Copied and pasted from a wildlife expert on another page.
Hello everyone, I was on a zoom with a local wildlife expert yesterday and found what she said so alarming that I asked her to put some words together so I could post them. Here they are, please share widely;
‘The thing that’s happening this year is unlike other years. Everything is in deep trouble. The cold wet, April, May and dry but cold June has meant that birds that would normally be done with both and first and second broods have had to start all over again as their babies in some cases starved as insects didn’t hatch or caterpillars (vital food for most baby birds) got washed off the vegetation.
Normally it is okay to cut hedges in mid/late July and to cut meadows in higher level stewardship agreements at a similar time.
Last week I watched a spotted flycatcher feeding new fledged babies. Today I saw a yellowhammer that was clearly feeding nestlings. I keep seeing many species of birds defending nests and carrying food for young (some fledged, some not). As for bats, everyone I speak to who is aware of bats is not seeing them. It is a catastrophe. Insect numbers have fallen off a cliff this year. We need to respond by protecting as much cover and quiet space as possible. All birds need to sit quiet and have plenty of cover through August when they are moulting – which is why this is the silent month. They need as little disturbance as possible’.
Archive for the ‘gratitude’ Category
Stop killing insects
Posted in around the UK, gratitude, Health, lifestyle, other peoples blog, tagged buttercups, chemicals to kill insects, chemicals to kill weeds, clover, dandelions, destruction of natural world, destruction of nature, in the garden, insecticide, insects, pristine lawns, save our bees, save our birds, wildlife on July 24, 2024| 1 Comment »
Be kind. Be grateful.
Posted in gratitude, tagged refugees on June 25, 2023| 2 Comments »
I met a man yesterday afternoon. A man who studied to be a solicitor. He worked for the UN. He worked to help refugees. He was articulate and intelligent, with way more qualifications than I. We chatted on our 30 minute journey to the station, and bemoaned the terrible reasons why people had to flee their homelands, reluctantly, with fear, and in the knowledge that they might never see their homes, homelands or families left behind, ever again. He has no family here.
He is a taxi driver. He has light brown skin. He is from Iraq. He has experienced horrible racism from British people, both white and coloured. He longs to be working in law again, but is unable to afford the fees required to study and pass the relevant exams etc.
So he drives people around, some of whom openly say “why do all these refugees keep coming here?”
I have no idea how to express my anger at people who live in what is currently a safe country, a wealthy country, a country that, along with many other European countries, which through colonialism, greed; acquisition of minerals, gold, oil and much more, have caused many of the problems in foreign lands from whence these refugees now flee – and still do.
The majority of refugees would rather have stayed in their country of birth, with their families, in their own homes and cultures.
If you can’t be kind, or understanding, then just shut up and don’t show your ignorance, lack of understanding or compassion.
Yes we have problems here, the cost of living is high, more children are living in poverty than is acceptable in a wealthy country, the government is hell-bent on destroying our NHS, we’re taxed into the ground, and have a party in control who are more interested in fleecing their citizens than ensuring their well-being BUT we’re not being persecuted for our religion, or restricted because we are women, hunted down for our sexual choices and killed for not being ‘straight’, or bombed out of our homes. Yet.
If you meet a refugee, try to remember how privileged you are, and be kind, because you have not walked in their shoes.
Is it too late?
Posted in around the UK, conqueror challenges, Fun Stuff, gratitude, It's my life, Travel, tagged conqueror virtual challenges 2021, conqueror virtual challenges 2022, happy new year, walking on January 14, 2022| 11 Comments »
To say Happy New Year 😁😁😁
I’ve been awfully slack these last few months and after my computer kicked the bucket I simply did not have the will to write up a post using one finger 🙃 🤪🤪
So yeah. Thought I’d better at least get one post up before you’ll think I’ve done a runner 😁😁🚶🏼♀️🚶🏼♀️
I’m hoping to buy a new (refurbished) machine soon and then I can get back to writing.
I’m pleased to say I made my walking target of 3200kms for 2021, although it was very tough going the last few weeks of 2021 and my daily targets were exhausting, but I did it 👏👏👏
I’ve set a lower target of 2022kms for 2022…give my body a break 🙃
Wishing you all a happy, safe, healthy, wonderful New Year for 2022
Sunrise on the Isle of Thanet
Posted in conqueror challenges, england coast path, gratitude, Health, Inspiration, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, seaside towns of Britain, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2021, tagged conqueror virtual challenges 2021, isle of thanet, sunrise, walking on November 15, 2021| 2 Comments »
I’ve taken to getting up at 6am after my last booking where I was required to be on duty by 7am. I’m not an early morning person, but it’s been quite useful for getting my kms in.
I reset my 2021 goal to 3200kms from 2600kms at the end of September in a moment of sheer insanity.
I reached my original goal a few days ago, 7 weeks ahead of schedule.
So now I’m walking my feet off to reach my new goal by 31st December.
The benefit, besides keeping walking fit, is that occasionally I see a stunning sunrise
Not all mornings are as glorious, but when they are, it’s a real treat
Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries
Posted in family and relationships, Fun Stuff, gratitude, It's my life, memories of days gone by, Travel, tagged celebrating significant birthdays, family and relationships, family fun, travel to ireland, visiting Ireland on September 23, 2021| 6 Comments »
Midway through my walk along Hadrian’s Wall I got a message from my brother-in-law to say that he was treating my sister to a trip to Ireland for her 50th birthday 🎂 🥳 Hoorah! And would I be able to join them? Would I just!!! ☺☺
This is a significant birthday and definitely needs to be celebrated in outstanding fashion.
It’s kind of a circle too; it will be 20 years since I flew to Ireland from South Africa to celebrate her 30th birthday …. a journey that changed the course of my life and ultimately my daughter’s life too.
Now they’re flying over from South Africa and I’m flying from the UK.
Isn’t it interesting, the many twists and turns of life, and how an action you take one day/month/year can have unexpected consequences.
I’m delighted and really excited to see them again – it’s been 5 years since I was last in SA, and with Covid-19 I had no plans to travel there for the foreseeable future…mostly because SA is still on the UK’s ‘red list’ and I would have had to quarantine for 2 weeks on my return at an extortionate cost in a hotel room.
But it seems that Ireland has less draconian and inwardlooking rules than the UK and you can visit as long as you’re vaccinated.
So it was with much excitement that I booked my flight to Ireland and on 7th October we will be meeting in Dublin, along with my daughter, son-in-law and grandson to celebrate my sister’s 50th and tag on the 20th anniversary 😀 of my new life in the northern hemisphere. Although 50 beats 20 any day 😁😁
It’s with much excitement that I’m counting the days. ☺ 🗓
Day 17 and Day 8
Posted in around the UK, Castles of UK and Ireland, cities and towns of the UK, conqueror challenges, Fun Stuff, gratitude, Hadrian's Wall, Historical, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, Northumberland coast path, seaside towns of Britain, Travel, UNESCO Heritage Sites, walk 1000 miles 2021, walks around the UK, tagged adventure, baby boomers travel, long distance walking, solo travel, walk1000miles, walking hadrians wall, walking the England coast path, walking the Northumberland Coast Path on September 17, 2021| 4 Comments »
Yes, unbelievably it’s Day 17 of my walking adventure and Day 8 of my jaunt along Hadrian’s Wall, so I thought I’d pop in and give a quick update.
I had hoped to update you on a daily basis as mentioned before, but oh my gosh, the most I could manage was to eat (not even every night), shower, repack Pepe, and then bed. And repeat.
As per the title, I’m now starting Day 17 of my adventure, and Day 8 of my walk across country from North Shields; Segedunum Fort to Bowness-On-Solway, along Hadrian’s Wall. What an experience it has been. I’ve taken hundreds of photos and will share some of them in due course when I get the time, and energy to write ✍ 😁😁….so….here I am
Relaxing in bed in Brampton, watching a stunning sunrise and thinking back over the last 16 days.. it’s been a truly epic journey.
When I first planned on adding the Northumberland Coast Path to my Hadrian’s Wall adventure, I never for one minute doubted I’d be able to do it. But I also had no idea of what lay ahead. If I had, I might not have been quite so confident. But now that I’m near the end, and with the easy stretches ahead, I’m astounded I managed to get this far, and certainly amazed I’m still standing…well at the moment I’m lying down 😁😁😁
But, geez, I never imagined I would do quite as much walking as what I have. It’s been epic. Every day has brought its own joy, and pain, and laughter, and lots of “OMG that’s amazing” moments; reaching the border with Scotland, the dolphins off Farne Islands, seeing that bridge in Berwick Upon Tweed, traversing the bloody Blythe River estuary 🤪🤪, visiting St Mary’s Lighthouse, the wonderful beaches of Northumberland, the many castles – all different and unique in their own way, reaching Tynemouth, the bridges of Newcastle, visiting Arbeia Roman Fort, discovering the first section of the Wall at Heddon on the Wall, seeing the ascent and then descent as I climbed the first ridge on Hadrian’s Wall (I truly do not know how I did all those), seeing the tree at Sycamore Gap from the top of the ridge and suddenly realising what it was 😄😄, exploring the forts and carrying my backpack for 32kms on what was the hottest day of my whole journey…unreal.
I just wish I hadn’t been so tired at the end of each day, I’d have liked to write down the daily experiences…but it was all I could do just to upload some photos before crashing. I’m looking forward to calculating my distances. But one of the best aspects of this journey has been the many, many lovely people I have met along the way, especially on Hadrian’s Way…truly epic.
Day 1 NCP – Berwick Upon Tweed
Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, conqueror challenges, england coast path, gratitude, Health, Historical, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, Northumberland coast path, project 101, Travel, Uncategorized, walk 1000 miles 2021, walks around the UK, tagged baby boomers travel, Berwick Upon Tweed, English Coast Path, long distance walking, Northumberland coast path, solo walking, walk1000miles, walking Northumberland Coast Path on September 1, 2021| 4 Comments »
Day 1 done and dusted 😁😁 I had a completely uneventful journey, ever so quick from King’s Cross to Berwick…and boy are those trains fast!!
Arrived in Berwick to the most glorious weather and scooted quickly over to the castle ruins. I didn’t go right into the keep coz it closes at 4pm and I got there at just on 3.54…but I had a good look around and then headed back up the million steps I’d just walked down 🤪🤪 Google maps doesn’t show how steep some places are!!
The Airbnb is lovely and the host is amazing…there’s a gorgeous ginger cat and a beautiful golden labrador, so I have had lots of kisses and cuddles.
As soon as I had dropped off my backpack, I grabbed my day pack and headed north yo the Scottish border. OMG what a path!! The views were spectacular but the path was hell!! For the most part it ran right along the very edge of the cliffs with just a tuft of grass between the walker and the vertiginous cliffs that fall 100s of feet down to the sea. The North Sea in case you wondered.
A local suggested I walk along the above ‘path’ because the real path “is a bit rough, and this is a lovely wee walk” – well he wasn’t wrong about the path, but this was no better and I crossed the edge of a potato field to the path as soon as I could. I’m thinking he’s never walked to the border before…
However, despite the awful path and the daunting propect of a twisted ankle on a very narrow and uneven path, and the fading light, I’m so glad I made the effort to walk up to the border and back
The views are absolutely spectacular.
Once I got back to town I had a quick whizz around and walked a small section of the town ramparts, which are just amazing with awesome views of the river and estuary.
I got back to the b&b at just on 9pm and having missed the fish and chip shop, I had 2 cup a soup and a cup of tea.
In all a terrific start to my Northumberland Coast adventure. Just on 17kms covered.
I’ve added some of the history of Berwick in case you’re interested 😉
Berwick is just four miles south of the Scottish Border, but during the last 300 years, control of the town swapped 13 times between England and Scotland. Berwick’s Elizabethan town walls are the most intact in England, and were Elizabeth I’s biggest and most expensive project during her reign to keep firm control of this key town.
https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/destinations/towns-villages/berwick-upon-tweed
Situated at the mouth of the River Tweed near the border of two kingdoms, the town of Berwick suffered centuries of conflict, as control of the town passed back and forward between England and Scotland until the late 17th century. Each crisis brought repairs and improvements to the fortifications, culminating in the great artillery ramparts begun in 1558. These survive largely intact and make Berwick one of the most important fortified towns of Europe.
Berwick’s town walls are its most famous piece of architecture and still stand strong today, hundreds of years after they were built. Berwick actually has two sets of walls, the first set (of which only fragments now remain), commenced by Edward I, was two miles long. The later Elizabethan Walls (which are still complete) are a mile and a-quarter in length. The ramparts completely surround the town, with four gates through which entry to the town is enabled.
Berwick’s Elizabethan Walls are the only example of bastioned town walls in Britain and one of the best preserved examples in Europe. When built in 1558 – designed to keep out the marauding Scots who regularly laid claim to the town – it was the most expensive undertaking of England’s Golden Age.
Am I?
Posted in conqueror challenges, Fun Stuff, gratitude, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, walk 1000 miles 2021, tagged Country Walking, long distance walking, over the hill still travelling, preparing for long distance walks, walk1000miles, walking on August 24, 2021| 8 Comments »
Am I going walking next week? ✅
Am I prepared?✅
Is everything organised?✅
Am I fit enough?✅
Did I have a full-blown panic attack at 3am?✅✅✅🤪🤪🤪
No matter how well prepared I am, just before I set off on a long walk, I have a mini crisis
Am I excited? Yes I am!!! 💃💃💃
Will it be exhausting? ✅🥵
Will it hurt? ✅😪
But oh my gosh, the places I will go, and the things I will see makes it all worthwhile. 😃😃😃
This is by far away the longest distance I have ever walked on a continuous day to day journey.
But I’m going to fulfil a long-held dream of not only seeing Hadrian’s Wall, but actually walking the route; a journey through history.👏👏👏
As well as which, I’ll be adding to a newer dream (2020 to be precise) of walking another section of the English Coast 🚶♀️🚶♀️🚶♀️
Prepare for frequent posts to say how excited I am as I countdown till 01.09.2021 😁😁
Life lessons
Posted in family and relationships, gratitude, Inspiration, It's my life, tagged life lessons on August 24, 2021| 2 Comments »
Not my copyright, but very good advice to follow as you journey through life
This was posted by a friend on Facebook, and it really spoke to me, especially #2 – so often in life decisions are made on “what will…….think” fill in the gap. It took me decades to get past worrying about what other people may or may not think. But now I’m in a good place and it’s freeing.
3 weeks to go
Posted in around the UK, conqueror challenges, Fun Stuff, gratitude, Hadrian's Wall, Historical, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, Northumberland coast path, project 101, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2021, tagged #walk1000miles long distance walking, for the love of walking, solo walking, walking hadrians wall, walking the Northumberland Coast Path on August 11, 2021| 2 Comments »
So my lovelies, the time is almost nigh!! At 10:07 on 1st September; 3 weeks from today (whoop whoop), I’ll be on the train heading North. Destination Berwick Upon Tweed.
I start walking the Northumberland coast path that same night, albeit staying in Berwick for 3 nights…I’ll explain later.
Then in exactly 1 month from today, I start my official walk along Hadrian’s Wall. 4 years to the day from when I started my Portuguese Camino 😊😊
So bloody excited. I can’t tell you 💃💃💃 = my happy dance.
So wow, suddenly it’s only 3 weeks to go and I’m on my way.
The dates have been identified, there and back travel tickets booked, all accommodation is booked, Airbnb hosts contacted and confirmed, the routes identified, daily kilometres from here to there measured (repeatedly 🤪🤪), what to see noted, where to go planned, what to do listed, ferry trip booked, where to get my passports stamped noted.
Pepe is packed, Gemini and I have been practicing like mad – getting fit, which shoes to wear decided on, budgets calculated and as much planning as I can possibly do, done!!!
And just because, after weeks of planning and noting the route each day on the Northumberland Coast Path with the relevant distances, yesterday I only decided to rejig days 4-7 and fiddled about with the distances. But now it is a lot smoother, with one day shorter and another longer.
I confirmed yesterday that I can use my senior bus pass on all the bus routes that I need to use between end of day’s destination and return the next day. I’m going to be doing quite a bit of bouncing back and forth due to accommodation on the NCP.
I’m copying everything into an old-fashioned method of keeping records – a notebook 😁😁
Northumberland Coast Path here’s looking at you, and finally 🤞🤞 after a whole year of waiting Hadrian’s Wall…I see you!!
Now it’s a waiting game; 21 days and counting.
As for you Covid-19 with all your variants…..you know what you can do…😂😂😂
No Instagram images were found.
Follow me on Twitter
My TweetsDecember 2025 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Archives
Categories
My photos
-
Join 566 other subscribers
- Follow Not Just a Granny on WordPress.com
Blog Stats
- 153,164 hits
Blogs I Follow
Not Just a Granny 
You must be logged in to post a comment.