Are you providing food for the wild birds who visit your garden this winter? We usually spend less time in our gardens during winter, but wild birds are often still visiting just as much as in the warmer months. Garden birds will be searching for food, and also water when temperatures drop low enough to freeze their usual supplies. Providing a winter food source for wild birds is a great way to support your local wildlife, and you'll also ...
Taking the RSPB Wild Challenge: trees, leaves and seeds
Have you been getting outdoors and enjoying nature this autumn? We’ve been trying to make the most of the mild weather, and enjoying all that nature has to offer at this time of year. If you read the blog regularly you’ll know that we’re partnering with RSPB on lots of fun nature projects, and this month we’ve been trying out another of their Wild Challenge activities. RSPB Wild Challenge is all about helping wildlife and connecting with the ...
Ideas for enjoying autumn outdoors with children
I just love autumn. The weather is still mild, the sunlight is at a fabulous angle, and nature is visibly changing everywhere you look. My kids love it too; it’s such a tactile time of year with all those crisp leaves, changing colours, and of course the conkers! As September marches on, I’ve been thinking about how to make the most of being outdoors with the kids as much as possible before the colder weather arrives. Autumn is such a ...
Supporting nature: the Yorkshire Fish Pass Scheme from Yorkshire Water
If you’re a regular reader of the blog you’ll know how much we love getting outdoors and enjoying nature as a family. Whether it’s exploring our amazing countryside, helping our native wildlife or just a good old stick hunt, outdoor adventures are a big part of family life for us. They’re also a brilliant way to encourage the kids to learn about and care for our environment. It’s always great to see organisations making positive changes to ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Mountain Biking with Halfords
Are you making the most of the lovely spring weather and getting active outdoors? So far this month we’ve managed some family games in the garden, a few weed-clearing sessions down at the allotment, and lots of seed planting - things are still a bit behind after all that cold weather, so we’ve got some catching up to do! One of the other family activities that we all really love to do together is bike rides. Getting everyone into the saddle ...
Taking the RSPB Wild Challenge: spotting signs of spring and sowing sunflowers
Last year we had a great time partnering with RSPB on family-friendly activities that would help to give nature a home in our garden. You might remember that we planted wildflower seeds, grew flowers for butterflies, made a frog and toad abode, grew plants for moths, and made a bird bath. It was a busy year! We’re thrilled to be working with RSPB again this year on some fun new projects. Over the next few months we’ll be bringing you more ...
Helping Britain’s bees with the Hozelock #PlantAPot campaign
You’re probably already aware that bees are in trouble, with numbers and species in quite dramatic decline. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of plants - and not just our pretty garden plants, but also food crops. About a third of the food that we eat relies on bees for pollination, so the fact that they’re struggling is a really serious issue. The good news is that we can all help bees thrive in our gardens and outdoor spaces, by ...
Giving nature a home in our garden: sowing wildflowers
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll be aware that we’re joining forces with the RSPB 'Give nature a home in your garden' campaign. With 60% of the UK’s wildlife species seeing decline over the last fifty years, the campaign aims to encourage us all to take small, achievable steps to help nature in our own green spaces. We’re going to be sharing our experiences as we try out lots of fun family activities to make a home for nature ...
Giving nature a home in our garden: making a bird bath
Throughout this year we've been partnering with RSPB to support their ‘Give nature a home in your garden’ campaign. 60% of the UK’s wildlife species have seen a decline over the last fifty years, and the RSPB campaign aims to encourage us all to take small, achievable steps to help nature in our own green spaces. We've been having a go at some of RSPB's nature gardening activities to help support local wildlife in our garden and allotment, ...
Garden tips for creating a winter wildlife haven
Is your garden a winter wildlife haven? We tend to spend a lot less time in our gardens during winter, but that isn’t necessarily the case for our local wildlife. As well as visiting your garden in search of food, wildlife will also use it as a place to hibernate during the colder months if you’re providing the right conditions. If you’d like to make your garden wildlife-friendly this season, check out this fab infographic from Oeco Garden ...