I find September to be such a varied and diverse time of year. One day the wind can be howling and biting through my clothes telling me that autumn is here, the next day can be warm and summer like bringing out butterflies and insects. A wonderful plant to help us study the numerous flying insects is ivy, their flowers are one of the last of the year.
Other plants that can provide us with so much excitement are the fruiting plants such as brambles, rose hips and hawthorn. There aren't many of us who don't remember as children taking a walk along our hedgerows to gorge on blackberry. Rosehips make a wonderful tea if steeped in warm water. Make sure to remove the seeds on the hip before steeping. As a child I often used the seeds as a homemade itching powder but that's another story! The hips after being used as a tea become soft and are lovely as an autumn snack.
The eye of the Native allows one to see the environment in a way that allows us to travel in time. At this time of year I look at the beautiful blooms of the fire weed, thistles and wild clematis and know that I can come back later in the year and use their seeds as tinder. I also can see the flurry of bramble flowers and know that there will be a great harvest of blackberry to be gathered. Also a source of hand drill stalks can be collected in the autumn and winter, when they are more easily accessed.
July marks the start of the summer migrants returning to far off places, one being the adult cuckoo. Their offspring will follow the parents, later in the year, back to Africa. The meadows and grassland are abundant with butterflies this month, but we do not have to stray far into the wild places to witness the beautiful colours of the peacock, red admiral and small tortoiseshell. In our gardens the blooms of buddleia attract them and many other insects.
The long hot days of July really do allow us to slow down and study the magnificence of nature. During the summer I'm fond of journaling about the array of plants that can be found in the woods and meadows. I not only like to focus on the well known useful plants, such as meadowsweet, that can be found in our wet ditches and water courses at this time of the year but also the less well known for their uses. The act of journaling really allows us to connect deeper to the plant or animal that we are studying. So many of us can go on a walk and point out and name various wild flowers, but how many of us can actually describe the plant in detail, when at home?
]]>June is a gorgeous month as summer's energy is definitely growing toward the longest day. I find during the long hot days a perfect place to be is next to a slow running river. The once frigid waters of winter are now warmer but also refreshing. I find to swim or even wade through a natural water course puts me directly in touch with life force energy of the Earth.
This month the hedgerows and woodland edges are full with the blossom of the many dog roses that we have in the British Isles. The young petals are a nice colourful addition to wild salads, as are the red clover flowers that can be found in our grasslands.
On waste lands, road and path sides we now find the rapidly growing Rose Bay Willow Herb, or Fire Weed as it is also known. This plant has many uses but at this time of year I like to remove its outer bark and transform it into cordage. At this point in the year you will sometimes discover that there will be a sticky juice lying between the woody stalk and the fleshy bark. It's worth experimenting with, to see what it might be good for!
]]>The month of May is so exciting. If you haven't got yourself into the woods so far this year, May is the perfect time! The growth of plant life is rapid, familiar winter paths and trails are transformed to deep shaded area's full of mysterious flora and fauna to study. The woods and other wild places are filled with the excitement of birds rearing their young, animals such as hedgehogs mating and of course the drone of the newly immerged insect life. May is an exhilarating time to sleep out due to the symphony of bird song during their morning chorus.
May is when the browning blossom of blackthorn is replaced by the blooms of hawthorn. Later in the month the elder tree will grace us with the her gentle flowers that can be turned into elderflower cordial, wine and a herbal tea to help relieve the symptoms of hay fever.
There are many mammals to view this month. Bats are out of hibernation searching for breeding areas to have their young. A great May activity is watching badgers, so why not spend an evening this month studying up close these wonderful animals. Throughout the British countryside you can find many setts. Wrap up warm and at dusk locate yourself downwind from their sett and get ready to be amazed by what you will see. The direct observation of these animals will help greatly in the spotting and interpretation of the tracks and signs. If you live in an urban area you can often find badger setts. Of course a little more caution should be taken and your skills of invisibility should be employed to prevent others confusion and the possibility of you being mistaken for a burglar!
]]>April is a magical time of year, it brings with it rejuvenated energy to take us into the summer months. I often think about what native communities must feel when spring has sprung. The long winters of eating dried meat, nuts and roots have kept them going but by the time spring is here they are looking forward to the bounty of fresh vitamin rich spring growth, that will cleanse their digestive systems.
I find April is a great time to once again get out the wild flower field guides and study the plants that are emerging and what better plants to study than the edible ones but remember to be totally sure your identification is correct!
There are so many plants to look out for in the woods;
All are great raw but are also delicious in salads and soups.
]]>Nature is starting to come alive again. There is a lot to see in February; the newly emerging plants such as the sweet violet that are great in a salad and the understated flowers of plants that do not need insects to pollinate, like that of the Alder and Hazel trees. The male catkins of the Hazel tree are first noticeable. If you examine a little closer you will also observe the red/purple flower that can be found just below the catkin on the same branch.
When around water courses such as lakes and reservoirs, two species of birds are worth looking out for at this time of year. The Herons breeding season started weeks ago but you will notice that they still keep adding to their nests. Herons keep their same nests each year and you may find places known as heronries that have multiple nesting sites. Another bird is the Great Crested Grebe. Their famous courtship routine is a complicated choreography of five stages, with the grand finale of both birds facing each other as they raise their bodies out of the water with beaks full of weed. Whilst in the woods you may sense the stirring under the ground of a badger sett. Their young have been born and you should be able to see many signs of the adult's activity. Old bedding may be seen at the opening of the entrance ways, which has been replaced by new vegetation. Five toed tracks will be apparent along their well trod path ways and the occasional hair can be found snagged on brambles and wire fences.
]]>The cold still days of January are often interrupted by feeding birds. You may frequently see in gardens and parks mixed flocks of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbirds. These birds are from the thrush family and from a distance they appear the same. Under closer inspection you can see the array of colours within the plumage of our wintering guests.
In January many mammals are hibernating but one animal that you will see is the grey squirrel. This familiar critter is not indigenous to Britain and was introduced from America. In January you will often see them in pairs as this is their time of courtship.
We may feel that the wild places are barren of growing plants. This is mainly true as they are preparing to explode into action in the spring, when the warmer weather returns, but it is possible to see one of the first signs of spring in January, the snow drop. Also other plants are stirring. You may see on your walks the fresh leaves of the Lesser Celandine. This plants tuber, later in the year, can be harvested after the plant has flowered. It is important that the tubers are cooked well as it is of the potato family and is extremely poisonous when eaten raw!
Our weather system in December can be so varied ranging from days of rain to flashes of cold and wind that makes us retreat out of the woods and back home into our central heated houses. I always feel that these should be the reasons to get out and off into the woods! What better conditions to study tracking, the ground becomes beautifully soft to show the tracks that are left for the fluctuating weather allowing you to study the environmental effects, wind, rain, sunlight etc that change a track.
Many believe that the winter time holds very little wildlife action but there are many sights to be witnessed. The almost human scream of the vixen and the dog like bark of the male fox can often be heard in both urban and rural settings during December and January.
A fungus that can be found in the woods at this time is the Jews Ear. It can be found all year round but is very noticeable during wet weather. It generally resides on elder trees. The fungus is edible both raw and cooked. Whilst raw it resembles the texture of an elastic band, but when cooked in a survival stew it is palatable. It's quite exciting to fry it too!
Autumn is well and truly here in October. The woods are filled with many edible mushrooms like the beef steak fungus and penny bun boletus. If you can get to the hazel nuts and acorn before the Jays and squirrels, they too can be harvested and made into flour.
The sounds of tawny owls can be heard in the still autumnal woodlands as well as the banging and crashing of antlers! October marks the rutting season where male red deer mark their prowess by clashing their antlers against opponents. Vocally they are also at their best, bellowing to announce their presence. You do not have to travel to the Scottish highlands to witness this primeval time. Red deer can be found in other places in the UK, they can even be seen in Richmond Park, London!
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