Ros Beaumont

Two examples of a yellow fungus, shaped in waves, growing from a branch

Found a corker of a fungus in the park today - 'yellow brain'
Also known as 'witches butter' - some fun folklore associated with it... www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...

Collage image: white snowdrops, yellow aconites and purple crocus shoots - growing up through last year's rotting brown leaves.

Spring's on her way, folks. We need to hold on for a bit longer... Always the second week of Feb onwards to really notice that shift towards more daylight. In the meantime, she sent some cheery forerunners - aconites, snowdrops and emerging crocus shoots - to lead the way.

Two bare trees against a winter dusk sky, snow on the ground

Chilly day 12 & #12dayswild gently ends. "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger – something better, pushing right back." Albert Camus

Blue sky with snow covered tree branches coming in from all sides

Day 11 #12dayswild back out in the beautiful northeast winter wonderland. Completely still compared with yesterday's biting breeze which made bird call ID much easier as we looked up at the trees/listened. A decent conversation going on between a couple of wrens, and of course a robin chuntering on!

Wintery images (1) snowy tree tunnel; (2) sunlight coming through brown snow covered leaves; (3) snow-covered dried hogweed flower

Day 10 #12dayswild and I couldn't not wrap up warm and go for a wander around in the newly fallen snow❄️
Nature was in her element- everything was elegantly dressed in white, from the trees to a dried-out hogweed flower. The sun and blue sky lit everything up - gorgeous!

Left - different coloured woods create the impression of a smiling face on a plank. Right - a simple smiling face cut into a stump from a recently felled tree

Day 9 #12dayswild looking for 'green men' in the woods - usually lumps, bumps and lines in the bark nobbles but found a couple of unusual ones this time!

Male and female mallard ducks dipping for food in a stream

Day 8 #12dayswild
Happy New Year and peace, love & joy to all! 🎊🕊️
Whilst many of us were resting, the ducks in the park were dipping & diving in search of food in the burn!

Top left - turkey tail fungi; Top right - robin on a branch; Bottom left, velvet shank fungi; bottom middle - daffodil shoots; Bottom right - grey squirrel on a stump

Day 7 #12dayswild a New Year's Eve brisk walk around the park yielded all sorts going on:
🐦A cheeky robin, a chirpy bluetit + an irrepressible squirrel 🐿️
🍄Fun fungi - turkey tail, velvet shank, fairy inkcap
And signs of spring! 🌱
Happy New Year everyone 🥳

With the year drawing to a close there’s no better time to think about the small changes we can make that multiplied up make a big difference to tackling the nature and climate crises. 

This #12DaysWild make some New Year resolutions to help nature – we’d love to hear them!

Snap - I spotted a periwinkle today too!

Two purple periwinkle flowers and foliage

Day 6 #12dayswild a brisk walk around the block to get some fresh air and this gorgeous periwinkle was flowering in a neighborhood front garden.

Front cover of North East Naturalist volume 96, entitled 'Ladybirds of North East England' with the photograph of a single ladybird.

Day 5 and taking up the #12dayswild challenge of a nature-inspired poem or story. A hastily-composed haiku offering...

A cold twixmas day
but read about the many
fab ladybirds 🐞🐞🐞

@nenature.bsky.social @commonbynature.bsky.social
@northwildlife.bsky.social
@durhamwildlife.bsky.social

Top left, money spider walking across lichen; Top right, sunshine illuminates spider threads across grey stone + in the background a tall standing stone against a blue sky; Bottom left, moss on a tree root; Bottom right, a view of low winter sun shining brightly which is framed by an oak tree trunk and branch - green grass + standing stones in the distance

Day 4 #12dayswild a travelling day, stopping off at #longmegandherdaughters Looking closer at the stones + magnificent old oak trees, there's lots of life going on - money spiders marching about, their silken thread across the rock in swaths glinting in the light. Moss on roots + lichen everywhere.

collage of two photos of velvet shank fungi sprouting from breaks in tree bark

Day 3 #12dayswild Came across what I think is velvet shank fungi (not sulphur tuft or funeral bell).
Fun facts:
*winter food for woodland invertebrates
*contains high level of anti-cancer compounds
*can withstand frost&snow/ survive being frozen solid
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...

Sunlight in a wintery blue sky lands on dried out grasses

Day 2 #12dayswild Love the light on these dried out grasses blowing in the breeze. Got out for a proper walk to blow the cobwebs away and get a bit of a stomp on after lovely food yesterday.

12 days wild image of things to do each day

Day1 #12dayswild involved stepping outside this morning to feel a very fresh breeze on my face! The sun broke through the clouds twice today (for about a minute) and illuminated the living room each time. Such cheerful light 🌞
Merry Christmas everyone!

Blue sky with wispy clouds and a section of yellow umbrella visible. On the edge of the umbrella a seagull is visible flying in the sky above, wings outstretched, gliding.

Morning sea fret gave
Gentle way to warm sunshine.
Greedy seagulls watch!

A photo taken on top of a sand dune. Evening sun beams from the left fall on dune grasses. The blue sea is on the right, a few small waves break on the shore below. Other land is visible in the distant background.

Eeee gods, what an evening to be at the coast...

The damp salty air
Mixes with earthy land air;
Sunset approaches.

Never seen one of these until today - a hummingbird hawk moth - wow!

Agreed!

Thanks for sharing and for your interest in my shares! Till next time...

Close up of red valerian flowers

Day30 #30dayswild & a proper scorcher of a day. Sat out the back at 10.30pm with all the windows and doors open to let some air blow through! To celebrate the end of this challenge here's a favourite June bloom - red valerian - from our Sunday coastal walk.
Stay wild & true to yourself everyone :-)

Day29 #30dayswild made it to the beach today for a wander and a paddle. Paused to watch the water move across the rocks and noticed the attached algae shine in the light above and gently sway beneath the surface. (Only 1 more day left!)

Yellow Courgette flower in full bloom

Day28 #30dayswild and it was pretty hot & humid out there. One benefit to the heat is that the veg we grow in pots is coming on apace!

People standing apart on mats and blankets in the park. Facing away from the camera, looking out over the view down to the river. Green shrubbery in front of them.

Day27 #30dayswild such a lovely afternoon with #FriendsofHebburnRiversidePark - leading a session on using the breath to help find calm and focus whilst in the park overlooking the River Tyne, the warmth in the air, the friendly blowy breeze - all added to a lush experience!

A bunch of purple heather growing amongst the green grasses

Day26 #30dayswild and its been a busy work week so here's a final photo from Tuesday - gorgeous purple heather which was popping against the more neutral moorland tones on our morning walk.

Ah, I see 🙂 - I just made the term up as it seems very similar!
Glad you've done forest bathing, its fab isn't it 🤩🌳🌍

Yep 🙂 Forest-bathing (or 'shinrin-yoku') is a great way to disconnect from other 'stuff' and reconnect with yourself+your environment. Japan's government started supporting its use as a health&wellbeing intervention many years ago. Any kind of nature immersion activity is great though!

A brown earth footpath making its way through tall ferns on either side

Day25 #30dayswild nevermind 'forest-bathing', what about 'fern-bathing'?!
Some of my happiest moments are walking in and around ferns,when they are tall like this i feel i can disappear into them to soak up the earthy smell, the humidity, the green-ness - all lush. One from yesterday's walk.

Yep, it really was very special. Big thumbs up to #AdGefrin and #WildExperiencesNorthumberland for organising/ leading the walk (+the fab brekkie afterwards!)