If you're looking for an animal experience as a gift for an animal lover, or you want to treat yourself, take a look at gift experience company Into the Blue
They've got a number of animal experiences, with animals such as ferrets, tamarin monkeys, alpacas, meerkats, pigs, sheep, snakes and crocodiles, bees, horses and donkeys.
They have a number of experiences for horse lovers, including a couple near York (Skipwith) - you can have a Traditional Farm & Horse Experience or a Two Wheeler Horse Cart Driving Experience, for instance. They've also got Romantic Horse and Carriage Rides for Two there, or maybe you'd prefer a Horse Drawn Carriage Rides with Afternoon Tea?
There's great news from Into the Blue! They have a 15% off for you with the code ITB15FORME on experiences up to £250.00*. (The code is site wide, although some are excluded from this offer.) They have some wonderful animal experiences!
How about a Carnivore Encounter in Shropshire? £75.00 Get up and close with 3 formidable carnivores Meet a Red Fox family and feed them, stroke and handle the Snakes, and meet the servals and stroke them too!
Recently, I’ve been drawing with a pencil a lot – all animals and the occasional landscape thrown in. I copy from magazines, books and photos, and just pick up a sketchbook I bought and get started.
I’ve done lots of birds and more recently dogs. Some of the animals are even starting to look like the animals they are supposed to be.
This month, my aim is to put more detail into the drawings and fill each page of my sketch book, rather than have just one drawing on each page. But I wanted to make my pages more than just drawings - what else could I do with them? I wondered.
In my search on how I might work this, I discovered nature journalling! I came across this amazing website from a guy called John Muir Laws and it gives LOTS of advice and information about it.
Needless to say, I became rapidly engrossed.
In a nutshell, nature journalling is all about collecting and organising your observations of nature, your questions, connections and explanations in a notebook. You can fill a page with drawings, observations, questions you have about nature and the answers you find, quotes about nature, when and where you saw the animal you’re drawing or the scene etc. It sharpens your powers of observation and curiosity and get you out into the real world, noticing things, wondering things, observing things and having quiet moments with nature. You're noticing things you wouldn't ordinarily see on a normal walk, and looking at them in close up and taking time to look at them.
No, you don’t have to be brilliant at art, or even good at it.
The great thing about it is that you don’t have to be good at art or know a lot about nature to get started.
The important thing about it is to get started.
To get started, get paper or a sketchbook, a pencil, sharpener and rubber. You can also use colours and do some painting. (Amazon has lots of sketchbooks to choose from.) Have a look at the Getting started with nature journaling videoon John Muir Laws’ website. It will give you an idea of what it’s all about and you can see some examples. He’s also got helpful “How to Draw” tips with videos.
There are lots of “how to” type tips and advice on John Muir Laws’ website, for families too, which I think is great – you can go out as a family and see what you can come up with on a page.
For me, I’m not intending to make my nature journalling very scientific. At the moment, I’m intending to use it to draw and add my thoughts and questions to it. Well, that’s the plan. But that’s the thing about nature journalling – to my mind, you can make it as scientific as you want it to be. Or not scientific at all. You could get painting or use pencil or charcoal. I use pencil because - frankly - it's easiest to grab at the start and clear away at the finish.
Some people who do nature journalling are more scientific than others. But you could include things such as the list below.
the date you did the page so you know what time of year it was
where you were when you did the page
drawings of birds, animals, flowers, trees, bushes, leaves, grass up close
your observations of them
questions you may have about them
scientific information about them (you can look those up when you get home)
a description of what you see
how you feel about what you see, felt, heard, smelt - tap into your senses
an idea of the size of what you are seeing - measurements, perhaps, to give you an idea of scale
In this world where so much seems to be going wrong everywhere, it is wonderful to be able to escape into the natural world, even if it’s just a corner of your garden or on your balcony or at the local park and just be.
Ordnance Survey are on a mission to get more people outside more often! Their maps help people explore their local area and plan ahead. Even with the very hot and dry bout of weather the UK is experiencing, you can always start planning for walks when things cool down!
Ordnance Survey are the national mapping agency of Great Britain. They are well known for their paper maps, their OS Mapps app, guide books, personalised maps, themed maps and others.
Now, if you want to do more exploring outdoors, there’s a great offer which may help you buy the maps you need to do just that! The offer is running until the 1st September at 4pm!
This offer is valid on their Explorer, Landranger, Tour, Road and Route paper and active maps only – it doesn’t include map sets and OSI discovery. Nor can you use it with items on sale or other promotional codes, and it’s one discount code per order. The T&Cs in full are below.
But that still leaves you lots of choice, so if you’re thinking of doing a walking holiday or exploring your home area, this could be a great time to make the most of this offer!
Please remember to take all your litter home with you including glass bottles, tin cans etc
Please don’t use disposable BBQs, sky lanterns or helium balloons – the wildfire risk is too great
Please make sure cigarettes are put out and disposed of properly.
The wildlife would be very grateful, and so would local firefighters. They are all exhausted in many parts of the country battling wildfires that – in many cases – could have been avoided.
T&Cs from Ordnance Survey…
Buy any 2 Paper Maps and get a third for a penny offer with code PENNYMAP. Offer is valid on Explorer, Landranger, Tour, Road and Route paper and active maps only. Offer excludes map sets and OSI Discovery. A third map will be reduced to 1p with another 2 maps purchased at full price. Cheapest item will be discount to 1p. Discount will be applied automatically with code PENNYMAP. Maximum purchase per transaction is 15 Maps. Discount code must be redeemed at time of order to redeem the offer. Cannot be used with items on sale or any other promotional codes. Only one discount code can be used per order. Subject to availability. Ordnance Survey reserves the right to end or change this promotion at any time. Offer ends Tuesday 1st September 4pm.
Have you tried your pooch on Pooch & Mutt food yet?
The guys at Pooch & Mutt are a team of dog lovers and their pets inspire everything they do! They’ve got dry food, wet food, supplements, dental sticks, long lasting chews, bone broth, food toppers and treats. They’ve also got toys and accessories.
You can shop for the right age range for your dog – puppy, adult and senior – and they know that one size doesn’t suit all. Their food is vet approved and made with natural ingredients – and they say their food is designed for all breeds and needs.
They’ve got a gut health test, as well, and you can get your results (for your dog!) in 4 weeks. Their microbiologists will analyse your dog’s poo sample (you need to pick it up and send it to them) and you’ll get personalised recommendations for your dog. Take a look at their blog on dog gut health – it’s got lots of interesting info, including why does your dog’s farts smell so bad?
As well as producing dog food and cat food, they support Woodgreen (the Dog House on TV) by donating monthly bags of our Health & Digestion, Calm & Relaxed, Soft & Shiny, Puppy Superfood and Small Dog Superfood dry foods. They also donate their Veterinary Foods where appropriate, some wet food and lots of lovely meaty treats for training and rewards! WOOF!
Anyway, Pooch & Mutt have an offer for new customers!
You can give them a go for £4.99! Just make your choice of their 1kg Health & Digestion or 1kg Calm & Relaxed dry food for £4.99 (RRP £8.49).
Did you know that the RHS has a prison garden programme? It’s run in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice. Prisoners in Manchester and Liverpool are involved, as well as Birmingham.
At the HMP Birmingham, prisoners are working on a programme to grow vegetables for local food banks. The prisoners have created some beautiful gardens, and it’s made a difference to them. A number of them come into the prison with mental health problems, and they find respite in the gardens. The prisoners find that the gardening they do and being in the garden gives them peace and space away from the world of the prison wing.
Needless to say, there is a high level of security that prisoners have to pass before they are allowed to take part. But what an opportunity to help prisoners blossom and bloom – there’s nothing like having a purpose and being with nature.
Prisoners in other prisons have grown vegetable plugs. The plugs – which start life as seeds - are passed on to community gardens who can harvest them and distribute the vegetables to food banks and charities.
At HMP Styal, the prisoners have the opportunity to get involved in horticulture to prepare them for life back outside of prison. They are sleeping better, feeling better in themselves and feeling more confident. For the last 7 years, they have created a garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
Well done to everyone involved.
By the way, a number of other charities are involved in prison work.
Restart Dogs CIC is a canine-assisted rehabilitation programme operating in prisons and young offenders institutions across England.
Paws for Progress works in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service at HMP & YOI Polmont, offering different services, tailored to guide learners through their journey with them.
Therapy Dogs have volunteers and their dogs visit prisons across England and Wales, offering invaluable support to both inmates and staff. These visits can be hugely helpful, especially to those prisoners who have few or no visitors.
Pets as Therapy also visits inmates in prisons and it has been partnering with prisons across the UK to offer therapeutic dog visits since 2007.
Of course, the Prison Service itself also has prison dogs. Tired Paws takes care of ex prison service dogs. Many sniffer dogs, riot dogs or dogs who have guarded the perimeters daily, are retired earlier than expected on medical grounds and they can’t get the insurance they need. Enter Tired Paws to help them.
National Marine Week runs from 25th July to 9th August 2026. (It’s longer than a week, because of the different tidal conditions around the UK.) There’s a LOT happening and you can find out all about what’s on by checking the Wildlife Trust’s website.
The theme for 2026…
In 2026, the Wildlife Trusts will running the annual National Marine Week with the theme Incredible Journeys, as our oceans are full of journeys. From sharks to Arctic terns, Bottlenose tuna to humpback whales, and limpets to spider crabs, there are all sorts of animals making a journey. Find out about some of these incredible journeys here.
What’s on?
Events are appearing already on the Wildlife Trusts’ website There are beach cleans, sea dipping, a shoresearch survey, a seabird spectacular, a seaweed search, whale and dolphin watches, mud dipping, rockpool rambles and more! Don’t worry if you can’t get to the sea – there’s lots of coverage on social media too!
Find your local Wildlife Trust
There are 46 Trusts around the UK from Alderney in the Channel Islands to Scotland, Cornwall to Norfolk, and North West Wales to Kent. You don’t have to live in an area to be a member of a particular Wildlife Trust, by the way, nor do you need to live by the sea to support National Marine Week. Find your local Wildlife Trust here and see what they are up to. The main Wildlife Trust website also has ways you can help.
12 ways to get involved in National Marine Week
In 2025, the Wildlife Trusts will be showcasing the 'Secrets of our Seabeds'. There are so many beautiful worlds under the water so this is a wonderful opportunity to find out all about them.
Even if you don’t live on the coast, you can connect to the sea by finding out more about the effect pollution is having on them and the wildlife there. Reduce your plastic use and pick up litter too, so that less plastic and litter heads downstream to the sea - left on the ground, it could get picked up by a passing bird and dropped later into a river and then out to sea.
1. Understand what the problems are
Today, the Wildlife Trusts say that some of the problems our marine life face include a lack of planning, because fishing, oil rigs and wind farms harm seabed habitats and consequently the wildlife there. As on land, it’s vital to make space for wildlife. Clear rules for industries are important so that everyone knows where they stand.
Of course, there’s terrible pollution from things such as sewage, farming chemicals, plastic litter. Fishing nets have been abandoned – we’ve all seen pictures of sea life and other animals caught in netting, or with plastic caught around their necks, or their heads in bottles, as they frantically try to escape.
It’s important to protect areas which have a big potential to capture carbon and store carbon, and also to make sure there are no destructive and damaging activities in areas which are already protected.
One of the big problems is the disconnect people have with nature now. It’s important for humans to understand the impact their actions have on the planet and why change is a must.
2. Be a political animal…
Please get political and tell people and politicians that nature matters!
We all need to shout loudly for nature! Nature has no voice, so it’s up to all of us to speak up. Polar Bears International (who have been researching sea ice and polar bears for decades) have help here on how to talk to family, friends and others about climate change, and how you can get political.
3.Be a citizen scientist!
Record your shoreline sightings and help marine and wildlife charities build up a picture of our shorelines and seas.
Find out about the Wildlife Trust’s Shoresearch, a national survey of the intertidal shore where sea meets land. This is a great way to explore the coast and discover all about the wildlife there – and contribute to the understanding of this key habitat.
The Shark Trust has a number of projects, such as the Basking Shark project, the Great Eggcase Hunt project, the Great Shark Snapshot (18th to 26th July 2025, anywhere in the world!) and the Angling Project.
The Marine Conservation Society has a number of projects, too such as Seasearch for divers, the Big Seaweed Search, and the Big Microplastic Survey.
Take part in the Great Global Nurdle Huntin October. Nurdles are small plastic pellets which are melted down to make nearly all plastic products and the problem is that thousands of tonnes of them spill straight into the environment worldwide. Visit the website to find out and how you can go hunting for nurdles!
6 Support seagrass projects
In May 2025, seagrass made its appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show, thanks to Seawilding (who are based in Scotland). Seagrass play a vital role in keeping oceans healthy and giving thousands of marine species a home, such as the seahorse, the manatee and the sea turtle. Project Seagrass, based in Wales, have a mission: A world in which seagrass meadows are thriving, abundant and well managed for people and planet. And there are a number of projects around the UK to help seagrass. The Marine Conservation Society has more information about seagrass itself and why it matters.
Go to the sea if it's close to you, or a river or canal; observe and connect to the natural world there and use your senses to really take in the natural world. If you are unable to leave home, take in videos from You Tube to explore the natural world with, from kayaking in Alderney, to meeting the dolphins of Wales. Rockpool species, sharks, turtles, seals – just drink in the marine videos.
Here's a question for you! How do you say "I love you" in puffin? Find out here!
The Wildlife Trusts’ website enable you to put the name of a species into a search box and you can learn all about it! This is a great opportunity to find out all about habitats – marine habitats, seagrass, biogenic reefs, deep-water corals, mud, sand and graves, kept beds and forests and rocky reefs. Float away to them here.
9. Support campaigns to improve the health of our oceans
The Marine Conservation Society has a number of different campaigns, such as banning disposable vapes and wet wipes. And they have campaigns to stop ocean threads and stop pollution. But there are also campaigns against balloon releases – who knows where they will end up? Find out about their campaigns here.
Take a look at Surfers Against Sewage, too. Water quality, plastic pollution, ocean recovery and the ocean and climate emergency are all challenges they are tackling. And find out about their Million Mile Clean – they want 100,000 people to take a 10 mile stretch and clean it up on the coast, canals, bridle paths, towns and cities! And whether you're in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, they are asking us all to email our political representatives and demand action to clean up our waterways and hold polluters to account. Find out more here.
10. Use less plastic
The Wildlife Trusts have lots of help to enable you to use less plastic in all sorts of ways, from the bathroom, to the kitchen and being out and about, and they also have info about those sneaky plastics you may not have thought of! Find out more
Don't forget that July is Plastic Free Month - a chance for you to reduce the amount of plastic in your life, so it's a good way to do something towards both National Marine Week and Plastic Free Month at the same time.
11. Remember our Rivers!
The Canal and Rivers Trust also has ways in which you can help care for our canal and rivers network to make it easy to #VolunteerByWater
12. Support wildlife and marine charities
You could become a member of a marine charity such as a Wildlife Trust – it’s a great way to find out about the campaigns they are running, the threats marine and wildlife and our seas face and ways the Trusts are tackling those threats. You could also donate to a campaign or to a Trust.
You could also take a look at Seacology, whose mission is "to protect threatened island ecosystems all over the world. We do that by working directly with communities, helping them to preserve their cultures and improve their lives while saving precious island habitats." Visit their website here.
It’s easy to look at a website and then shut it off as you go off to do something else. Nature really needs our help now, and she needs you and me – all of us – to take actions to help the natural world. Please take an action and tell someone what you’ve done and ask them to do something as well. Ask them to join in!
They create yummy, wholesome food for both cats and dogs - they believe our cherished family members deserve to eat proper food full of nourishing ingredients. They're on a mission to give pets a diet full of goodness, whilst treading lightly on the planet at the same time!
For dogs , they've got dry dog food, wet dog food, dental chews, treats, selection boxes and more. They've got diets for dogs with sensitive tummies, and sensitive skin, and special diets that are grain free, hypoallergenic, organic and vegetarian. You can order for puppies, adults and seniors. They've got recepies in beef, chicken, salmon, goose, herring, lamb, pheasant and pork so you've got lots of choice!
As well as dog and cat food, there's all sorts of other goodies for your dogs and cats, such as this one for dogs:
You can buy these Bedtime Biscuits on their own, or a box of 8 of them They have a bit of chamomile in them, known for its soothing properties!
Oy! What about us?!!
And for our feline members of the family, there's wet food, dry food, treats (of course!), selection boxes and you can choose from special diets such as grain free and organic and hypoallergenic. You can also choose for kittens (under 1), adults (1 to 6) and seniors (7 plus). Recipies include beef, chicken, salmon, cod, trout, prawn, turkey, pork, lamb and duck. Miaow!!
Lily's Kitchen have also got helpful tips on caring for your dog and caring for your cat.
Well, it's a very exciting day for pangolins! These shy, elusive animals have their own special day. You see, they are not very well known animals - many people have never heard of them - but they are important in ecosystems.
You see, pangolins eat termites and ants and so help stop these little mites destroying forests. They are essential to a healthy ecosystem for all of us. But pangolins are considered to be the most trafficked mammal on earth today, thanks to a demand for their meat and scales. You'll find them in some parts of Africa and Asia.
There are lots of efforts ongoing to protect pangolins and this year, 2026, the theme of World Pangolin Day is Guardians in Action. It recognises the conservation professionals and community members who are involved in rescue operations and rehabilitation programmes, as well as habitat monitoring and public awareness campaigns.
One of the problems pangolins have is that many people have never heard of them, or have heard of them but don't kow what they look like, or know anything about them. World Pangolin Day gives us all a chance to do three things:
Learn about pangolins. This video from the Zoological Society of London will tell you more:
Be their PR agents and spread the word about them! We can follow the event on social media #WorldPangolinDay #pangolinconservation
We can also do fun pangolin activities - have you tried to draw a pangolin? Just take a pen and paper and give it a go! Christine Elder on You Tube has a video called "How to Sketch a Pangolin".
Those lovely folk at Pooch & Mutt have created an range of natural meals treats and supplements that both does good and tastes good giving dogs the ingredients they need to boost their mood and behaviour and their physical health.
They create an enhanced range of natural meals treats and supplements that does good and tastes good, to give the UK's dogs the optimal ingredients needed to boost their mood and behaviour paw in paw with their physical health.
They’ve got lots of treats for dogs and cats, and also – very handy – they’ve got dental treat. They’ve got functional ranges – calming, digestion, weight-loss, skin and coat, dental and joint care, and they have products which are suitable for different dietary needs such as hypoallergenic, low fat, grain-free, fish based, probiotics and gluten-free. Not only that, they’ve dry food, wet food, supplements, dental sticks, long-lasting chews, and lots of other goodies!
By the way, did you know that Pooch & Mutt support Woodgreen? They donate bags of their dry food every month to feed the dogs in their care - along with lots of meaty treats to help with training and rewards! And when people adopt a pet from Woodgreen, they receive a rehoming pack with helpful info; Pooch & Mutt will also be supplying a taster bag of dry food with every dog rehoming pack - and also discounts for life on their nutritious range! They've donated a tail wagging £22,946.89 to Woodgreen, through adding a donation to their order, or via their Pooch Rewards!
There are a couple of events taking place this year, which I wanted to tell you about.
Saturday 21st March 2026- there's the 2026 National Spring Show at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0SR. It will include in-hand classes for pedigree Shire horses.
Thursday 27th August 2026 - the National Summer Show will be held at the Society's headquarters at Rockingham Castle on the Northamptonshire/Rutland border (LE16 8TH). There are classes for turnouts, harness, agricultural implements, in-hand and ridden exhibitors.
The Shire Horse Society is dedicated "to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire Horse". And the National show gives us a great chance to get an insight into the most wonderful of horses, the Shire.
This will be a wonderful chance to see some incredible horses!
Also, if you love huge horses and you're further south, a great place to visit is the Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire (opens early February to the end of November, you need to book). It's home to retired military and police horses (huge) and Riding for the Disabled ponies (tiny, mostly), as well as rescues. They do a really good cream tea, too.
The South of England Showground, Ardingly, also has a number of events during the year, including the London Harness Horse Parade , held on Easter Monday (6th April 2026) with all sorts of horses and ponies from Shires to Shetlands.
