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.

WILDLIFE – THE DUNNOCK

The Dunnock Dunnocks , Prunella modularis are native to the UK and large areas of Europe with their range spreading as far as Lebanon, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. The ground feeding dunnock’s favoured habitats include woodlands, shrubs, gardens, and hedgerows. The dunnock looks from a distance similar to a house sparrow but the easiest…

by phans66 April 24, 2024

REVIEW – KENRO KENTR501C TRIPOD

KENRO KENTR501C TRIPOD Kenro’s web site states the tripods are “manufactured to exacting standards of quality and design” which they back up with a six year guarantee. The tripod is manufactured from eight layers of high quality carbon fibre with aluminium alloy castings giving an impressive load capacity of 14 kg. The four section legs…

by phans66 April 23, 2024

HEDGEHOGS

Here’s something a little different , a black and white video of our resident Hedgehogs , now all awake. I don’t think I have posted any clips from the garden for quite a while …… Here’s the full Hedgehog story……. The Hedgehog The European hedgehog , Erinaceus europaeus is not only one of Britain’s favourite…

by phans66 April 22, 2024