My turning point
Volunteering on a nature reserve turned Adam’s life around after a difficult time in life. As Assistant Reserve Officer, wildlife is both his stress relief and his career.
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Chwilio
Grey seal
These large seals can often be seen bobbing in the sea or lying on beaches waiting for their food to go down.
Common beech
An iconic tree, particularly in the south of the UK, the common beech stands tall and proud in woodlands and parks. It turns beautiful golden-brown in autumn, strewing the floor with its '…
Wych elm
Due to the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease in the 20th century, wych elm is rarely found as a large tree, but is more common as a shrub along hedgerows and streams, and in upland areas.…
Acorn weevil
Look out for this weevil on oak trees, where females lay their eggs inside acorns.
Dryad's saddle
This big, beautiful fungus is a common one that can often be spotted popping out of trees.
Sycamore
A tall, domed tree of woodlands, hedgerows and parks, the introduced sycamore is familiar to many of us the 'helicopter' producing tree - its large, winged fruits appearing in autumn.…
A Bountiful Time for Bats
What are bats up to now? At the beginning of autumn, the life cycle of the bat is slowing down, and they have finished breeding for the year.
My recharger
David works as a paramedic so he comes under a lot of stress and works unpredictable hours. He comes to Thameside on his days off to collect his thoughts. Walking his dog here helps him to…
Agroforestry in the upland
Agroforestry is the utilisation of trees on agricultural land, grown in and around crops or pasture. This land management method has been proven to be more economically viable, sustainable, and…
Hazel
Hazel is a small tree of woodlands, grasslands and gardens that is regularly coppiced - the practice of cutting the stems of a tree to allow new shoots to grow. It is well known for its long,…
Lion's mane jellyfish
The long mane of tentacles that stream out from the lion's mane jellyfish is stunning… literally! Look but don't touch when it comes to these jellyfish - they give a powerful sting.