Found a corker of a fungus in the park today - 'yellow brain' Also known as 'witches butter' - some fun folklore associated with it... www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...

Spring's on her way, folks. We need to hold on for a bit longer... Always the second week of Feb onwards to really notice that shift towards more daylight. In the meantime, she sent some cheery forerunners - aconites, snowdrops and emerging crocus shoots - to lead the way.

Chilly day 12 & #12dayswild gently ends. "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger – something better, pushing right back." Albert Camus

Day 11 #12dayswild back out in the beautiful northeast winter wonderland. Completely still compared with yesterday's biting breeze which made bird call ID much easier as we looked up at the trees/listened. A decent conversation going on between a couple of wrens, and of course a robin chuntering on!

Day 10 #12dayswild and I couldn't not wrap up warm and go for a wander around in the newly fallen snow❄️ Nature was in her element- everything was elegantly dressed in white, from the trees to a dried-out hogweed flower. The sun and blue sky lit everything up - gorgeous!

Day 9 #12dayswild looking for 'green men' in the woods - usually lumps, bumps and lines in the bark nobbles but found a couple of unusual ones this time!

Day 8 #12dayswild Happy New Year and peace, love & joy to all! 🎊🕊️ Whilst many of us were resting, the ducks in the park were dipping & diving in search of food in the burn!

Day 7 #12dayswild a New Year's Eve brisk walk around the park yielded all sorts going on: 🐦A cheeky robin, a chirpy bluetit + an irrepressible squirrel 🐿️ 🍄Fun fungi - turkey tail, velvet shank, fairy inkcap And signs of spring! 🌱 Happy New Year everyone 🥳

With the year drawing to a close there’s no better time to think about the small changes we can make that multiplied up make a big difference to tackling the nature and climate crises.  This #12DaysWild make some New Year resolutions to help nature – we’d love to hear them!

Day 6 #12dayswild a brisk walk around the block to get some fresh air and this gorgeous periwinkle was flowering in a neighborhood front garden.

Day 5 and taking up the #12dayswild challenge of a nature-inspired poem or story. A hastily-composed haiku offering... A cold twixmas day but read about the many fab ladybirds 🐞🐞🐞 @nenature.bsky.social @commonbynature.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social @durhamwildlife.bsky.social

Day 4 #12dayswild a travelling day, stopping off at #longmegandherdaughters Looking closer at the stones + magnificent old oak trees, there's lots of life going on - money spiders marching about, their silken thread across the rock in swaths glinting in the light. Moss on roots + lichen everywhere.

Day 3 #12dayswild Came across what I think is velvet shank fungi (not sulphur tuft or funeral bell). Fun facts: *winter food for woodland invertebrates *contains high level of anti-cancer compounds *can withstand frost&snow/ survive being frozen solid www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...

Day 2 #12dayswild Love the light on these dried out grasses blowing in the breeze. Got out for a proper walk to blow the cobwebs away and get a bit of a stomp on after lovely food yesterday.

Day1 #12dayswild involved stepping outside this morning to feel a very fresh breeze on my face! The sun broke through the clouds twice today (for about a minute) and illuminated the living room each time. Such cheerful light 🌞 Merry Christmas everyone!

Morning sea fret gave Gentle way to warm sunshine. Greedy seagulls watch!

Eeee gods, what an evening to be at the coast... The damp salty air Mixes with earthy land air; Sunset approaches.

Never seen one of these until today - a hummingbird hawk moth - wow!

Day30 #30dayswild & a proper scorcher of a day. Sat out the back at 10.30pm with all the windows and doors open to let some air blow through! To celebrate the end of this challenge here's a favourite June bloom - red valerian - from our Sunday coastal walk. Stay wild & true to yourself everyone :-)

Day29 #30dayswild made it to the beach today for a wander and a paddle. Paused to watch the water move across the rocks and noticed the attached algae shine in the light above and gently sway beneath the surface. (Only 1 more day left!)

Day28 #30dayswild and it was pretty hot & humid out there. One benefit to the heat is that the veg we grow in pots is coming on apace!

Day27 #30dayswild such a lovely afternoon with #FriendsofHebburnRiversidePark - leading a session on using the breath to help find calm and focus whilst in the park overlooking the River Tyne, the warmth in the air, the friendly blowy breeze - all added to a lush experience!

Day26 #30dayswild and its been a busy work week so here's a final photo from Tuesday - gorgeous purple heather which was popping against the more neutral moorland tones on our morning walk.

Day25 #30dayswild nevermind 'forest-bathing', what about 'fern-bathing'?! Some of my happiest moments are walking in and around ferns,when they are tall like this i feel i can disappear into them to soak up the earthy smell, the humidity, the green-ness - all lush. One from yesterday's walk.

Day24 #30dayswild saw a VERY early hike up a favourite Northumberland hill in time for sunrise with other similarly crackers people. Excellent sky drama as we walked back across the moorland towards Wooler with the curlews and skylarks calling out. @northwildlife.bsky.social

Day23 #30dayswild unglamorous photo time! Can you see 👀 a housemartin peeking out from its mud nest with its black head and white breast - it was darting in and out to feed its wee ones this evening. www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how...

Day22 #30dayswild a very confident squirrel surprised me on the deck - wasn't sure if he wanted to join in with some yoga moves (or, more likely, was angling for food) 🐿️

Day21 #30dayswild - one for mid summer - first you see the cornflower, then the ladybird and then all the aphids which the ladybird must be loving!

Day20 #30dayswild bit of a curious sight outside a train station today - apparently they are Oregon grapes!?

Day19 #30dayswild - yellow Indian Mallow (Abutilon) flowers in a shady courtyard

#30DaysWild Day 18 .Brock, I am cheating a bit, because I want to share something I did a few years ago for 30 Days. These are birds native to my area in the summer. It took a long time to make this, so I want to use it again. #Hedgewatch

Day18 #30dayswild another 'spotted on the way to work' - the vibrancy and lushness of the colours stopped me in my tracks. And the bees were going crazy for the poppies and foxgloves 🐝🐝🐝

Now THAT is a tree! 🌳 The Idehurst Oak at The Mens is centuries old, six metres in diameter, and seriously awesome. Pictured here with our excellent volunteers. 📸Idehurst Oak © Sarah Quantrill

Day17 #30dayswild Bright green seed pods on a Beech tree. Nature is doing its thing 🤩

Day16 #30dayswild - it caught my eye, shining in the pale sunlight - a rosemary beetle!

Day15 #30dayswild - fragrant blooms from the dog rose bush in the park today

Day14 #30dayswild I was sat having my lunch outside earlier in the week and noticed this little one when I looked down. I'm not 100% but think it's a silver-green leaf weevil (which would make sense as I had been walking under the trees beforehand.

Day13 #30dayswild - it's been such a lovely week - weather-wise - and I've been popping out for a few minutes just after getting up each day to see what's going on in the back yard... Today's offering is again courtesy of the nasturtiums - a Long Hoverfly.

This #30DaysWild, take a moment to pause, breathe & let the wild world ground you. Whether it's a walk, forest bathing, or listening to birdsong—nature is here to help us feel better 💚 👂Have you heard our new podcast, In Conservation...? Listen here 👉 www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/podcast

Day12 #30dayswild Walking into work and was drawn to this bit of ground left to its own devices - lots of life and colour going on. #laingartgallery #naturenoticing

Day11 #30dayswild and if proof was needed that we are in summer in the UK, it's a mass of luminous elderflowers. I've seen the blustery gusts turn the blooms into gorgeous natural confetti recently -simple and beautiful in equal measure 🌸 @northwildlife.bsky.social @nenature.bsky.social

Day10 #30dayswild a pause to watch the morning light dance across the leaves and bark, and feel the breeze blow through the trees before work today. And a very chirpy wren! 🐦

Day9 #30dayswild didn't get out much today due to work but here's a gorgeous and vibrantly coloured Wood Cranesbill from a walk the other day.

Day8 #30dayswild & still in the garden. Easy to miss but can you see a Barred-Yellow Moth resting on the rose bush? (behind the strawberry leaf) Possibly gearing up to lay some eggs as a quick google revealed that the larvae feed on wild rose. #moths @nenature.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social

The @rspb.bsky.social feed is a combination of the joys of nature and the serious consequences of failing to protect it. Today, as part of #30DaysWild, I'm going to write to my MP, @joemorrismp.bsky.social, again calling for action to protect our wildlife and habitat. #PlanetOverProfit

Day7 #30dayswild and it's back to bees 🐝🐝 Thrilled to have such variety in an urban garden, the honeybees from Day 1 and today an early bumblebee hopped across all the purple chive flowers whilst a white-tailed bumblebee rested on a sunny orange nasturtium flower

Day6 #30dayswild So many tiny raindrops on this bird's-foot trefoil. So delicate-looking! (I think it's a trefoil, not 100% as not flowering yet- I'm sure someone will put me right i if not). @nenature.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social @oasescharity.bsky.social

Day5 #30dayswild Pixie cup lichen amidst lush moss - so much happening on a log!

Day 4 #30dayswildmultilingual: spot a bird, pick a bird, any bird...can you name it in another language? #30dayswild See also: www.multilingualism-in-schools.net/bird-watch/

Day4 #30dayswild - came across a gorgeous hazel tree on a walk today. Life-affirmingly green, and surprisingly soft & downy on the underside of the leaf 🌿