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Perhaps the very epitome of spring birdsong, the humble nightingale has been inspiring poets, writers and anyone who hears its sweet, uplifting song for centuries. Including me. Related to the robin, nightingales lack the red breast of its cousin, but makes up for it with lovely rufousy back, head...

I've been on a bit of a woodland mission this week . So I though I might as well finish the week off as I started it : with trees. This is my quick guide to five easy to identify trees. 1. Oak Where you live in the country will depend on whether you see sessile or pedunculate oaks. However...

Some are lucky enough to be bitten by the wildlife bug early on, so to speak, but I stumbled across an interesting example of someone acquiring a fascination with nature as an adult. Based in Singapore Francis Ooi went running in the woods near his home to escape the hustle and bustle of his urban...

Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to get away from your computer and reconnect with the wildlife outside your door/office/local park for a few hours. However, that doesn't mean we want you to abandon your computer forever. In fact, we'd love you to share with us your Birdwatch tips, tricks...

Do you have a New Years Resolution? For 2013, I thought that it was time I got out into the Great British countryside and saw more wildlife. So here’s my selection of 13 wonderful wildlife sights for 2013. Some you can see from your garden, some require a bit more effort, but let’s make...

The journey home for Christmas. For some it might only be a tube ride or short commute from the office, but many will be migrating across the UK for the winter hols. When travelling it always strikes me how varied our habitats are, even between next-door counties, almost every one has some unique...

With the weather set to be pretty grim, I thought suggestions for outdoor activities this weekend might lack appeal. But, if like myself you still have Christmas shopping to do, why not do it sustainably? What we buy has the power to change habitats around the world for the better or worse. It's...

Are you looking for something to brighten up your place this Christmas? How about making your very own Christmas wreath? In a couple of weeks time, we’ll be asking you to share photos of your wreaths, so why not get a get start by making yours this weekend? What do I need? Wreaths are...

Add that extra sparkle to your home and show-off your creativity and skills to friends and family this weekend. Nature has an abundance of materials that with little effort can be transformed into unique decorations. Over a couple of quick lunchtime walks around the The Lodge this week, I've...

With the long, dark nights, and chilly temperatures winter is certainly here now. And with it, winter brings some truly amazing wildlife spectacles. So why not find one for yourself this weekend? A pink sky I’m off to Wash. Hopefully I’ll be able to see one of my favourite wildlife...

With that windy spell the other week some trees have already yielded their annual leaf crop to the elements. But look out for the next batch: birch , beech and oak leaves will soon be falling and if you go to a wooded area near by you can either just enjoy the sight of leaves in the breeze, or you can...

Cold. That’s what those in the know are forecasting this weekend. But don’t despair. The cold weather could bring more birds to your garden – woo hoo! So this weekend, why don’t you make sure that your feeders are cleaned out, topped up and ready to rock? What, when and...

Famous for springing up overnight then disappearing almost as fast, fungi can seem hard to get to know and love . But go for a walk in almost any wood at this time of year and you'll come across some fascinating fungi . And with names such as stinkhorns, waxcaps, and earthstars don't they...

Not tidying. Now there's something that comes easily to me! As my long-suffering Mum and girlfriend will no doubt attest to! It’s not that I don’t prefer to be tidy, but there’s always something more interesting to do. However, when it comes to wildlife gardening, being slow to...

If you didn’t know it’s a bank holiday weekend where have you been? We get an extra day to enjoy nature. Or that’s how I see it, anyway. What shall we do with the extra day? How about spot a shark? If the weather’s nice (fingers crossed!) then a trip to the seaside is on the...

With results from our recent Make Your Nature Count garden wildlife survey suggesting that as many as one in 10 of you have slow worms in your garden , why not get to know them a bit better this weekend? As Maurice recently pointed out on this very blog, there is nothing to fear from these legless...

As the Olympics swing into action, another big event is on the final straight. And this one doesn’t require years of training, a specially built arena or donning lycra! Pick a spot, any spot Our friends over at Butterfly Conservation are running their Big Butterfly Count . Everything you...

As cinema-goers get excited about the latest Batman movie ( looks good , doesn't it?), spare a thought for the mammalian creature that provides inspiration for Bruce Wayne's alter ego. Sadly, bat numbers are on the slide and these furry masters of our night sky are in need of a little helping...

Swifts . They’re the screeching, scythe-shaped, signs of summer, with a sky-high lifecycle that almost defies belief. But they’re in trouble. There is now just one swift for every three that graced our skies back in 1995. That’s bad isn’t it? To be honest, no one really...

...today, or even this weekend, it might not quite be a big surprise, but how about we all get out and celebrate the UK’s woodlands? It doesn’t have to be to a big day out, maybe just an afternoon stroll. But there’s plenty of good places in the UK, and they’re all different...

If you've been watching BBC Springwatch this week you'll know that we've hit the end of the road as far as the live programmes go. But, that doesn't have to spell the end of your nature adventure. The creature I'm going to suggest you get out and enjoy this weekend enjoys quite...

Well it’s certainly been an exciting week for the BBC Springwatch team over at our Ynys-hir reserve hasn’t it? There’s been plenty of highlights: from Chris Packham’s favourite insect-eating migrants, redstarts and pied flycatchers, to jumpy sandpipers and fighting rodents. ...

With the sunny weather looking like it's going to hang around all weekend, now is the perfect time to see if you can spot some pretty damsels at a pond or stream near you! As cold-blooded creatures, damselflies rely on the heat of the sun for energy and so are much more active and easier to see...

RSPB nature reserves aren’t just great for birds. Amongst the mammals, insects, reptiles and arachnids, over the years we’ve recorded a grand total of 57 species of butterflies – that’s most of those recorded in the UK. Save Our Butterflies Week Butterflies are amazing creatures...