30 Days Wild: Day 11 – Go Wild for Bugs

Today, I was planning on putting a bird box up. There are lots of birds around at the moment. This (blurry) blackbird was singing – I think to attract its mate to share food, though I may be wrong. I was impressed it could sing with its beak full.

There are also numerous smaller birds around that might benefit from a home. However, I had a rethink when the bird box attracted Charlie cat’s interest in minutes.

I decided to site it at my partner’s house for safety. However, while I was initially trying to find somewhere to put it, before Charlie arrived, I noticed lots of twigs and branches around so made some bug habitats by piling them together.

I decided to take a bug’s eye look at the world.

I spotted another fungi.

I found a woodlouse.

I spotted some ants and watched them race around. Sadly, it was too dark to get a photo.

I took a macro shot of the ground to see the obstacle course it would present to a bug. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful even a patch of earth can be close up.

I planted some strawberries, along with thyme and a tomato (my 40p ‘rescue plants’ which already seem much happier).

I checked on the rest of my plants, which are growing well.

I planted a bird seed container, filled with bird friendly plants.

I put a bucket underneath a sloping roof to capture rain for the garden.

I noticed the street light’s effect on the clouds and thought about light pollution. One of the reasons I love escaping into the middle of nowhere is the glorious blackness of the sky at night.

I ended day 11 of 30 Days Wild by starting some new herb cuttings off. With any luck, my supermarket bargain thyme should soon fill the outdoor tub, and this cutting will be planted in my kitchen herb garden so I have two plants for the price of one. As the plants grow, I’ll repeat the process to create mini herb gardens for friends.

While Charlie cat may have thwarted my bird box plans, he seemed to be taking a closer look at nature today too.

Random Acts of Wildness So Far…

1. Spread the word.
2. Start a weather/pain diary.
3. Look at the clouds.
4. Photograph wildflowers.
5. Look for urban nature.
6. ID a butterfly.
7. Find a fledgling.
8. Feed a swan.
9. Collect feathers.
10. Stake out a foraging site.
11. ID birdsong.
12. Tweet using the #30DaysWild hashtag.
13. Plant a virtual seed.
14. See new life growing.
15. Feed the ducks.
16. Protect an animal from a predator.
17. Reflect on nature.
18. Look closely at your lawn.
19. Make someone a nature hamper from recycled materials.
20. Share nature photos using #30DaysWild on Instagram (and help the hashtag trend).
21. Show your houseplants some love.
22. Tell friends about #30DaysWild.
23. Talk to a junior naturalist and encourage their creativity.
24. Photograph a favourite cuddly toy in nature.
25. Add a nature event to your diary.
26. Look closely at a friend’s garden.
27. Take photos for #Rainbowblooms.
28. Find a plant that looks like a bug.
29. Watch a bee.
30. Read a nature-based research paper.
31. Get overawed by nature
32. Watch the dawn.
33. Walk barefoot in dewy grass.
34. Try a nature meditation.
35. Raid and repurpose the recycling.
36. Go on a wild date.
37. Go litter picking.
38. Protect the soil.
39. Make nature art.
40. Watch the sunset
41. Turn your desk wild.
42. Water your plants.
43. Celebrate World Environment Day.
44. Take part in the plastic challenge.
45. Watch nature videos.
46. Tell people who run your favourite hashtag hour on Twitter about 30 Days Wild.
47. Tell a colleague about 30 Days Wild.
48. Take a closer look at foxgloves.
49. Share nature-themed recycled crafting ideas.
50. Have a natural aromatherapy bath.
51. Dress for the weather.
52. Connect with a local nature lover.
53. Look at a puddle closely.
54. Rescue a plant.
55. Make a mini meadow in a recycled container.
56. Photograph wet leaves.
57. Welcome new wildlife to the area.
58. Make a bottle garden.
59. Make a wild bouquet.
60. Collect flower petals for your nature crafting box.
61. Tend a garden.
62. Feel the wind in your hair.
63. Collect leaves for crafting.
64. Grow a tomato.
65. Create a 30 second wildlife habitat.
66. Admire an insect.
67. Photograph something blue.
68. Make a nature video.
69. Go on a flower pot hunt.
70. Wear nature-inspired fashion.
71. Vote for nature.
72. Plan a windowbox walk.
73. Celebrate World Oceans Day.
74. Go wild in a graveyard.
75. Love lichen.
76. Be amazed by moss.
77. Find fungi.
78. Stock up on wild supplies.
79. Bag a bargain to bring back to life.
80. Find something new in nature.
81. Grow your own food.
82. Reflect on nature and what it means to you.
83. Look closely at cuckoo spit.
84. Plant something pollinator friendly.
85. Plant a herb garden and share cuttings.
86. Look for bugs.
87. Let your garden go wild.
88. Read the weather.
89. Brighten a corner of your home with plants.
90. Use an eco friendly search engine.
91. Repurpose plastic packaging.
92. Use biodegradable glitter.
93. Collect flower petals.
94. Find the perfect feather to make a quill.
95. Add fairyland magic to your home with a fairy doll made from recycled materials.
96. Use feathers as home decor.
97. Wear nature-inspired jewellery.
98. Watch the moon.
99. Go for a dawn walk.
100. Invite people to a wild cocktail party.
101. (Try to) put up a bird box.
102. Make a bug habitat.
103. Take a bug’s eye view.
104. Follow an ant.
105. Take a macro shot of the earth.
106. Plant strawberries.
107. Plant a bird seed garden.
108. Collect rainwater for the garden.
109. Think about light pollution (and turn off garden lights when not in use).
110. Create a kitchen herb garden.