Orston is a rural village surrounded by arable fields and pasture. The river Smite skirts the western edge and greatly increases the biodiversity. The Millennium Green is also to the west, on Smite Lane, it’s a green space that is managed for the enjoyment of our human residents and is a haven for a host of flora and fauna.
The best way to experience the wildlife of the area is a (roughly) 2-mile
Orston Nature Walk
taking in most of habitats the village has to offer.
Follow my blog below to learn more about our local environment.
Dawn Chorus Bird Walk
Orston Millennium Green
Saturday 10th May
Meet at 5am for a guided walk around the Millennium Green to experience this annual natural spectacle – The Dawn Chorus!
Replanting Church Wall Flowerbed
As part of the plan to increase the sustainability of the village I have been asked to design a new planting scheme for the flower bed in front of the church wall. The design will increase the biodiversity of the area, utilise native plants grown by a local flower farm and be a wonderful focal […]
Lunchtime musings from a flower farm
I was sitting outside having my lunch, making the most of the autumn sunshine, watching the finches feed on the sunflower seeds and listening to the crickets chirruping in the grass. After lunch I was about to head back to my task in hand when I felt the urge to go the long way around […]
Spring
Spring is a time for renewal, welcoming back old friends that disappeared over winter, reminding us of the circular nature of existence. The warblers have arrived and are singing from the treetops. The swallows and martins too have started to make an appearance in our skies. The blossom is out on our trees and hedges, […]
One Man and His Dog
I lost a dear friend and companion this week. I owe him a massive thank you for our walks together over the past 14 years. We’ve had some grand adventures in The Lakes and Peaks but it will be my daily walks over the same old patch that I treasure the most. Getting to know […]
Making a New Year’s resolution
Making a New Year’s resolution can be a daunting task – get fitter, help the environment, find a fulfilling hobby, make new friends… the list goes on. But how do we achieve these goals and do we have the will power to see it past the end of the month? Joining a gym can be […]
Winter can be a tough time for some people
The dark nights seem never ending and access to our beautiful surroundings can feel inaccessible due to work or life commitments. It’s nights like these that help bring the community together and shed a little light on our lives. Another way to banish the SAD winter blues is to take a walk at lunchtime – […]
Going Green …
There’s a lot of pressure to Be Green. Look after the Environment. Save the Planet. With lots of advice, scare mongering and guilt-inducing media hype. Eat less meat; reduce your use of fossil fuels; cut down on plastic. But I feel that this is the wrong approach and can lead to apathy – where to […]
Sharing is Caring
My wildlife wanderings are generally a solitary pursuit – it allows me time to reconnect and immerse myself in the sights and sounds that I encounter. However some of my most rewarding walks are when I share it with others – my guided bird walks or trips out with friends and our families. Recently a […]
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Midsummer, it was forecast to rain all day but it turned out nice. I tidied the house, got some dinner and then headed out for a walk to celebrate the solstice and watch the sun set. I made my way around my usual route and mindfully meandered – taking in the sights and sounds. It […]
Apps
iNaturalist is an identification app for all living beings. You take a photo or a sound recording and the database makes suitable suggestions based on your location. Your sighting is then uploaded onto their database and then open to the wider community- specialist can then verify your sighting , or correct it, once you get three positive IDs it becomes research grade and helps build a picture of the local ecosystem. The app is free but you can make a donation of your choice if you value their work.
Merlin Bird ID uses algorithms to identify bird species by photo or sound. The sound function is extremely accurate and sensitive so can handle the dawn chorus easily- picking out each individual bird from the cacophony. You can build your own life list, and there are additional sound recordings so you can play back either the song, contact and alarm calls to build your song ID skills
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