A Tribute to the Riverside

 

Beside the river. (Photo from personal collection)

A Tribute to the Riverside

Ripples on water, branches wave,
A blackbird hunts some tiny thing.
Fractal patterns, Yellow flag sway,
And mayfly dance on joyous wing.

Escaped and sat beneath the trees,
In dappled sun and reverie.
If I could live inside this dream,
There would be nought to worry me.

The breeze that washes through the leaves
On branches far above my head
Sounds like the sea washing a beach;
I close my eyes and take a breath.

Filled with verdant green filtered air,
Bursting chest, breath held, then exhale;
A slow release of all my cares,
As Dandelion seeds sets sail.

Philip Simons 

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On writing about nature

 

A poppy on the verge of blooming. (Photo from personal collection)

Sometimes I look back at my writing I am very proud. At other times, I look over it with a much more critical eye. Sometimes, for example, I wonder if I am a bit of a rambler, wandering here and there without clear maps and road signs. But then, some of this writing is supposed to be romantic musings and ponderings - a little something of what happens to me when I go out into nature. I am almost as fascinated by nature's affect on people as I am by nature itself. I think that this blog, in my humble opinion, is a collection of really good content and, I hope, writing. And I would love to see it reach a greater readership.

Coming here to write about my experiences in nature allows me the opportunity to understand those experiences better. A great deal of the time, I go outdoors and do not recognise what I see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. But then, intent on documenting what I find, I will snap a picture or make a note. Back at home, I will turn to the internet, and the guide books on my shelves, and do the research, trying to make sense of my experiences out there. Then I come here, to this space, and I write it all out. Hoping that this writing will find an audience, I therefore want both the writing and research to be as good as possible. So, I am made careful and considerate in my discoveries because I don't want to fail anyone that might read this.

Rainwater in tyre tracks; Stevington, Bedfordshire. (Photo from personal collection)

To be honest, my next great goal for my writing is for it to reach a wider audience, a greater readership. I am grateful for everyone that already opens up these posts. And I have noticed those that regularly pop a little thumbs up or a heart under the links as they are shared across social media. But, of course, it is the ambition of many that they would see the thing they love grow. And I do love writing. I would love for it to find more people, for it to generate conversation, and, yes, to make some money. It's the thing that I do best, I think, and, even if it is the root of all evil, I have discovered that money is a necessary evil.

So, there are a few little projects jotted down in my notebooks, there are seeds waiting to be planted, and there are footpaths I still plan to walk. And, along the way, I will most likely take a few snaps and make a few notes. Then, back at home, I will do the research I need to do to understand what I have found. Fascinated by these discoveries, the desire to write and present my findings will bring me back to this space. And hopefully, some of the verdant power, the scents of wild roses bloomed, the sound of robin song bursting from treetops, will find their way into these pages. And with that, a little science and information to demystify what we find out there. From there, yes, I want to nurture the writing and make something profitable of this endeavour. But it's not huge amounts of money and recognition I seek. I don't want adverts and links in this space, littering these pages, like green verges covered in gaudy plastic and aluminium rubbish - I want to do this honestly and on my own terms. Or not at all.

My container of poppies. (Photo from personal collection)

I am fairly certain that my limited success thus far is my own doing. There is plenty that I am not doing, and plenty that I do not understand. I could be much more aggressive in my self-promotion. I could do a lot more research into how I could fill these pages with key words that would make them much more likely to pop up in search engine results. I could allow ads to use these pages as a space to entice readers to click and buy and click and buy and click . . . But I don't want to do that. I want the writing to be good, not just content that sells. I strive for integrity. 

I want to bring you more observations, experiences, and discoveries. To do that, I need your support. Please, share this page, or another from this blog that you enjoyed or found informative. If you regularly click through to these pages from social media links, cut out the middle man and subscribe. If you enjoy a read, click on that little like button at the end of the article. And, if you can, send a tip to the writer (links and info at the bottom of this piece). I would ask that you bear these requests in mind, not just when you read this blog, but when you read anything that you think is well-written and well-researched. We need to support those writers, because otherwise we will just end up with content and clickbait.

Before you go, can I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com.

I resist allowing advertisements here as much as possible, preferring the generation of conversation over the generation of clicks and sales. In this way, every piece can be written freely with consideration only for the writer's experiences and research, rather than commercial and corporate influences.

If you can, please visit ko-fi.com where you can leave a small donation, and also find other examples of my writing.

Here's my nature lover's to-do list . . .

 

A good scratch; even more satisfying than ticking something of a to-do list! (Photo from personal collection)

Hey there, to old friends and new readers alike! In this post, I'm just going to take a little look at a few things on my to-do list. Some of the things I have planned to explore my love of nature and wildlife, and that will, hopefully, benefit some of the plant and animal life with which I share this little corner of the world where I live.

1. Create a pond

In a corner of the room where I write there is a plastic storage container of a pretty decent size. It's the sort of thing in which you might usually store some half-important paperwork, but I intend to make a pond out of the thing. Which, in my opinion, will be putting it to much better use. 

I also have some sand, some pebbles, bricks, and plant pots to aid in the creation. The plant pots so that I can make little hidey-holes for anything that might end up moving in. All I need now are some oxygenating plants and water. Water's fairly easy to get hold of, in a sense, but the plants will require a little more effort and consideration.

(If you are able to do so, and if you want to, read to the bottom of the post to see how you can help out with this endeavour)

2. Read, read, read . . .

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. (Image source: waterstones.com)

As well as being a nature lover, I am nursing a life-long passion for the written word!

There are so many books on my reading list, and Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake, what looks to be an essential read, is only one of them. In fact, I wrote about some of the books on my wish list here, in my last blog post.

With a love of nature, there must be a desire to learn so that we can understand it better, and so we might be better equipped, with a deeper understanding, as we work for and with the natural world.

3. Taking notes, taking pictures, researching, blogging . . .

As I meet others with a passion for nature and wildlife, I see that the passion is explored and shared in a number of ways. Some, like I, write and blog, some take photographs, some write poetry, and some teach their children. There are a great number of creative, scientific, and social ways in which we can explore and express appreciation for the natural world. And they are, all of them, tremendously important.

Somebody told me, not too long ago, that she teaches her children about nature and wildlife, allows their fascination for it to grow, because if they care for it, they are more likely to do what they can to protect it. And that is why we, those of us that care for nature, must share that love; it might very well spark care and concern in someone else.

4. Tend to the garden

A planter, which is home to oxeye daisies and common poppies. (Photo from personal collection)

When I was little, animal life seemed so much more fascinating than plant life. Animals were dynamic, graceful, ferocious, wonderful things, and plants were just sort of there. They looked pretty sometimes, and I definitely appreciated them in a vague and poetic sort of way as I went bumbling and stumbling around the countryside where I lived. I loved the green of spring and summer. But my eye always drifted to the animals rather than the plants.

It's only in recent years that plants and I have become better acquainted. It started with a deeper appreciation for their place in the ecological interconnectedness of the natural world and has bloomed from there. I find myself fascinated by there resilience and their strength. A number of times I have been in the garden, noticed a problem and thought a plant done for, that it wouldn't survive, only to see, a few days later, a small green bud of hope.

Nowadays, I take quite a bit of pride in the verdant green wildflowers and strawberry plants. This year, I have planted chilli pepper plants and evening primrose, which I hope will establish themselves and continue the success I've seen with other plants in the garden. 

5. Ramble a while

Common toad pair. The season of new life is upon us! (Photo from personal collection)

Anyone that has read entries here before will know I am an avid walker. In fact, if you are a regular reader, you're probably sick of reading about it as I wax lyrical about our public footpaths. Well, just in case, I am sorry . . . But not that sorry.

With the warmer and sunnier months here at last, and storms that blew a mighty wind only memories now, I happily go off wandering walking routes. And, you know, I have learned valuable lessons on those paths. Lessons of silence, stillness, and stopping to just breathe. It is in stillness and silence that Nature reveals herself, in all her beauty. And, as you stand there with a quieted mind, you feel a little peace descend . . .

Thank you for reading. If you would like to support this blog, and contribute a little something towards some of these endeavours, please consider a small donation via ko-fi.com - a small tip could be all I need to get a plant pot, or finish off the pond.

I resist ad space here, wishing to generate something greater than sales. And so, with writerly ambitions, I must throw myself on the kindness of readers. I am a low income writer, and any little contribution will be of great help.

If you are able to do so, please consider supporting through ko-fi.com, where you will find links to other blog posts and other of my writing.

Thank you for reading, and please do share this post with friends and family. 

A list of quotations for animal and nature lovers . . .

 

Life adapting. Spotted on a riverside walk. (Photo from personal collection)

What's the difference between bantz, bruv, and witty conversation?

As nature lovers, as friends of the animals, illuminate your exchanges with some of these quotations, gathered here, just for the lulz . . .

1. "There is no beast without cruelty." - Friedrich Nietzsche

2. "I suppose nobody has ever been struck a direct blow by a rabbit. At least, not deliberately." - Sir William Connor, journalist

3. "Did you know that squirrels are the Devil's oven mitts?" - Miss Piggy

Muppet, Miss Piggy (Image source: Wikipedia)

4. "Laws of Nature are human inventions, like ghosts." - Robert M. Pirsig

5. "To a person uninstructed in natural history, his country or seaside stroll is a walk through a gallery filled with wonderful works of art, nine tenths of which have their faces turned to the wall." - T. H. Huxley

6. "I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn." - Henry David Thoreau

7. "Of all the things that oppress me, this sense of the evil working of nature herself - my disgust at her barbarity - clumsiness - darkness - bitter mockery of herself - is the most desolating." - John Ruskin

8. "I do not believe Nature has a heart: and I suspect that, like many another beauty, she has been credited with a heart because of her face." - Francis Thompson

Francis Thompson, poet

9. I think that I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd;

    I stand and look at them long and long.

    They do not sweat and whine about their condition;

    They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins;

    They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God;

    Not one is dissatisfied - not one is demented by the mania of owning things;

    Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago;

    Not one is respectable or industrious over the whole earth.

    - Walt Whitman

10. "What differentiates man from other animals is perhaps feeling rather than reason. I have seen a cat reason more often than laugh or weep. Perhaps it laughs or reasons within itself - but then perhaps within itself a crab solves equations of the second degree." - Miguel de Unamuno

11. "The fox knows many things; the hedgehog, one big thing." - Erasmus, referencing an ancient Greek poetry fragment

Erasmus, philosopher (Image source: Wikipedia)

12. "There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself." - Michel de Montaigne

13. It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." - Sir David Attenborough

14. "Unfortunately this earth is not a fairy-land, but a struggle for life, perfectly natural and therefore extremely harsh." - Martin Bormann

15. "Repetition is the only form of permanence that nature can achieve." - George Santayana

16. "Of all the mammals in Britain, it is the fox that has cast its spell on me. I find it, as one of the largest predators left in our islands, a captivating creature: a comfortably familiar figure in our country landscapes; an intriguing flash of bright-eyed wildness in our towns." - Lucy Jones, nature writer

17. My heart leaps up when I behold

               A rainbow in the sky:

      So was it when my life began;

      So is it now I am a man;

      So be it when I shall grow old,

               Or let me die!

      The Child is father of the Man;

      And I could wish my days to be

      Bound each to each by natural piety.

      - William Wordsworth

Thank you for reading!

If you liked and enjoyed this article, please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading and writing about my love nature and wildlife!

Thank you, to every reader and supporter!

Hey to all my new readers! Here's 3 things you might not know about me . . .

 

Rain water in tyre tracks

Hello there to all my new readers! This post is all about introducing myself and sharing a few things you might not know about me . . .

1. I also blog about books

As well as nature and wildlife, I have a great love for books. And, just like with my love for nature and wildlife, one of the ways in which I explore my bibliophilia is through writing about that passion in my own humble little book blog.

Sometimes I am able to tie my love for books and nature together, just like when I wrote a review of Foxes Unearthed by Lucy Jones. Nature and wildlife writing is the joy of my two loves colliding!

2. I am a bit of a gardener

My interest in gardening very much stems from my love of nature and wildlife. My first attempts at gardening were when I planted a variety of wildflowers for the love of pollinators. But there are many other ways in which one can explore gardening and a love for nature.

As well as planting wildflowers for our familiar pollinators, it is worth considering the night time pollinators that we might easily forget about. This has led to me researching those flowers and plants that come into their own in the evening, making the garden a place for creatures that prefer moonlight, as well as those who need the sunshine.

3. I am vegetarian

And I am exploring vegan options. This diet is very much informed by my love for nature and wildlife.

If you care for nature and wildlife, sooner or later, you are going to come up against having to make decisions about the way you live your life. We all know that the way in which human beings have been using and exploiting natural resources, the ways in which we have treated animals, and the way we have built our infrastructure have been having a detrimental impact on the natural world. A more plant based lifestyle is one of the solutions to a load of problems the world is facing.

I hope that you enjoyed this read. If you did, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me being me and writing all about nature and wildlife! Thank you!

5 reasons I write about nature and wildlife

 

. . . because a spider's web in the morning is a beautiful thing to behold

In today's post, I am writing about writing. Specifically, since this is a nature and wildlife blog, I am considering some of the reasons I write about nature and wildlife. 

1. Failing and mistaking

I do not know everything there is to know about the natural world and wildlife. There are a great number of people out there with far better and more extensive knowledge, and there are those who specialise in certain fields from whom I could learn so much.

Writing is a form of communication. It isn't just about sharing what I have learned and/or experienced, but a chance for me to sit back and listen to those that know better. It is an opportunity to reach out and learn. So, if I fail or make a mistake, and you know better, please, jump into the comments and teach me. I am honoured by your knowledge!

2. The community

Following on from the above point, writing about nature and wildlife allows me the opportunity to have exchanges with like-minded people. 

When I am done with the writing (the proofreading and the editing too), I have to step away from the blog and start promoting my humble little blog in spaces where those like-minded people might gather. So, I find myself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., in the company of people who share this passion for nature. There are some really keen wildlife gardeners, hikers, birdwatchers, activists, and other wildlife and nature lovers out there. And it's a privilege to be able to share in their passions!

3. Because I am a good writer

As I have joined groups and followed social media accounts, I have noticed that people honour nature and wildlife in their own ways (I wrote a little post about some of the ways people can honour nature and wildlife here). There are photographers, poets, activists, advocates, fundraisers . . .

People go to nature and they bring their own particular set of skills with them so that they can share their passion with others when they return to their lives indoors. In my humble opinion, and even if I do say so myself, I would say that I am a fairly decent writer. I won't be toppling any of the greats from their pedestals with my efforts, but I have the skillset that I feel I can honour nature and wildlife with my words and not do them an injustice. Of course, sometimes there just are no words grand enough to convey the beauty and grace of the natural world. But, I strive to do my very best!

4. Making sense of it all

As I plod along countryside paths, in awe of some sighting or another, it can be difficult to make sense of what I have seen, or what I am feeling.

Plenty of us have spotted an animal as we have been out in nature and found ourselves asking, "Why on earth is it doing that, I wonder?"

We hurriedly take our phone from our pocket, trying for a photo or video so that we can share it in one of those Facebook groups of which we are a member. Perhaps someone there will know what is going on and be able to enlighten us.

Writing about my experiences in nature means that I am making the time to stop, consider what I have seen, research, and share those experiences. This ties in with what I have said above, regarding failing and mistaking.

But writing also gives me the chance to explore my feelings too. When I am immersed in some fleetingly joyous moment, I don't really look at what I am feeling, I just ride it out. But when I am sitting at my laptop, tapping away, I have to find the words to try and convey that joy, and any other feelings, which gives me space to recognise them and know those feelings better.

5. And, because I love nature and wildlife

I grew up in the countryside. From the bathroom window of my parents' house, I saw rabbits, deer, foxes, hedgehogs, sparrowhawks, red kites . . . And that's without even leaving the house!

I don't really have a satisfactory answer to the question of where exactly my adoration for nature and wildlife comes from. It's true that I did grow up in the countryside and had the opportunity to see some wonderful animals and plant life. However, I don't think it can be that alone. After all, there are plenty that grow up in the countryside and care not a jot for nature and wildlife.

All I can say is that I have had a fascination for the natural world since I was very young and it hasn't gone anywhere. And I hope it never does.

Thank you for reading my reasons for writing about nature. If you enjoyed the piece, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me going back to nature and returning to my laptop to write about what I find there! Thank you!