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Category: out and about

Seasonal observations, what to see in nature when out and about, environmental matters.

Barley-Field-ready-for-harvest

Harvest 2022 – one to remember

Posted on 25/08/202225/08/2022 by Alan

Harvest 2022 and a stressful year Harvest 2022 is an unprecedentedly early harvest, and would ordinarily be the only feature of a year like this. However, this has been an extraordinary year in so many other ways. The price of fuel, fertiliser, and other inputs has increased almost exponentially. Labour supply for some has also…

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Stanley with a large stick. Photo by Dean Edwards

Maybe I was a dog in a past life

Posted on 09/12/202114/01/2022 by Alan

It does make me wonder sometimes. I like to be outside and go for walkies and am always on the lookout for the next stick. Don`t know how I am going to get it home or what to do with it when I get it there, but I want it. Most end up on the…

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Stockbridge Down

Stockbridge Down, a beautiful grassland site for rare wildflowers, butterflies, and moths

Posted on 28/09/202128/09/2021 by Alan

Stockbridge Down is one of my favourite local nature reserves. There are amazing views of farmland and villages below with soaring red kites and buzzards above and greater for rare wildflowers, butterflies and moths. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), managed by The National Trust as a grassland site for rare…

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Devizes Pie competition

DEVIZES IS LOOKING FOR A NEW PIE!

Posted on 09/09/202111/11/2021 by Alan

Devizes Pie was a local speciality for hundreds of years, an ancient version of the recipe written in Old English. The Devizes Food and Drink Festival think it is about time Devizes has a new pie and a competition is being run to discover the new pie.

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Wander around a beautiful garden

The Wonders of a Wander seize your right to roam

Posted on 28/07/202130/07/2021 by Alan

I love walking. I love being out and about, seeing, touching, smelling, listening, getting the air and exploring. However, sometimes life and your brain get in the way. Sometimes we need to just get out there, enjoy that Wonders of a Wander, but our head might get in the way. I explore this and the…

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Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)

Rodborough Common, a herb-rich limestone grassland, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and owned by the National Trust

Posted on 01/07/202121/11/2021 by Alan

Rodborough Common is a 116-hectare site situated on the outskirts of Stroud, Gloucestershire. The site is now owned by The National Trust and was cited as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1954. The site is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), in part because of its herb-rich limestone grassland. The common…

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Burnet Companion Moth - Euclidia glyphica

Harmony Woods – a new community woodland

Posted on 03/06/202103/06/2021 by Alan

Harmony Woods is part of the Jubilee Woods complex found on Augusta Park. The project to create a new community woodland was started in 2012 by Andover Trees United. The ‘woodland’ has been planted using mainly deciduous native trees by school children and other community volunteers. The plan for the woodland is to have woodland…

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Wild garlic in the woods

Wild garlic – Seasonal foraging and food

Posted on 14/03/202121/11/2021 by Alan

Last spring, like most of us during the lockdown, I did a lot of exploring in my local area. While wandering through the woodlands and coppices I had discovered on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, I came across loads of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) growing on the forest floors. That was when I first decided to pick…

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A lovely hedge

Hedge cutting: when and how to do it – some balance.

Posted on 09/03/202123/03/2021 by Alan

There is a lot of outrage over hedge cutting. This gives me so much hope, as it shows a level of emotional investment in these wonderful habitats. Often, this frustration is justified, but sometimes it’s a little misplaced. Let’s have a closer look…….. Is it natural to cut a hedge? I often hear that it…

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View across countryside

Want to Blog – but don’t want the admin?

Posted on 16/02/202114/03/2021 by Alan

Want to try to write something? Passionate, or got something to say? This might be the place for you. Read on. We are looking for people that would like an opportunity to write for this site. Anything from regular features to irregular features, one-off articles, or a sub-section of this site. Any subject you like…

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Useful links

Almanac Stock Photo’s

Tide Times

Weather Forecast (Metcheck)

Shipping Forecast

NFU Online

UK Bank Holidays

Calendar of Traditional Events

Visit Britain – events 2023

UK Music Festivals

National Trust

English Heritage

CADW – Welsh Heritage

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

RHS

Ramblers

Canal and River Trust

YHA

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