Are you just starting in the world of wildlife photography? Are you thirsty to learn how you can capture the best moments in the wild? Well, this niche can be a fascinating hobby or, better even, a full-time career! Understandably, it is one niche in photography that can be daunting for beginners. It can even be more difficult if you do not know where to turn for guidance and pointers. Fortunately, you are at the right place! We have some tips to help you get started and grow from an amateur to a pro. Get the right camera A camera is not just a camera when it comes to photography. ... read more
Interplay Pocket Microscope
For absolutely ages now Little Miss C has been obsessed with the idea of becoming an explorer and naturalist of some kind. She loves nothing more than being outdoors and hunting for insects and bugs. We have so many bug hotels situated around the garden - many of them made from old shoeboxes and other things pilfered from my recycling bin. It therefore seemed perfect to ask her to review the Pocket Microscope from Interplay. We've had handheld magnifying glasses before in various kits, but this is the first time that she's had a microscope to play with. In the box you get the microscope ... read more
Exploring nature in our back garden as a Wilko Wild Bird Blogger
I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only parent that's keen for their kids to understand and appreciate the nature that's all around us, but the thing that always amazes me is how many people overlook the nature that's right there under their noses in their own back garden. Mr C and I have always been big nature lovers and that was cemented when we bought our first home together. Instead of having a back garden we instead explored a local community nature reserve that was at the end of our street. It gave us the desire to create our own little bit of a nature paradise once we had our own back ... read more
Review: Nick Baker’s Bug Safari from Interplay
We love all things nature based in this household, so when we were asked to review the Nick Baker's Bug Safari from Interplay I just knew that it would be perfect for Little Miss C. Her dad writes at UK Nature Blog and is forever finding interesting bugs and other creatures in the garden so this was a perfect opportunity for her to do similar. So, first of all here's what you get when you unbox it: Bug tongs Tweezers Field lens Viewing pot with magnifier lid Brush Instruction booklet with insect identification details in it LMC rushed out int the garden with it all ... read more
My local oasis of calm #BetterPlaces
When Mr C and I first talked about moving to St Albans (over ten years ago now) we had a bit of a dream about buying a little house there and having a very different lifestyle. Back then we were living in a flat in north west London and it was anything but calm and peaceful there. We'd pictured a little two up two down terrace with a tiny back garden and I was already picturing being able to sit there and relax with a cold drink after a tough day at work. We started going round all the estate agents and drawing up lists of places to view, but when we did we realised that the house of ... read more
How Strong is an Ant? And other questions about bugs and insects
We're huge nature fans here in the C family - so much so that Mr C also runs UK Nature Blog when he has time - and we all enjoy getting outside as much as possible to see what we can spot. From a young age Little Miss C has been a big insect and bug fan and we've always encouraged her to see what she can spot in our own back garden. So being asked if we wanted to review How Strong Is an Ant? was a perfect opportunity to teach her a bit more about all the bugs and insects that she enjoys finding under stones and in the soil. The Good Question! books, of which this is one, are a lovely series ... read more
Fifty things to do before you’re 11 3/4!
After my recent post about how we should be allowing our children to explore the outdoors more to help them to connect with nature I was delighted to hear on the radio news this morning about the National Trust's new Fifty things to do before you're 11 3/4 campaign. If you're not seen this on today's news then let me tell you a little about the campaign. The idea is to encourage children to put down their computer games and step away from their TV sets and instead embrace the great outdoors. They have come up with a list of fifty activities for children to try with ... read more
If you go down in the woods today…
... it'll probably be quite quiet - well it is chucking it down with rain as is typical for a Bank Holiday Monday! Luckily that wasn't the case on Saturday though when The Wick was full of children all running around as part of an Easter Hunt in aid of the Woodland Trust. Instead of having to find eggs, children instead had to collect five differently coloured tokens that were distributed across the site and then they could trade them in for a chocolate treat - all for the fantastic sum of just 50p per child. As expected Little Miss C and her trusty rabbit took the ... read more
Set our children free!
You frequently hear people talking about how children of today don't play outside enough. Older generations often use the "in my day" phrases when telling of children only bothering to come home when they knew a meal would be on the table and then spending the rest of their time climbing trees and exploring for miles around where they lived. The reality is that a lot has changed since "those days". Neary every home now has a TV set and many childrens have one in the bedroom too. There are also games consoles and handheld games which children like to spend time on too. ... read more
Is it really October?
I mean really? Is my calendar wrong? Is it not July, or maybe August? Both today and yesterday we've eaten lunch in the garden, worn summer clothes and had to apply sun cream to Little Miss C. But, to top it all, this is what I found when I looked at our strawberry patch yesterday! A red strawberry, nearly ready to pick, in October! Seasonal madness! ... read more