Free Countryfile Podcasts

The team behind Countryfile (Magazine & TV programme) are putting together a free monthly podcast on all matter of countryside and nature news and views.

Some current podcasts include:
*How to wassail
*Matt Baker on training sheep dogs
* Plus the Springwatch team on rabbits, bats and much more

To watch/ download the podcasts ( or subscribe to them, free of charge) head to: http://www.countryfile.com/podcasts?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=NLT_CFIL_29-06-2012_GE

Special Offers For July @ Burnbrae Hols, Scotland

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR JULY 2012:

* Thairn Cottage, available July14-21 now £392 for 7 nights. Please enquire for shorter stays.
* Begrum Cottage, available July 14-19, 5 nights now £350; July 22-26, 4 nights now £320.

Please call Yvette on 01573 225570 for details or to book.
Burnbrae Holidays, Burnbrae Mill, Nenthorn, Kelso , Scottish Borders. TD5 7RYwww.burnbraehol.co.uk
Burnbrae offer eco friendly cottages in a peaceful spot in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The site is surrounded by agricultural land but is no longer a working farm. There are 3, four star cottages which were converted from a stone barn. The south facing conservatory in each cottage has views across the secluded garden, Eden Water and across the border between Scotland and England to the Cheviot Hills.

It is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts to relax and view a wide variety of native wildlife. The fields and banks of the Eden Water can be explored directly from your cottage.

The proprietors' time and other resources are devoted to ensuring that guests have an idyllic experience in the Scottish Borders. They live on the site and are pleased to help guests with information and other assistance.

PV solar panels on site provide electricity. The owners grow their our own wood for the wood burning stove in each living room and aim to ensure that the overall effect of the business activities enhances the local environment, and has minimal detrimental impact on the wider environment, including impact on the availability of resources in the future. As evidence of their success in this they hold the gold award under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Find eco friendly cottages on Wild & Green Escapes

Eco Friendly Cottages

Martin Lane Farmhouse Holiday Cottages,  Burscough, Lancs
www.martinlanefarmhouse.btinternet.co.uk
Four eco friendly award winning country cottages nestled in the heart of the West Lancashire countryside. Easy walking and cycling terrain, and just 2 miles from Martin Mere Wildfowl Trust. The owners use all eco friendly cleaning products and complimentary toiletries. They also harvest rainwater to re-use and all electrical appliances are 'A' rated. They have their own free range hens to provide, they think, the best eggs ever!

Find eco friendly cottages on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Wildlife & Nature Holidays in Scotland

Wild At Heart, Forres, Moray, Scotland

Special offer -family holidays

www.wildatheart-ecoholidays.com

Wild At Heart offer unique wildlife watching and natural history breaks, volunteering holidays, nature retreats and family holidays, located in the stunning and unspoilt region of Moray Speyside, near the Scottish Highland capital of Inverness and based in beautiful eco-friendly accommodation.
Stay in a Victorian mansion run as a sustainable community. Try glamorous camping in huge, comfortably outfitted canvas ‘bell tents’, or choose from self catering wooden lodges or a 4 star country inn.

Fantastic range of short breaks and longer holidays. Activities include dolphin, seal and bird watching with expert wildlife biologist; or go a little Ray Mears with some campfire building, shelter making and wildlife tracking; release your inner child with tide-pooling & beach art or games; or enjoy reflective or creative time with nature writing and journaling, felting and willow weaving.

You are also welcome to join  in volunteering in the organic kitchen or gardens at  Newbold House - a centre for sustainability education, workshops and retreats. Locally there are opportunities for walking, river rafting, horse riding, visiting the Cairngorm National Park and mountains, monster hunting at nearby Loch Ness, visiting famous single malt whisky distilleries or learning about sustainable living at the Findhorn Foundation, a world famous eco-village and community.

Find eco friendly holidays on Wild & Green Escapes

Summer Special: £75 off Adults & £35 off Children during August .

Derbyshire Eco Centre

If you fancy learning more about wildlife, nature and country skills in an eco friendly environment then you might be interested in booking yourself onto a course or workshop at the Eco Centre near Cromford and Wirksworth in Derbyshire.

The 1 day courses offer great value (between £11 and £38) and topics include things like Tree Identification, Fungi Forays, Wildflower Identification, Intro to Derbyshire's Mammals and The Wildlife of the Derbyshire Dales.

Find out more at: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ecocentre

Find eco friendly holidays on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Wildlife Watching With The Experts - Wild North Discovery

Wild North Discovery, Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope, Co. Durham
www.natureholiday.co.uk

From ospreys, bottle-nosed dolphins and red deer to badger watching, wildlife tracking in woodlands or watching magnificent black grouse, merlin and short-eared owls, based in the North Pennines and North West Highlands, Wild North Discovery activities are designed to get you close to wildlife.
The activities range from half a day to a full week and can be booked for two or more people.

Find wildlife watching and bushcraft holidays on Wild & Green Escapes

Nature In July

Wildlife In July

This month look out for:

• Bats
• Whales and dolphins, especially off the west coast
• Butterflies & dragonflies
• Snakes basking in the sun

Birds In July

• Sea bird colonies - great time to visit, there's still plenty going on
• It's quieter this month as there's a noticeable reduction in bird song with breeding season and summer having passed their peak…
• Birds of prey and their young especially common buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks
• Young tawny owls
• Yellowhammers & stonechat
• At the coast - choughs
• Moving south this month - lapwings

Flora In July

• Heather in bloom until August
• Gorse is flowering at its peak this month
• Yellow rattle
• Round- headed rampion
• At the coast - sea holly, sea campion, sea kale
• Elderflowers
• Foxgloves
• Poppies
• Wild orchids

Find eco friendly, nature and wildlife holidays, plus wildlife watching ideas on the Wild & Green Escapes website