Monday 1 June 2015

Visit a Local Nature Reserve

Today is the first day of 30 Days Wild, the campaign from the Wildlife Trusts that aims to get people out into nature more.

I'll be blogging something for this campaign every day this month. Often these blog posts will be about things I do anyway in my life, other times I'll try to focus on very specific things. I'll be particularly trying to find nature in unexpected places and to look at the beauty of the very common.

Today, I decided to 'Visit a Local Nature Reserve'. Colinton Dell, the part of the Water of Leith that I patrol as a volunteer with Water of Leith Conservation Trust is a Local Nature Reserve. So this is in fact something I do every week, but it's always worth blogging about, there's always something lovely to see.

Colinton Dell is a mass of buttercups at the moment


There's also a lot of water avens around at the moment and for the first time ever I got decent photos of this beautiful flower, even with added bumble bee!


I didn't get photos of any of the birds. I had a wonderful close encounter with a mistle thrush, which landed on a mossy wall and walked towards me before flying onto the ground to gather food for its young. Elsewhere I watched four long tailed tits chasing each other round and round and round and round!

I was struck by the beauty of these dandelions just losing their seeds


while this one is still in bud!


Have you signed up for 30 Days Wild? 

As ever, red text contains hyperlinks that take you to other webpages where you can find out more.


13 comments:

eileeninmd said...

The flowers are pretty! Looks like a lovely nature reserve. Great photos. Enjoy your Monday and have a happy week ahead!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Buttercups are dominating the meadows this year...good year for forget me not and celandine so far!

There's been some beautiful golden fields this year.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thanks eileen!

Simon, you're right, the celandines have been amazing this year.

TexWisGirl said...

water avens are new to me!

Ian Doyle said...

Nice photos Juliet. Visiting a nature reserve, what a great way to start your challenge. It looks a very nice place.

Pietro Brosio said...

What a peaceful green, all very nice pictures!

Anonymous said...

Great way to spend 30 days - love the bumblebee (are they endangered in your neck of the woods?)

Dartford Warbler said...

I think every day is wild here!
The water avens is lovely. We have a lot of wood avens in the garden, which has crept in from the woodland outside.

Crafty Green Poet said...

TexWis - you may not get them over there!

Ian - thanks, it's a lovely place

Gabrielle - yes our bees are in trouble too

Sartford Warbler - every day is wild for me too, but this is a great way to share that!

Laura said...

I love your photos, wildflowers are my favorite of all, they are beautiful survivors and thrivers.

Bill said...

I'm moving backwards through you recent posts, which means I've already read the one about lunch in the park. Some days, dear Juliet, visiting your blog is the next best thing.

Rambling Woods said...

What a great idea..!

Rambling Woods said...

You always share the best of your area and what a beautiful place to visit via your blog...Michelle