Wildlife Events

Join A Bat Walk

The Welsh Wildlife Centre at Cilgerran, South Wales is hosting a Bat Walk on Tuesday 2nd August at 8.30pm. Go along and learn more about these fascinating creatures before joining a guided walk on which you can have a go at spotting bats yourself- bring a torch!

£3 per person. Book your place(s) by calling 01239 621600 or email: wwc@welshwildlife.org

Wildlfe Events

Wildlife Events @ Brownsea
The National Trust's Brownsea Island, located in Poole Harbour, Dorset, is hosting a range of nature and wildlife events in August and September.

Events include:

Nature Detective Trail - through until 4 September
Habitat Scavenger Hunt - 3 August
Bugs, Slugs & Creepy Crawlies -10 August
Minibeast Safari - 4 dates in mid August
Heathland Walk - 14 August & 18 September


Don't forget that Brownsea is also home to red squirrels and lots of different birdlife too- perfect for a wildlife spotting day trip.

Find out more about Brownsea and these events via the National Trust's webpages

Eco Friendly Devon Barns

Cranberries Luxury Hideaways, Hills Farm, Kilmington, Devon

Five, recently converted, 18th Century stone barns, providing 5 star luxury accommodation and sporting the ultimate in green credentials.

The five barns at Cranberries range from: a luxury 1 bedroom through to a lavish 6 bedroom residence, each one individually designed and furnished to ensure every comfort and convenience; available for rent as self -catering holidays, themed weekends, pampering breaks or for private corporate accommodation and activities all year round.

More details on this eco friendly holiday via the Wild & Green Escapes website

Eco Friendly Scottish Cottage

Stonehill Cottage, Stonehill Farm, Crawfordjohn, Biggar, South Lanarkshire

Self catering holiday cottage set on working hill farm in Scotland's Duneaton Valley. Located within a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area with areas of Special Scientific Interest, which sustains a wealth of bird and wildlife habitats. The cottage has a silver award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme and the owners are committed to sustainability.

From the south facing conservatory there are panoramic views of the open countryside. You can spot a fantastic variety of birds at different times throughout the year without leaving your armchair!

More details on this and many other eco friendly & wildlife friendly holidays can be found via the Wild & Green Escapes website

 

Seasonal Country Watch

Berry Time

According to the Woodland Trust people have spotted the blackthorn sloes ripening as well as dog rosehips ripening ... Wild & Green has also spotted wild raspberries and ripening blackberries in the last week.

Where to find all these wild delights? Check hedgerows, scrubland and woodland when you're next enjoying a countryside stroll.

The Woodland Trust has put together a free downloadable 'Hedgerow Tipples' fact pack which includes how to make:

• blackberry brandy
• slow gin
• rosehip liqueur
• hawthorn schnapps

For more details go to the Woodland Trust website

Eco Friendly Cottage Offers Peace & Quiet

Coillabus Cottage, Mull of Oa, Isle of Islay
Enjoy a real escape from it all holiday in this very special cottage located in a beautiful secluded spot at the heart of a working hill farm.

With ever-changing views over grass, heather and sea to Kintyre and Ireland, no wonder many guests just stay put and enjoy the peaceful surroundings or trying to spot the Oa's resident Golden Eagles from the garden. From Coillabus you can walk undisturbed for miles in any direction, discovering hidden bays, lochs and cliff-top paths.

Coillabus Cottage is the ideal base to experience the wildlife of the Oa as seen on BBC 2's recent springwatch series, plus they are commited to providing environmentaly friendly holidays.

More details via Wild & Green Escapes website

Eco Friendly B&B In Scenic Vale

Woodside B&B, Barkestone-le-Vale, Vale of Belvoir

Smartly appointed bedrooms, award winning hospitality, peace and quiet and many thoughtful extras ensure a delightful stay at this pretty B&B. Uniquely located on the Belvoir Castle Estate in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir, Woodside Farm is the ideal countryside retreat for you to unwind and revitalize.

For those wishing to explore, footpaths link to Belvoir Castle, Redmile, Barkestone-le-vale and the Grantham to Nottingham Canal towpath.

More information via the Wild & Green Escapes website

See Goshawks In Wales

Goshawks @ Cwmcarn Forest, Wales

If you'd love to see goshawks this summer then head to Cwmcarn Forest near Newport, South Wales before Sunday 28th August.

You'll be able to view live footage of these fascinating birds taken by the top- secret nest cam.

The camera footage can be viewed at the forest visitor centre between 10am and 4 pm daily - free of charge - and there will be volunteers and centre staff on hand to explain all about the birds as they go about their daily lives.

For more information call 02920 353276 or email: laura.reynolds@rspb.org.uk

Big Butterfly Count - Are You Joining In?

It's Big Butterfly Count Time

Butterfly Conservation are again running the Big Butterfly Count this year. If you'd like to get involved and help them to record butterfly species around the UK then all you have to do is spend 15 minutes sitting in a sunny spot and record details of any butterfly sightings during this time.

The Big Butterfly Count runs until 31st July and you can download a butterfly identification chart and learn how to submit your findings via the Big Butterfly Count website.

Seasonal Wildlife Watch

Swifts On Move

According to The Woodland Trust swifts have been spotted preparing to leave the UK for warmer climes (with the recent cool, wet & windy weather who can blame them?)

Nature's Calender are asking people to let them know if they spot swifts leaving in their areas.

Details on how to record your sighting can be found on http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/

More details on the swift can be found at:
http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/wildlife/factfiles/birds/swift.htm

From the Forestry Commission:

Ancient Wood Restoration On Track

The Forestry Commission has unveiled a £76,000 grant to speed the restoration of 76 hectares ( 190 acres) of ancient woodland in Country Durham.

The money has been allocated to the Croxdale Estate on the outskirts of Durham City, where a long term scheme is underway to remove conifers to allow native species like oak and rowan to thrive. Much of the wood - owned by the Salvin family since the 15th century and located in a registered Historic Park and a Conservation Area  - is planted on steep terrain, which plunges down to the River Wear, making felling and extraction work extremely difficult. 

Richard Pow, Forestry Commission Grants and Regulations Manager, said: “We’ve backed this scheme to enable this valuable woodland to be gradually transformed so that it is once again dominated by native tree species. There are wonderful examples of ancient woods being restored in the North East, but it is a long term job requiring careful management."

Species to get a major boost from the work at Croxdale include locally declining birds like redstart and spotted flycatcher and ancient woodland flora such as bluebells and wood anemone. 

Woods are said to be ancient if they are marked on the earliest reliable maps, which date to the early 1600s. The North East has 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of such woodland, one third of which has been re-planted to varying degrees by non-native trees like pines, spruce and larch. 

Wildlife watching In Scotland

Glen Loy Wildlife, Banavie, Fort William

Glenloy Wildlife offers wildlife holidays in the majestic Lochaber region of the West Highlands of Scotland. Based in scenic Glen Loy, some 7 miles from Fort William, you will be treated to comfortable and cosy accommodation in Glenloy Lodge, with all meals and transport provided during your stay.

You can explore the many habitats in the area, which include woodlands, pinewood, rivers, lochs and coast. Wildlife in the area includes red deer, pine marten, black grouse, golden and sea eagle as well as more elusive species such as otter, basking shark, whale and wildcat.

Special Family Activity week 30th July to 6th August.

More info on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Free Wildlife Walks

July Walks - Discover Trees, Wildlife & Flowers

The Salmon Viewing Centre on the Philiphaugh Estate near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders runs free themed guided walks around parts of the country estate most Wednesdays.

The walks in July include:

20 July Remarkable Trees
27 July Wildlife Walk inc summer plants and flowers

The walks last approx 1 hour, are free of charge and start at 1pm from the Waterwheel Cafe at the Salmon Viewing Centre.

More info from the Salmon Viewing Centre website

Eco Friendly Holidays In Wales

Dwr Y Felin Log Cabins, New Mill Farm, Carno, Powys

Three log holiday homes constructed from sustainably sourced silver pine, hand crafted and furnished to a very high standard and set on a working family farm in Wales.

Ground source heating runs alongside solar panels, clean water sewage system, low energy light bulbs and recycling facilities making these cabins an eco-haven.

More info from Wild & Green Escapes website

Wildlife Watching Events

Wildlife Walk

Galloway Forest, Dumfries & Galloway is hosting a wide variety of walks and activities this summer including:

* Wildlife Walk - join the forest ranger for a guided walk, discussing landscape and wildlife on the afternoon of Sunday 17th July.

Booking required, £5 per person including refreshments.

More info from the Galloway Forest webpage

Eco Friendly Holiday Accommodation

Sparrow Hall Cottages, Scrayingham, Yorkshire

Set in the midst of rolling Yorkshire countryside on a working farm Sparrow Hall Cottages offer a delightful retreat away from it all, yet within easy reach of York (10 miles) and the Yorkshire moors, wolds and coast.

Sparrow Hall holds a Green Tourism Business Scheme silver award and there is a good selection of local wildlife usually on view around the cottages.

More info via Wild & Green Escapes

Eco Friendly Holiday Accommodation

Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington, Matlock, Derbyshire

Four award winning cosy self catering log cabins set on a working farm on the edge of the Peak District, Derbyshire. Hoe Grange Holidays offers a real "home from home", with superb views, fully equipped kitchen/open plan lounge, luxurious whirlpool bath and spacious bedrooms for up to 18 guests.
Proud holders of the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award and the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark, awarded for use of local produce, energy-efficiency, and nature conservation.

More info on the Wild & Green website

Eco Friendly Holidays

Going Green, Staying Green, On Holiday

Ever wondered what makes a holiday green? How do you manage to be a responsible tourist when on your holidays?

Find out with Wild & Green Escapes

Events

Wildflower Walk

Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is running  a varied programme of events this summer and has a guided walk looking at wildflowers taking place on Tuesday 12th July between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

More details from the Westonbirt page on the Forestry Commission website.

Wild & Green In July

Wildlife Watch July

Wild & Green has updated its website with details of what to look out for in the countryside and at the coast for the month of July.

So if you're out and about doing a bit of wildlife watching this month then have a look at Wild & Green for some July outdoors inspiration- from birds to wild flowers and animals to coastal creatures.

More info here

Wildlife Watching Inspiration

Enjoy A Wild & Green Escape This Summer

More and more of us are exploring the flora and fauna of the UK these days and if you're looking for where to go, what to do and what to spot then Wild & Green has plenty of ideas including:

* Wildlife Events Calender
* Nature Watch - what to look out for each month: birds, animals, flowers
* Our Top UK Wildlife Spots

Find out more by visiting Wild & Green and selecting 'Inspirational Ideas'