As ever all things discussed are our own views and do not reflect that of our respective employers. We don’t receive any sponsorship or funding so anything mentioned is our personal un bias opinion.
Its SPRING at last, so Corrin, Dawn and Jason bring in the fab Dawn Rayment from New Forest National Park to talk all things outdoors. The discussion covers birds, accessing sites, good and bad feeding wildlife and Dawns 14 top 10 tips for enjoying National Parks.
Connecting to Nature Research
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/connection-to-nature/#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20that%20people%20with,critical%20for%20future%20nature%20conservation.
Top actions to help people feel connected to wildlife.
- Planting Wildflowers (Small spaces, planters at work and home)
- Wild seed bombs https://www.beebombs.com/
- Feeding wildlife – Mainly birds
Sense of Stewardship rather than a sense of Ownership
Ground nesting Birds (Nightjar, Wooklark, skylark) Waders (Snipe, Curlue)
Number of people asking about volunteering.
Lots of new people on sites and hopefully wanting to be actively involved.
Issues around people digging up or stealing plants from public spaces.
Not brining Frogs spawn to nature reserves.
Need for grazing animals to manage open spaces, particularly to help retain lowland heathland. Seeing kites earlier in the year
State of Nature Report
https://jncc.gov.uk/news/uk-state-of-nature-2019-report/
Convention on Biodiversity in May 2021
https://www.unep.org/events/conference/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15
Natures calander – Citizen science for when you see the first species
https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
Plastic grass and how to help kids get excited about the environment and nature, including a need for green spaces, school grounds.
Gearing up for people coming out after lockdown and preparing. Personal responsibility and how to deal with individuals, picking up poo.
Wild Camping and Swimming. https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk/
Joining Team Wilder and the rewilding movements
Volunteers and volunteering.
Consultation on the Environmental Principles
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consultation-launched-on-environmental-principles
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
https://www.ceebill.uk/
Our response to the Sustainabble Question – “what do you say to people who say there's no point taking individual action on climate change?”
http://www.sustainababble.fish/
Dawn Rayments 14 top 10 tips for keen people to be the best in the New Forest
1. Picking up litter and taking it home with you
2. Avoiding Honey Pot sites (Anderwood, Boulder Wood, Rhinefield) – Google where to go in the new forest and then don’t go to those sites as they will be overwhelmed on a busy day).
3. Avoid going to the forest on sunny days.
4. Don’t have BBQ’s, particularly disposable as you only need one out of hand to destroy habitats.
5. Don’t feed the Ponys, increases the likelihood of car incidents and could impact on the ecology long-term
6. Driving slow through the New Forest
7. Not Driving into the new forest (Train or even the open top bus).
8. Cyclists (walkers and horse riders) keeping to tracks, the network and roads.
9. Countryside Code - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code (Restraint, Responsibility and Respect)
10. Do not wild camp, only use https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk/
11. Don’t wash things in the waterways, even if you think you are using ecological soaps as they are very delicate.
12. Keeping your dog on the lead around livestock to avoid causing stress on the other animals.
13. Join and support the National Trust, Lobby Councils or MPs to try and get more funding for National Parks
14. Volunteer your time to support your local nature areas. Join the New Forest Ambasidor scheme https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/communities/get-involved/what-you-can-do-the-new-forest-ambassador-scheme/
