22/07 UPDATE: The following was written last week but the op is now done and recovery is in progress!
Happy Summer Solstice to one and all! The longest day and a time when nature is at its most abundant: the trees are all lush; the flowers abundant; insects plentiful by day and by night; lots of youngsters afoot: roe fawns, badger and fox cubs, stoat and weasel kits, bunnies; not to mention the myriad of fledgling birds about.
Hello Friends,
I hope that Spring has sprung with you all and that you have accessed the great outdoors to celebrate!
I was very happy to be featured in the local VantagePoint magazine last month – the pages are reproduced here for your interest.
Dear Friends,
March on the Weald clay can seem a long month – the soil remains wet and cold and correspondingly some of the spring growth (especially in the vegetable garden!) is a little behind our neighbours on the higher, drier and warmer Greensand.
Nonetheless, nature marches on, driven by the increased length of daylight and the birds are well into forming breeding pairs.
Firstly a big welcome to 2022 and a big thank you for following Jonnie Taylor Walks and/or the Father Nature hq Podcast! I genuinely feel so lucky to be able to share my passion for the natural world and sustainable solutions with you all.
Here’s a unique gift for a loved one that will last longer than cut flowers and will be healthier than chocolate! Celebrate the day with a lovely walk to see how this date is so relevant for nature plus learn a few anecdotes about the history of this celebration!
Happy New Year to you and many, many thanks for purchasing gift vouchers for your Countryside activity with Jonnie Taylor. As you are only too well aware, we enter 2021 still unable to shrug off the wretched pandemic which is still wreaking havoc. I’m pinning my hopes that a little longer adhering to social isolation alongside the vaccination roll-out will see happier times ahead.
If you are shying away from traditional Christmas shopping this year, or you know somebody who is particularly “difficult” to buy for, then maybe give them a gift of an experience!! I like to think that the joy of a new experience lives with us for far longer than the average materialistic present!
This year I am offering 3 different vouchers: one at £50 for a day experiencing either birdwatching, foraging, bushcraft, survival practice or Nature Connection; another voucher is for £20 which will buy a Nature Ramble experience and finally, another £20 voucher which buys a wonderful foraging experience with myself and mushroom maestro, Paulo.
Whilst continuing with activities focussed on wildlife, foraging, bushcraft etc, I am, as promised, developing a full program of walks and activities geared towards the great outdoors and wellbeing. My emphasis is on preserving and enhancing robust mental health rather than claiming to treat established conditions.
Like everybody else, I’m feeling that the last 6 months or so have been the weirdest on record! The Covid pandemic has affected literally every aspect of human society – but I’m interested in two main issues: how has the natural world been affected? And secondly, have there been some positive learning factors to be gleaned from this experience?
The fieldfares and redwings have migrated in from Northern climes and are now feasting on wild berries and orchard windfalls. A true sign that Yule celebrations are nearly here and the wonderful news (for S.A.D. sufferers) that the Winter Solstice will soon see day light duration creeping up …… whatever the weather …. and Spring is on its way!