With a new year stretching ahead of us, we naturally begin to think about and reflect upon past experiences and future hopes. A great way to do this is on the move in nature. Being ‘mindful’ in, and connecting to, the natural world is an integral part of our happiness and wellbeing. ‘Wandering’ (walking without … More Wanderings in nature
Cones make a beautiful addition to Christmas wreathes and decorations but often go unnoticed, hanging high in trees, out of reach until they fall to the ground. Commonly called pine cones, there are in fact many kinds of cones that grow on different cone bearing trees called conifers. A short walk along the Tall Trees … More Discover the New Forest – ‘We’re going on a cone hunt’
Autumn is my favourite time of the year to be outdoors exploring the New Forest; foraging for juicy blackberries, collecting fallen crab apples and enjoying the season’s changing colours. It’s also a wonderful time to create some amazing land art – all you need are leaves and a creative imagination.
Did you know the New Forest is one of the best places in the UK to spot a dragonfly? Of the 36 species which exist in this county, an amazing 74% of them can be found here. June and early July is the wonderful time to observe dragonflies as they emerge from their larval cases … More Close encounters with dragonflies
Join in with The Wildlife Trusts #30DaysWild and challenge yourself to do something wild every day this June. Here are some of my favourite ‘rewilding’ experiences to help you explore and reconnect with the wild places of the New Forest. And your local wild space – whether it’s an allotment or back garden – can … More A Walk in the Wild
The personal benefits we can draw from nature are huge. I find nature itself an endless source of joy and inspiration for my teaching but more importantly in my life itself. Recently whilst quietly observing and sketching a robin that regularly visits my garden I became aware of its large keen eyes, the striking … More Drawing from Nature
Here at Lepe we have been welcoming groups from Girl Guiding UK to discover the fascinating history of our underground monitoring post. The 2nd Dibden Purlieu Brownie Pack joined us on a special evening to find out all about the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) and the work they did to protect the local people. They used … More Girl Guiding UK at Lepe Country Park
Blackberries must be one of our favourite and most commonly gathered wild food. Easy to recognise, children quickly learn how to identify blackberry fruits and eagerly help gather this annual feast. Foraging for wild foods is a wonderful activity which connects us to the seasons, increases observational and sensory skills and deepens our relationship to … More Brambles and blackberries
Returning home last week after a long summer break, I was instantly struck by the vast purple haze of the rolling New Forest heathlands. In August the normally muted brown heaths are transformed by the flowering heathers to a landscape rich in shades of purple and pink. Take a moment and challenge yourself to find … More Purple Haze
To celebrate the rich history and heritage of the local area the New Forest recently held an event as part of the national Archaeology Festival. Expert archaeologists and local historians ran a host of activities throughout the day, including guided history walks along Lepe Beach and talks covering a wide range of areas from new Lidar technology to Hampshire’s … More New Forest Heritage Weekend
New Forest Education 