May is a glorious time of year and what a time it is to get out and immerse yourself in the natural world!

It’s also Walk in the Woods Month, which is organised by the Tree Council. 

The idea is to celebrate the trees in your area by getting out to the woods,  walking In your local park or just really appreciating streets that are lined with trees. 

Since restrictions may be in force due to covid, or may suddenly come into being, the Tree Council has the theme “Walk Where You May” instead.

Ways to get involved:

1. Appreciate one tree on your daily exercise – it could be a hedgerow too!  It could be in your garden, in your street, on your way to work, from your work window or in a wood.  Just stop and appreciate it, taking in the sight and stature of it, the colours, its height and possible age.
2. Share the tree in a tweet or photo or video.   Use the hashtag #WalkWhereYouMay.   And tag three other people to see if they will take part as well.

The Tree Council remind us of the importance of following social distancing guidelines.

You could also find out more about the Tree Council and what it does.  It brings everyone together to care for trees and the planet’s future.  For example, it aims to champion trees, to drive practical science and research , and to be the trusted voice of the tree sector.   

It’s a key partner in the Queen’s Green Canopy which is encouraging people to “Plant a tree for the Jubilee”  in honour of the Queen’s  incredible 70 years of service to the nation. 

They have other campaigns which may be of interest such as National Hedgerow Week (in September 2022), Seed Gathering Season and National Tree Week. 

Why not be a Tree Warden?

And if you’ve ever thought you would like to do more for trees in your area, how about becoming a Tree Warden?   Find out more here

Those fabulous people at Garden Wildlife Direct have some fly away fantastic offers on this Easter, with everything you need for your garden birds and wildlife!

There's all sorts of bird food, from seeds to sunflower hearts,
suet balls to food for wildlife

There are seed mixes for spring, summer, autumn and winter, with different brands including Peckish (as seen on the TV) adverts), Wildlife WOrld, Gardeman and Garden Wildlife Direct's own brand.  

They've got sunflower heart/seeds, Millet seeds, bird food bundles and starter kits for those of you who want to start feeding the birds in your garden. 

They've got suet fat balls, suet blocks, suet coconut shells nad suet pallets, plus a range of feeders for mealworms, ground feeders, sunflowers and seeds.

And of course you can get a full range of accessories such as window sticker alerts, bird tables, bird baths, nesting boxes, organments for your garden and things to store your bird goodies in.

This All Seasons Complete Dining Station gives your birds a one-stop shop (or cafe!) to feed from - it doesn't come with bird food, that's extra.

If you have or want to encourage ducks, swans, hedgehogs, squirrels, chickcn and poultry, then they have food for those animals as well, plus bee houses and insect hotels. 

If you have squirrels who keep pinching the food meant for the birds,
try a squirrel proof bird feeder

This is a great chance to get stocked up with essentials for the wildlife in your garden, be they birds, or bats or hedgehogs. squirrels or bees, so fly off to Garden Wildlife Direct for more informtion .

The Mating Game kicks off on BBC1 tonight with scenes of courting and companionship (Sunday 3^rd October 2021) and Sir David Attenborough narrates.   A species very survival depends on them being able to breed, so this is a critical topic.

As many species are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, a lack of food and water, pollution and climate change, it is essential that species can reproduce.  This is harder for some animals than others – you’ll see that amongst the episode there’s one called Against All Odds. 

There are five episodes covering:

1. Grasslands (that’s on Sunday 3^rd October)
2. Oceans
3. Jungles
4. Freshwater
5. Against All Odds – this one features animals who really have the odds stacked against them so they have had to develop extraordinary strategies to breed and survive

The programme comes to us from the makers of A Perfect Planet.  Here’s its website – there are some truly stunning videos and photographs so do take a look.

Check out the calendars featuring baby animals for 2022
from the CalendarClub.co.uk

Don’t miss:  BBC2 on Saturday 18 September 2021 at 8:00pm.

Natural World are focusing on giraffes, and in particular the work of conservationist Dr Julian Fennessy who aims to round up 20 giraffes – the world’s rarest – and take them across the huge Nile River.

The programme is from 2016-2017 but is well worth a watch, and the BBC has clips you can see on their website.

Dr Fennessy is the Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.  The charity say that giraffe numbers have declined by almost 30% in just over 30 years; there are now about 117,000 in the wild

The Foundation includes 19 people from 16 countries and 4 continents, all striving to help secure the giraffe a future. 

And it has a new initiative to increase giraffe field conservation and management actions right across Africa!  It’s called the Giraffe Action Fund and it identifies and supports field conservation campaigns and actions which protect and promote giraffe conservation.

For example, it helps action to

• Increase giraffe numbers, distribution and habitat
• Tackle anti-poaching
• Help with conservation education and awareness to safe giraffe and minimise the largest threats

And on social media, you can #StandTallforGiraffe

You can also donate to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, adopt a giraffe (perhaps as  a gift to yourself or a giraffe lover) or shop at their online shop, to help the Foundation continue their work.

Visit the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s website here

Edinburgh Zoo Entry and One Night Stay in a Giraffe Suite for Two at Hotel Indigo Edinburgh, available from Red Letter Days
Get 15% off with the code AHW2021RED, valid until 31 Dec 2021

Did you know that Kind Clothing have some animal-related t-shirts and sweatshirts?   Their products are kind to the planet and to animals, being made of organic cotton and recycled materials.

They've got t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, vests and joggers, so lots to choose from and also they have some with an animal theme!

Big Cats (Tigers) Organic Cotton T-Shirt
£24.00

Save The Chubby Unicorns - Organic Cotton T-Shirt
£24.00

Bee Kind Organic Cotton T-Shirt
£24.00

As well as being eco-friendly, each purchase plants a tree so it helps the planet even more! 

Visit Kind Clothing's website here

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on connecting with Nature.

There are many benefits of having contact with nature, whether you spend time in the garden looking at the sky or growing flowers and planting vegetables, or go on a walk through woods or up hills, or have a weekend glamping  or forest bathing!

Do some Mindfulness Meditation for two in Kent, from BuyaGift
Use the code 15AHW2021 and get 15% off!**
Plus we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust  

Spending time with nature can have many benefits:

1. You can meet other people especially if you volunteer for a conservation charity
2. You can improve your physical health by going on walks or being physically active through gardening
3. Volunteering for a nature charity can really give you a feel-good feeling – you’ve made a difference and can meet like-minded people who want to do the same
4. You could end up going where people don’t always go – sort of getting behind the scenes with nature!
   
   
   Enjoy a Two Night Break in The Nest Tree House, Devon, from Red Letter Days
   Use the code AHW2021RED and get 15% off!** Plus we will make a  donation to the Woodland Trust  
   
   
   
5. There are some amazing nature experiences you can enjoy
6. Nature can help you reduce stress  and help you relax
7. Nature can help you escape from everyday life – you really can get away from it all
8. You could do an activity that you don’t normally do, such as forest bathing or walking with an alpaca or llama!
   
   
   
   

   Lucky Tails Alpaca Farm Entry with Alpaca Walk
   for Two Adults and Two Children from BuyaGift
   Use the code 15AHW2021 and get 15% off!**
   Plus we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust  
   

9. You can see some amazing wildlife.
10. You can also enjoy nature on the water, so to speak, with some time on a boat!
11. You can combine being social, having exercise, getting fresh air, helping nature and escaping from the day’s routine all in one go!
    
    
    
    Go Forest Bathing in Sussex
    Use the code AHW2021RED and get 15% off!** Plus we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust  
    
    
12. Enjoy a holiday with nature at its heart – you could go glamping in the UK or spend time on a farm in Devon!
    
    
    
    Go stargazing in Wales!
    Use the code AHW2021RED and get 15% off!** Plus we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust   
    
    
13. Look up at the sky!  Spend an hour stargazing and be in awe of the beautiful stars in the sky. 
14. You can exercise your senses if you listen to the sounds of nature, look closely at its colours and detail, smell the scent of nature, taste vegetables and fruit and hug a tree! 

 Enjoy the natural world and improve your wellbeing!  

Buy an experience from Red Letter Days or Buy A Gift
and we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust!

**Codes are valid until 31 December 2021.  Non-discounted products do not apply  apart from that, the codes are site wide!