June 2017 , I posted the first blog on Wildonline . Fast forward three and a half years , over 800 posts and a few million views , the blog is still going strong. Articles in my local paper and interviews on local radio have followed.

The blog vaguely follows my wildlife photography journey over the past few years. Nothing beats being out and about with a camera in hand , watching local wildlife and I think this has become more important this year. Having a garden with visiting wildlife has been priceless during the long periods of lock down . But I have always dreamed of having my very own patch of wilderness.

And after eighteen months of negotiations, and thanks largely to the efforts of my wife Anne, at long last the dream is about to become a reality. We have negotiated a lease for a small parcel of wildflower meadow , surrounded by woodland and farmland . The small plot is in a lovely setting within the rolling hills of the Marlborough downs in North Wiltshire.

The plot extends to just one and a half acres of wildflower meadow. The real exciting part is we have permission to build a hide and two ponds. I will be joined in this new adventure by my good friend and fellow blogger / wildlife photography Graham Stewart, who lives close to the plot of land.

Our mission is to build the hide and ponds . Restore the meadow and hedgerow and create a wildlife haven. So welcome to the Wild flower meadow.

REEVES MUNTJAC

The Reeves Muntjac (   Muntiacus reevesi )  is a small stocky deer , with a distinctive haunched appearance , with a rusty brown coat which turns  a dull shade of grey in winter. The Muntjac was named in 1812 after John Reeves of the East India Company. This non native species originated in south east Asia and was introduced to…

by phans66 May 26, 2023April 28, 2023

ROE DEER

Roe Deer , Capreolus capreolus The roe is one of the two species of truly native deer of the British Isles, the other being the red deer. Records of them date nearly 6,000 years.. They are strongly associated with woodlands and have increased in both population and distribution with the increase in woodland planting in…

by phans66 May 24, 2023May 6, 2023

THE HIDE , WATER

The Hide , Monday 22nd May 2023 Another busy day here at the Hide with the pool central to all the action. It seems that Monday is bath day.! The appearance of the Sparrowhawk last week seems to have scared off all the blackbirds . Normally there’s at least three or four hanging around the…

by phans66 May 23, 2023