Hatching Butterflies

Without change there would be no butterflies - Wendy Mass

One of the things I had on my list of things to do before turning 30 was to hatch butterflies.  Having never done it before and rarely seeing butterflies around anymore it seemed a good thing to add it to the list and I can happily say that I am so glad I did.  I bloody loved it.  

I ordered my kit via Insect Lore and having received my butterfly house I was able to send off for my caterpillars online through their website.  

Once the caterpillars had been delivered I was astounded by how quickly they grew.  I knew the process that was involved in the caterpillars journey but I was really surprised at how quickly they grew.  I guess when they are in the wild you don't see them from start to finish.  

26th April

5th May

13th May

Of course the best part of the whole process had to be the butterflies themselves after they had emerged from their cocoons.  I was mesmerised and literally spent hours sat watching and photographing them.  They truly are beautiful creatures and it is amazing to think that they have grown from teeny, tiny, little caterpillars.

22nd May

Release day soon came along and it was mixed emotions on my part for sure.  I really didn't want to let them go but the thought of them flying around  in the wild was somewhat heart warming, besides it was also the right thing to do.  

I've not got a clue where the idea came from for me to add this to my list, it isn't particularly something I've had a desire to do before, but something in me must have known it would be a good thing to do.  If you are a lover of nature and all things pretty then I would definitely recommend giving this a go, especially if you have children as I'm certain they would love it too.  The exciting thing for me is that although these beauties have flown the nest, I currently have another four cocoons in my office at work that we are eagerly awaiting butterflies to emerge from.  I sense this becoming rather quite addictive.

~ Gem x  

30 Day's Wild

I can't tell you how much I miss living in the country.  How much I miss not having a garden I can wander out to with my morning cup of tea and chickens at my feet. 

For this very reason it seemed all the more important for me to sign up to this years 30 Day's Wild run by the Wildlife Trust.  Feeling somewhat detatched from wildlife each day I thought this would encourage me to open my eyes to see discover that nature is still at my fingertips.  To embrace it and to make other people aware of exactly what is around us, even in an urban space.  Whether it be on a walk to work or a drive somewhere not too far away, I know it is there, I just need to let it in.

I've created a list of some of the things I'd like to achieve over the next month, a little challenge if you like.  If I manage all of them I'll be made up but even to manage to complete just a few will make me happy.  A few of the things from my list are:

Discover urban wilderness.

Watch a sunset.

Picnic in the wild with the birds.

Make a daisy chain.

Wander through a flower meadow.

Paddle in rock pools.

Wear a flower in my hair.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt.

I'm going to try and log my progress on Instagram using the hashtag #gems30dayswild if you fancied checking it out.  I'd also appreciate any suggestions of things for me to try during the month, I'm always open to suggestions.

It is still open to join too so if you fancied joining in pop over to the Wildlife Trust's website to sign up for your free pack.  If you are going to join in do let me know as I'd love to see what you get up to.

~ Gem x

A Country Stroll

On Sunday we decided to make the most of the good weather, threw on our walking boots and set out for a stroll.

We really don't do this as often as we should.  

I'm to blame for this though.  

I tend to get a little bored after a while.

So long as I have things to look at along the way I'm fine.

I quite fancied bringing one of these beauties home with us, especially one of the ones with the speckled faces.

Instead we just kept walking, discovering the delights of a new footpath, another one to cross off the list.

~ Gem x

A Walk Through the Countryside

There is something quite special about being able to step out from your own home and seconds later be walking across open fields.

It is times like this that I feel so thankful that we live where we do, although we don't take advantage and go out for walks half as much as we should.    

There is so much to see.  Things you would never see driving along in the car.  

Being able to stop and look at things properly, in detail.

Being able to breathe everything in and appreciate things for what they are.

We have walked part of the route before but this time we took a slightly different course.

It is amazing what was literally right around the corner from the footpath we took the last time, hidden from view yet so close from where we stood.

Oh how I would love to live right here.  A true hidden gem, literally in the middle of nowhere.  It is just so beautiful.

It felt so good to be out embracing nature.

Hopefully there will be plenty more opportunities over the next few months.

So long as the weather warms up and summer actually makes an appearance long enough for us to enjoy it.

Love Gem x x x    

Wildlife

One of the things I love about our new home is the amount of wildlife we can see just by watching out the window.

I got pretty excited when I saw this woodpecker.  He has stopped by a few times now.  A true sign that spring is on it's way.  There has also been a green woodpecker too but I haven't had my camera to hand.

The geese are often around.  I've only seen the swan this once.  I'm glad I got a photo.

To think I am only a ten minute drive away from where I lived previously, the difference in the wildlife is crazy.

There is always something to be looking at, come rain or shine, wind or snow.

The robin and blue tits, and also great tits, are regular visitors and are around most of the time.

The bird feeders are always topped up, there is always a visitor at this garden restaurant.

The best spot so far though has to of been the barn owl.  He is a regular visitor but hasn't settled close enough for me to get a good photo yet.



We get a lot of hares and rabbits too in the field to the back of the house.  They move so quick though so it is impossible to get a good photo of these.   

I've become a right curtain twitcher watching all the birds haha, what a saddo!

Love Gem x x x x