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.

The Magpie

The Magpie ( Pica pica ) Words and pictures by Peter Hanscomb The Eurasian Magpie , more commonly known as just the Magpie ( Pica pica ) is a member of the crow family and undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and curious of all birds likely to visit our gardens. Magpies are deeply embedded…

by phans66 June 2, 2023

THE MOLE

The Mole , Talpa euopaea Moles are a regular visitor at the Meadow Hide , we have never seen one which is normal but the evident there , with their distinctive mole hills periodically appearing in the grass path to the hide. The mole is a small mammal that spends most of it’s life underground…

by phans66 May 31, 2023May 7, 2023

SLOW WORM

Slow worm , Anguis fragilis With long, smooth, shiny, grey or brown bodies, slow worms look very similar to a small snakes and can grow up to 50cm long. In fact the Slow worm is a legless lizard , and are quite harmless to humans. Slow worms like humid conditions and emerge from their hiding…

by phans66 May 29, 2023May 13, 2023