Emerald Moth 

Two Light Emerald Moths

"Change is the Only Constant in Life"

Like the turning of the leaves and the encroachment of the bitter frost, change is constant. But don't worry too much guys, the sun is still out and it is another beautiful day.

But right now for me life is just a big sudden change. yesterday afternoon I arrived at the University of Worcester to begin my new life as a residential student doing a Geography degree. I am unpacked and somewhat settled in my new humble abode, with introductory talks and lectures beginning tomorrow.

I am hoping this new direction in life that my blog will begin to adapt and change too. I am planning on a blog overhaul, with a change of name and a change of design. I want to blog about what university life is really like, and what Geographers really go through and what concepts and problems we are faced with.

I best be off now, I have my first freshers social event to get ready for! Making friends can't be that hard right?

Review: Trespass Compact Pillow and Lightweight Sleeping Bag

I've had these two items sat to review on my 'to-do' list for some time now, and I'm only just finding the time to sit and do it, so my apologies for that! But then I doubt you are hardly surprised seeing as this blog hasn't been updated in what feels like months, but hopefully in a week or so I will be able to show you why!

Right, anyway back to what this post is supposed to be about! This summer I went on my annual camping trip to Scotland, this year three nights, four days on a campsite in North Berwick, just outside of Edinburgh. Unlike past years this trip was more like glamping, or at least by my standards! Just picture this, a tent tall enough to actually stand up in, foldable camp beds and actual table and chairs, honestly I was practically living it grand on a Miami beach! (har har)

I did however finally get chance to try out some new goodies I'd brought in a Trespass Closing down sale. Now for anyone who isn't familiar with the Trespass brand, I personally would say its a rather 'budget' brand, or at least I have found their quality to be less superior than other competitive brands about in the market, but heck, they're certainly a good starting point!

I managed to bag myself a compact travel pillow and a super lightweight sleeping bag. Two items that I was desperately seeking. I cannot stand the tiny blow up pillows that are about, and I has been looking at the Thermarest Compression Pillows, so thought I would try this one as a budget option before committing. The pillow is about 30cm in length, and expands to about 10cm thick. It can be rolled up pretty small, provided you're willing to put in the effort to really flatten the entire thing.So how was the sleep you're asking? It was pretty good! Maybe for myself and how I sleep perhaps a little bit too small, but then you're camping, you choose your luxuries right? But for me definately a worthwhile addition to my kit!

Now the second item I got really excited about, and was a purchase of about £25, reduced from £59.99 and took much deliberation on whether or not to buy.  The deciding factors? It was the only one left on the shelf, the crazy price reduction and most importantly, its size and weight! This ultra light sleeping packs down to almost a third of the size of my current sleeping bag, and felt like it weighed next to nothing! My current sleeping bag was a Gelert 3 season bag, suitable for temperatures down to -5 degrees. But for my I couldn't stand it, the zip was not strong enough to keep zipped when I tossed in the night, and its pack away size and weight was laughable. So to find this new sleeping bag got me pretty excited to say the least! The recommended temperature zone is only to about 15 degrees, which seems pretty disappointing (and was a factor that made me almost not buy it) but to be honest it's not often I have a problem with being frozen at night, and there's always clothes for an extra layer ya'know. Because the sleeping bag is a thinner and lighter material it feels a lot more comfortable in it, I can turn in the night without the zip undoing, and it's not quite as restricting if its get twisted during the night. (we've all had that problem haven't we? oh , just me then?) I didn't find any problems that a hoodie couldn't fix, and its packaway size completely outweighs that.

Here are the links to the items in case you fancy giving them a go:

http://www.trespass.com/stuffy-kids-sleeping-bag (okay so apparently the sleeping bag is a kids one!? I literally had no idea, but heck this is a steal!!!)

http://www.trespass.com/sleepyhead-travel-pillow

Review: Trespass Compact Pillow and Lightweight Sleeping Bag

I've had these two items sat to review on my 'to-do' list for some time now, and I'm only just finding the time to sit and do it, so my apologies for that! But then I doubt you are hardly surprised seeing as this blog hasn't been updated in what feels like months, but hopefully in a week or so I will be able to show you why!

Right, anyway back to what this post is supposed to be about! This summer I went on my annual camping trip to Scotland, this year three nights, four days on a campsite in North Berwick, just outside of Edinburgh. Unlike past years this trip was more like glamping, or at least by my standards! Just picture this, a tent tall enough to actually stand up in, foldable camp beds and actual table and chairs, honestly I was practically living it grand on a Miami beach! (har har)

I did however finally get chance to try out some new goodies I'd brought in a Trespass Closing down sale. Now for anyone who isn't familiar with the Trespass brand, I personally would say its a rather 'budget' brand, or at least I have found their quality to be less superior than other competitive brands about in the market, but heck, they're certainly a good starting point!

I managed to bag myself a compact travel pillow and a super lightweight sleeping bag. Two items that I was desperately seeking. I cannot stand the tiny blow up pillows that are about, and I has been looking at the Thermarest Compression Pillows, so thought I would try this one as a budget option before committing. The pillow is about 30cm in length, and expands to about 10cm thick. It can be rolled up pretty small, provided you're willing to put in the effort to really flatten the entire thing.So how was the sleep you're asking? It was pretty good! Maybe for myself and how I sleep perhaps a little bit too small, but then you're camping, you choose your luxuries right? But for me definately a worthwhile addition to my kit!

Now the second item I got really excited about, and was a purchase of about £25, reduced from £59.99 and took much deliberation on whether or not to buy.  The deciding factors? It was the only one left on the shelf, the crazy price reduction and most importantly, its size and weight! This ultra light sleeping packs down to almost a third of the size of my current sleeping bag, and felt like it weighed next to nothing! My current sleeping bag was a Gelert 3 season bag, suitable for temperatures down to -5 degrees. But for my I couldn't stand it, the zip was not strong enough to keep zipped when I tossed in the night, and its pack away size and weight was laughable. So to find this new sleeping bag got me pretty excited to say the least! The recommended temperature zone is only to about 15 degrees, which seems pretty disappointing (and was a factor that made me almost not buy it) but to be honest it's not often I have a problem with being frozen at night, and there's always clothes for an extra layer ya'know. Because the sleeping bag is a thinner and lighter material it feels a lot more comfortable in it, I can turn in the night without the zip undoing, and it's not quite as restricting if its get twisted during the night. (we've all had that problem haven't we? oh , just me then?) I didn't find any problems that a hoodie couldn't fix, and its packaway size completely outweighs that.

Here are the links to the items in case you fancy giving them a go:

http://www.trespass.com/stuffy-kids-sleeping-bag (okay so apparently the sleeping bag is a kids one!? I literally had no idea, but heck this is a steal!!!)

http://www.trespass.com/sleepyhead-travel-pillow