Forest Discovery Day

Forestry Commission and FSC UK join forces in celebration of woods and forests  

This September, Forestry Commission England and FSC UK have joined forces to celebrate woods and responsible forestry for a tree-charged weekend of fun for all the family.

Kicking off the weekend’s festivities is FSC Friday, being held on 28 September 2012.  On FSC Friday, people are invited to consider the wood and paper products they buy and look out for the FSC logo. Events related to FSC Friday will take place around the world with organisations and supporters celebrating responsible forestry and promoting the FSC logo and what it stands for.  Each year, schools, businesses, youth groups and other organisations from across the UK and beyond get involved.  For more information on FSC Friday and how you can get involved visit www.fscfriday.org

On Sunday 30 September, the Forestry Commission will be holding its second Forest Discovery Day as sites across England join in the celebration of woods and forests. With over 20 locations open to the public, you can enjoy the opportunity to explore sites and enjoy a wide range of free activities, from meeting the Forestry Commission rangers and learning about their work, to events for children such as den making, willow weaving and guided walks.

If you’re a bird lover, then head for  Alice Holt Forest in Surrey, to see BBC Countryfile’s Jonathan Marshall host a captivating falconry display, a guaranteed thrill for all ages. Other events include horse logging demonstrations at Kielder Forest, chainsaw carvings at Cannock Chase and seed planting and art at Westonbirt, the National Arboretum.

For further information about the Forest Discovery Day, and to download a free leaflet of fun activities, go to www.forestry.gov.uk/discoveryday

Woodland Festival 2012

The Woodland Festival is billed as 'a celebration of traditional and contemporary woodland crafts' and takes place at Elvaston Castle Country Park in Derbyshire on the weekend of 22nd and 23rd September 2012.

You can sample campfire cooking, see horse loggers and chainsaw cravers at work, plus there are a number of 'have a go' events, horse rides and you can enjoy a stroll through the castle gardens as well.

Entry is free to the festival; for more details call 01332 571342 or visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside

Eco Friendly Holidays In Devon

Churchwood Valley Holiday Cabins, Wembury Bay, Plymouth, South Devon

www.churchwoodvalley.com

Churchwood Valley is a beautiful, natural wooded valley running down to the sea at Wembury Bay in South Devon. Look closely and, hidden among the lush green foliage, you'll see wooden cabins nestling on the hillside...

A haven of peace within an environmental paradise, Churchwood Valley is a few minutes' walk from a safe family beach and the South West Coast Path.

Each holiday cabin has its own plot on the hillside, surrounded by trees, flowering shrubs, hedges and rustic fences. All cabins have views across the valley, with some looking out over the water meadow or towards the sea. By moving no further than your armchair, you'll see delightful displays of bird life, and a trip to your private patio may well afford a glimpse of badgers, foxes, squirrels and other wildlife.

Find eco friendly holidays on www.wildandgreenescapes.co.uk

Fungi Foraging

Mushrooms are magic – but be careful what you pick!

The fungi season is almost here – but experts warn that you need to know your onions before going out foraging for mushrooms.

Scores of species will be sprouting forth over the autumn in Northumberland, but there’s no simple way of telling the tasty ones from those which could be dangerous.

Now the Forestry Commission has teamed up with leading experts to stage two public forages on 16 September in Kielder Water & Forest Park and two longer workshops at Kielder Castle on 29 and 30 September.

"Fungi are vital to the forest eco-system, so if you do pick them do so sparingly," said Gordon Beakes, from Newcastle University, who has studied the subject for 30 years. "The key thing is to be cautious. Some gourmet species look very similar to lethal specimens like the Death Cap. The UK has over 4,000 different species so it can be bewildering. And just because a fungus is brightly coloured doesn’t necessarily mean its poisonous.  Meanwhile the pure white Destroying Angel lives up to its name. The only way to identify them is to arm yourself with knowledge."

Fungi walks on 16 September meet at Kielder Castle at 10.30am and 2pm and cost £6 (£5 concessions/£16 family of four). 

The longer workshops (29/30 Sept) cost £25, including light lunch. Suitable for beginners and more advanced foragers alike, you will be able to sort through specimens and learn to how recognise their key features.

Booking is essential for these popular events, call 01434 250209 for details.            

Eco Holidays - Owl Barn Retreat, Shropshire

Owl Barn Retreat, Talwrn-Y-Glo, Oswestry, Shropshire

www.owlbarnretreat.com
Owl Barn Retreat is a converted barn in the heart of the Tanat Valley, a short drive from the village of Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, famous for it's waterfall.
The self catering property is adjacent to a stone cottage, surrounded by rolling hills and nature at it's very best. Many varieties of birds can be found from garden birds to birds of prey hovering above.
The property is peaceful and based in a tranquil setting. Perfect for mini breaks, hiking holidays, activity weekends and Welsh holiday breaks.

Find eco holidays on www.wildandgreenescapes.co.uk

Eco Escape On Scottish Croft

Bluebell Croft, Strontian, Ardnamurchan, Scottish Highlands

www.bluebellcroft.co.uk
Bluebell Croft offers luxury 5 star self catering in Scotland with Honeysuckle House sleeping up to 8, Rose Cottage sleeping 2-4, or as the whole house sleeping 12 in great comfort. It is separated by a huge conservatory, normally used by Honeysuckle, which leads out to the giant hot tub, described by the Sunday Times as 'the best sited hot tub in Europe', a marvellous place to relax with a wonderful mountain view or under the stars. They also said 'the cottage and food are heavenly', and 'stunningly lovely fare'.
Bill and Sukie are keen to share their life on a working croft with you and are almost self sufficient including milking a Jersey cow, keeping two pigs and lots of chooks, ducks and geese for meat and eggs. The veggie garden and poly-tunnel provide masses of fruit and vegetables in season which you can buy to produce fabulous meals with no food miles.

If you feel like a night off Sukie can leave a casserole in the Aga or supper/dinner of up to 4 courses using all the wonderful ingredients from the croft and smokehouse. She is a former Rural Chef of the Year.
Both houses share a spectacular, elevated West Coast location on Ardnamurchan, with stunning views of mountains across the Strontian glen in the West Highlands of Scotland. Well behaved dogs are welcome with care.

Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and outdoor experiences being on the doorstep of the Ariundle Oakwoods a National Nature reserve. A wind turbine provides electricity and a wood burning boiler and solar array for hot water and heat.

Sukie and Bill have recently been runners up in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards in the Green Category, come and find out why!

Find eco friendly holidays on www.wildandgreenescapes.co.uk

Bushcraft Holidays

Set in an idyllic 100 acre woodland at the heart of the National Forest, Greenwood Days is the leading centre for traditional woodland crafts and offers a wide range of craft courses for all levels of experience, from pole lathe turning, long bow making, windsor chair making to hedge laying and more.

www.greenwooddays.co.uk


Find bushcraft courses, eco friendly holidays and wildlife watching safaris on www.wildandgreenescapes.co.uk

Nature In September

Countryside in Autumn

Wildlife in September / October

At this time of year look out for:

• Deer - it's the start of the autumn rut, so listen out for roaring deer and watch the rut unfold at various locations around the UK including Richmond Park, Surrey; Thetford Forest, Norfolk/Suffolk border; many places in Scotland including Galloway Forest Park and the islands of Rum and Mull off the west coast.
• Mammals - stoats, weasels
• Badgers - look out for organised badger watch events throughout the country, some top spots include the Forestry Commission's Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire and Slad Valley in Gloucestershire.
• Beavers - try to spot these amazing creatures at Knapdale Forest, Argyll in Scotland. You might be lucky and also spot wildcats and pine martens at Knapdale.

Birds in September
There's lots of outgoing and incoming bird activity this month, visit a headland or peninsular to just sit and watch the birds in the midst of migration:

• Some birds are heading off for warmer climes with their latest youngsters in tow - think swallows, house martins
• Other birds are arriving from places like Iceland and Scandinavia to spend the winter in the UK in, what is to them, less harsh conditions
• Birds are also using the UK as a stopping off place to take a break and refuel whilst en route to the Mediterranean and Africa

Great places to try a bit of bird watching now include:

• Holyhead, South Stack Cliffs, Anglesey, North Wales
• Scilly Isles, off Cornwall
• Portland, Dorset
• Beachy Head, Sussex
• North Norfolk coast
• Spurn Head, Humberside
• Caerlaverock, Dumfries & Galloway, SW Scotland - especially the Barnacle Geese & Wild Whooper Swans from October

Flora & Hedgerows

• Berries - rowan berries, elderberries, sloes, rosehips, plus the last of the blackberries

Autumn Colours
Look out for autumn colour on the trees - this annual spectacle is expected to be early this year due to the dry, warm spring. Keep tabs on autumn colour via these websites:

• Forestry Commission Autumn Colour website
• Perthshire in Scotland - one of the best places to see autumn colours in the UK
• Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire - another top spot to catch the autumn colours