1st June

Our usual walk for early Sunday morning up to  Llanerch/ Blaenserchan. The “Yellow Rattle” flowers have gone over now and the seedcases are forming. I find it strange that there’s only one smallpatch of them – near the memorial to the miners who died there – now a peaceful sanctuary for nature. “Red Clover” is dotted about all over the place along our way. A multitude of “Bird’s Foot Trefoil” carpets the grassy edges. The Bracken up the hillsides unfurling. The trees already a verdant green, well many shades of green. Such a wide variety of trees and shrubs up there! Sunny spells, blustery, drizzly rain at times.

Listened to bird-song. Watched bees, moths, butterflies and bugs! Tree in full loeaf. Vast variety. Stood and watched andlistened to the Aspen trees – one of my favourites. Canada Geese with two young broods by the Upper Lake. I know the farmers don’t like them because they damage crops, but I love it when theyfly in formation and call. Oh, Cotton Grass in the meadow plus several other types of grass. The Reed Mace from last year looking torn and windswept in the ponds. Hot sunny spells, breezy, a couple of overcast spells as the clouds – Cumulus – sped across the blue sky.

3rd June

Raining first thing – good to water the gardens and countryside. Stopped by 10am. Breezy. Walked up to Trevethin. Stunning views from up there as always. Trees and shrubs in full green foliage now.Wildflowers along the wayside up the hill. A Dipper bobbing on a rock in the turbulent Afon Llwyd on the way home. Stopped for a few moments to take it all in and absorb the healing.

4th June

The “30 Days Wild” email suggests Hedgehogs for today. My friend who lives in the terrace up the hill behind me has a night camera in the garden and watches a Hedgehog visit. It has reappeared since the winter but hasn’t used either of the two hedgehog houses in his garden. Lots of helpful hints in the email link.

5th June

Just enjoyed looking out at my little garden full of a mixture of wild flowrs and shrubs, plus garden plants. Lots of busy bees about the place. Birds on the feeders – House Sparrows and Goldfincheshave young already learning how to feed – the Blue Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits still taking food to nests. The female Blackbird enjoys sips of water from the stone rockpool. The Dunnock weaving itsway through the undergrowth searching for food beneath the plants. Later, a group of baby Blue Tits came to the feeders!! Awesome!! Oh so cute!

6th June

I wasn’t sure what to do today for wildlife, so I went with the Wildlife Trust challenge. Spent a while thinking what would be different for me to do and decided on the Bee & Bug Hotel. I have lots of plants in my garden for bees and butterflies and lots of bees visits, so a place for them to stay will work well – I hope!

7th June

Following the Wildlife Trust suggestion, I watched the House Sparrows’ communal bathing in the stone rock pool. They’re so enthusiastic that a lot of the water gets splashed overboard and so I goout to refill it. Lots of other birds to watch too – on the feeders. House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Robins are pecking away at the damp soil beneath the over-hanging plants.

8th June

Young Great-Tits visiting the feeders. The birds are visiting the shrubs too – quite a lot of Greenfly out there. Showers have stopped. Lovely early sunshine. Usual early Sunday walk up to Llanerch/ Blaenserchan. Two newts in one of the pools. Black Bryony shiny leaves in one spot of hedgerow by the lane. Glorious blue sky and brisk breeze. Everywhere a rich green after all the showers of recent days.

9th June

Branches Fork Meadows is my nearest Wildlife Trust reserve. Along the old railway line footpath by Pontnewynydd. It’s only a small reserve but a variety of habitats – the woodland, the meadows, thelower damp marshy area and pool down the hill – many different species to discover there.

10th June

Yes, standing for a few minutes watching wildlife aids mental stress reduction. Just be in the moment, absorbed with watching and listening. Yes, remember that we share their space. The birds often fly away when I go in my little well-grown – not quite overgrown – garden, but as I set to the task in hand they return and continue with whatever they were doing. Good for us to respect each other.

12th June

Watching the rain water all the garden and the countryside. The plants I moved in my garden will be especially glad of it. The birds are still chirping merrily, visiting the feeders and foraging amongst myplants. So glad of the rain keeping all the colours so vibrant.

13th June

Day out by train to Cardiff. Roath Park for a wander, marveling at the flora and fauna. Beautiful just to admire and enjoy. Hot sunny day and a picnic.

14th June

Stop and listen – during the day the House Sparrows chat away to each other and the Goldfinches twitter and tweet. The other small birds call now and again. At night when I can’t sleep I open thewindow – the human world is quiet, gone are the busy noises of tra􀄆c and voices – the row of Aspen trees whisper in the breeze and shimmer – the leaves trembling – such a magical sound. Sometimesthe Tawny Owls call to each other. I love this time!

15th June

Saw a Painted Lady Butterfly on early Sunday walk up the hill to Llanerch/Blaenserchan. Did an hour’s gardening later. I’m growing a few self-seeded Hawthorn amongst my shrubs. Even though my garden is small I want shrubs to provide cover for wildlife and flowers for insects, plus perennials too, for the same reasons and to add lots of colour.

16th June

“In Our Nature CIC” walk group at Llandegfedd Reservoir. Watched an Osprey catch a fish and fly around and away. Egret and Shelduck. Beautiful varieties of wild flowers covering the meadows. We walk from the North car park. Several Meadow Brown butterflies. Not many butterflies considering the hot sunny day. Wild flowers – Agrimony, Zigzag pink Clover, Goatsbeard-seed ‘clocks’. Bird’s Foot Trefoil flowers and seedheads! I think the seedheads really do look like the talonsof a bird!

17th June

Enjoying looking at the flowers in my small garden and so many busy bees. The Sparrows chattering away as usual. At 4am the planet ‘Venus’, so bright in the Eastern sky, just as daylight was creepingin. Hot sunny day again today. Slight breeze. Some flowers going to seed, others still buds just beginning to open.

19th June

Very hot weather, so walked early up Llanerch/Blaenserchan. Vivid blue sky contrasting with the vibrant greens of the foliage. Wild flowers still making a good show. The wide variety of grasses fascinate me – the detail when I look closely. I must try to learn them. I used to know a few, many years ago, but must make more effort to learn them properly!

20th June

Yes, I was asked by one of the Nature Walk group leaders to send my wildlife records to LERC (Local Environmental Records Centre) as mentioned in the Wildlife Trust email for today. So I do! I downloaded the LERC app

21st June

Watching the countryside and wildlife from the bus today. I cannot understand people who read or listen to music while travelling – though I do understand that we each have different ways of copingwith things and that may be the best way for them. What I meant was that it can be so rewarding to watch the countryside – notice flowers or seeds on trees, leaf colour, or birds flying. Or in the fields,or on the river/canal, as the bus goes over a bridge.

22nd June

Started researching plants for wildlife for my sister’s garden in the Cairngorms (Scotland)!

23rd June

Nature Group walk around Cwmbran Lake and alongside the river Afon Llwyd. Saw Scarlet Tiger Moths, Speckled Wood butterfly, Comma butterfly, Cinnabar Moth.

24th June

Seriously thinking how I could have a small pond to tempt frogs or toads into my garden. I have a small rockpool birdbath which the birds enjoy communal splashing in! Walked along by the AfonLlwyd and then up over the hill. Lifts my spirits, just by being out there amongst the countryside and wildlife. Good for mental and physical wellbeing!

25th June

On the Wildlife Trust email we are reminded of Hoverflies. On the weekly Nature Walk Group walks I’ve been a bit less interested in these – but with this prompt I will be more attentive and will learn!There must be lots that visit my garden as pollinators so I must look out for them!

26th June

I’ve been writing a nature and garden journal for over thirteen years. My son bought me a “Garden Journal” with sections on different aspects of gardening to fill in – that’s what started it all! I’ve triedto give up several times, but I can’t resist continuing to record nature and gardening events throughout the year as the seasons change! So therapeutic too! Makes me look and observe what’s going on in the countryside and the garden and to learn new identifications.

27th June

I really must get back to doing art again,. Maybe I could learn to paint/draw leaves or grasses – maybe I’d learn more IDs then.

28th June

Soft gentle rain fell over the valley early on – before and after dawn. Read a bit from a wildlife nature book.

29th June

Early Sunday walk up Llanerch/Blaenserchan alone today. Didn’t meet any humans or dogs! New wild flowers out were Black Medick and Lesser Stitchwort. So many colourful wild flowers up thereand so many different trees and shrubs. The damp cloud was sitting on the surrounding hills. So atmospheric! Awesome! I stood to absorb it all and admire the scenery – so healing.

30th June

I’ve realised during this 30 Days Wild that even if people don’t want to learn the IDs of the flora and fauna, they can still be out there and appreciate it all around them – the colours, shades of colours, shapes, sounds and smells. Absorb the healing power of nature. Thank you for all the time and effort you make for flora and fauna and to help us!