#30dayswild #days 7 - 13 Orchids & meadows galore!

It's been a busy week at work for Wales Biodiversity Week giving me an opportunity to discover lots of new sites across Wales....


#day7 #30dayswild

Borrow a dog for a walk!


 
#day8 #30dayswild

Travelled up to Llandudno, North Wales for work. Walking along Llandudno Pier I noticed hundreds of Jelly fish in the sea. These are the Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) which have 4 distinctive circles. 



 
#day9 #30dayswild

Today I helped organise a Grassland workshop led by the WBP Lowland Grassland & Heathland Ecosystem Group. We focused on grassland at the Great Orme and Creuddyn SSSI - practising using indicators to monitor grassland quality and discussed management options. The photo is of a grassland slope on the Great Orme - a fantastic site which I look forward to exploring further.




 
#day10 #30dayswild

Reading in the garden  - guidance on National Plant Monitoring Scheme ready for a training day in the Brecons tomorrow
 
 

 
#day11 #30dayswild

Attended the National Plant Monitoring Scheme training day in Brecons at Craig Y Nos Country Park. Found a lovely species-rich grassland with orchids to practice on. NPMS is a new habitat based plant monitoring scheme by BSBI, CEH, Plantlife & JNCC. Volunteers survey sites within a selected 1km square recording certain plants. There are different levels of recording so you don't need to be an expert at plant identification allowing you to build your knowledge over the years. 
 
 
 

 
#day12 #30dayswild

Discovering new places - spent today exploring Torfaen on the Torfaen Local Biodiversity Partnerships' away day. Highlights included a newly planted orchard, spotting Bee Orchids in the centre of Cwmbran, discovering Llwyncelyn Local Nature Reserve with Dyers Greenweed, finding southern marsh orchids along a new eco cycle path and much more! 
 
 
 

#day13 #30dayswild

Went on a guided Orchid walk at Howardian Local Nature Reserve by the Friends of the site - saw 5 orchid species & cross's. Stunning meadow with 1000s of Southern Marsh Orchids. The Orchid walk is run yearly and the LNR is definitely worth a visit - found hidden behind David Lloyd Leisure Centre off Newport Road, Cardiff.

#30dayswild #dayfour, five & six

#DayFour #30dayswild

 Found 'The Lackey' moth caterpillar on a metal pillar at St David's hotel 
#june #nature #thewildlifetrusts #wildlife #caterpillar #naturechallenge #cardiffay #randomactsofwildness #enjoywildlife



 #DayFive #30dayswild

 Evening stroll along Penarth Pier on a beautiful clear evening. I'd hoped to explore the beach but it was high tide so we did a seawatch instead - saw cormorants, two shelducks and gulls.
#naturechallenge #thewildlifetrusts #nature #seawatch #penarth #randomactofwildness



#DaySix #30dayswild

Feeding the ducks at the local pond - lots of Mallards
#naturechallenge #thewildlifetrusts #nature  #randomactofwildness

#30dayswild #daythree


#DayThree of #30dayswild

Watching waddling ducks at my local nature reserve, Cardiff Bay wetlands. A family of swans & cygnets were sunbathing under the bright sunshine, along with baby coots, great crested grebes, tufted ducks and cormorants. #30dayswild #daythree #june #nature #thewildlifetrusts #enjoynature #wildlife randomactsofwildness #naturechallenge #cardiffbay #cardiff #cardiffbaylocalnaturereserve #cardiffbaywetlandsreserve #waddling ducks #mallards

See my #30dayswild post day one for more information

#30dayswild #daytwo




#DayTwo of #30dayswild

Started a nature table with flowers from the garden, feather bunting, Welsh sea glass and fossil. I'll fill it with more wild finds during the course of 30dayswild in 
#30dayswild #daytwo #june #nature #thewildlifetrusts #enjoywildlife #wildlife #randomactsofwildness #naturechallenge #naturetable #natureinthehome


See my #30dayswild post day one for more information

#30dayswild

Would you like to do be wild for 30 days? Are you wild at heart? The Wildlife Trusts have launched a month long nature campaign asking you to do a random act of wildness every day throughout June. Although I work in nature conservation, I'm often sat behind the computer so #30dayswild gives me a chance to bring more nature into my everyday life.

Wildness acts can last a minute to hours! When you sign up you'll get emailed a challenge pack full of free ideas and links to events held by your local wildlife trust. It's also Wales Biodiversity Week from 6th to 14th June, giving lots of opportunities to take part in wildlife themed events taking place across Wales from guided nature walks, Go Wild festival, open days, wildlife identification and activities. Check out events taking place here (www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/Wales-Biodiversity-Week).

For my #30dayswild I'm looking forward to....

  • Relaxing in my local park
  • Taking my lunch outside
  • Creating a nature table
  • Dangling my feet in wildwater
  • Exploring a new local wildlife patch
  • Making Wild art & craft
  • Do a seawatch
  • Recording my wildlife sightings & log at my local record centre
  • Brushing up on my plant identification
  • Identifying gulls out of my work window 

Sign up to take part here - www.mywildlife.org.uk/30dayswild/

Follow my #30dayswild on twitter (@yorkiestyles), instagram (hollyrebeccayork) and some days here on the blog.

 #DayOne of #30dayswild


Today I signed up to #30dayswild and it's pouring with rain! Took a moment to enjoy nature on my doorstop...literally. Pretty ivy leaves toadflax (cymbalaria muralis) trails along by the frontdoor #30dayswild #dayone #june #nature #thewildlifetrusts #enjoywildlife #wildlife #randomactsofwildness #naturechallenge #ivyleavedtoadflax #cardiff #wales