Some days, just thinking about being outdoors will have to do

Today I didn't manage to make it outdoors at all but I had an exciting encounter with it through a book, which might sound odd.

I was dashing through the library to return some overdue books in a brief window between appointments when a book on a display stand called out to me: Run Wild by Boff Whalley. That was this afternoon and I'm 6 chapters in already.

In it, he writes of how running in nature has kept him grounded on international tours with his band Chumbawumba ('I get knocked down but I get up again...'). He describes wild running as 'replanting our feet in the soil' and 'rediscovering our roots'. He argues that we evolved to run, in order to hunt for food, and that 'historically and physiologically, it's part of who we are'.

I was especially interested in his story of running up into the hills from Ambleside as the sun started setting (although concerned about how to get back down in the dark!) as my last visit there saw a late afternoon walk up Loughrigg with magical views over the surrounding hills.

I just might try a (daylight) run on my next trip there in the summer...

Nearly bluebell time

On our annual bluebell walk, my friend and I were a little disappointed to see nothing but a carpet of green leaves... until right in the middle of the deep dark wood, we came across a patch in bloom:

 

The fragrance of wild garlic was everywhere, the trees were bursting into bud and the anemones were still out too, it was a sensory treat (as was lunch afterwards!).

Somewhat incongruously, there were fungi too:

Hosta times are here again!

I absolutely adore hostas. I think most people with an interest in plants have a particular fondness for one or two types and hostas are mine. I'm just popping out to deal with some slugs, I'll be right back...

OK, that's done, here are some of the very early shoots emerging:

This looks like a gourmet feast to a slug so they just have to be discouraged and unfortunately there is no nice way of doing that. Rabbits take the same view, which is why they're strictly limited to the front garden, which is a rabbit-free zone (barring someone leaving the gate open, that is).

At last count I had 18 plants in pots and another 20+ in the ground. The potted ones go in the garage or shed for protection in winter, and their return to the outdoors once the worst frosts have passed is another sign for me that Spring is on the way.

They vary in height from under 10 cm to about 50 cm, with leaf sizes from perhaps 5 cm to 30 cm across. The range of shapes and shades of green, yellow and cream is what really appeals to me, and as the leaves develop I'll show you some of my favourites. They do have flowers but that's not really why I grown them. I know I won't be able to resist the specialist hosta growers' stalls at the RHS Summer shows so there will be even more later in the year...

Welcome to guest blogger Dave in Richmond Park!

London guest blogger Dave writes:
Here's proof that you don't have to go into the wilderness to experience nature at its beautiful best. 

These wild deer roam free in Richmond Park just ten miles from the thundering traffic in the centre of London. 

The herd of around 630 animals is thriving on the  edge of Greater London with its population of some nine million. The deer have been breeding in the park since 1529. Watching them adds interest to my regular bike rides in the park.

A lot of interest in a little nature reserve

This morning, at last, I had more than a few minutes to spend outside and decided to check out a local nature reserve which had been recommended to me. When I looked on the map, it appeared to be, as my mother would describe it, the size of two penn'orth (pennies worth!) of copper. In fact, whilst it wasn't enormous, there was a great deal to see. I wished I had taken the camera with the proper zoom lens but these will have to do for now:

There were lots of interesting birds around, including these cormorants, which I think of as a sea bird but apparently there are more of them living inland nowadays. I do like how the nature reserve has made the cormorants a little island to nest on:

I searched online for 'cormorant', and it turns out to be a rather controversial bird. Anglers seem to see them as a problem because they eat fish; fisheries can apply for licences to shoot them in order to protect their fish stocks. There doesn't seem to be any clear explanation of why there are more of them inland nowadays, maybe because of a decline in fish stocks around the coast or maybe because fisheries provide them with the equivalent of an 'all you can eat' buffet. I can't claim to be an expert but the view that shooting them creates a vacuum into which other cormorants will move seems pretty likely. It's also interesting that research shows that fish refuges within fisheries create safe spaces and reduce predation by some 80%, so maybe there are effective alternatives to shooting.

An unexpected and moving find

A couple of weeks ago, I was on taxi duty to Cannock and had to kill some time before heading home. Driving aimlessly around looking for somewhere for a stroll, I found myself in Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which I'm not familiar with, and came across signs for the German War Cemetery. I was intrigued and headed for it, and it was well worth a visit.

The cemetery is a resting place for German soldiers who were buried locally to where they died, and were later brought together with their compatriots in this central location. Most head stones have at least two names, perhaps unintentionally giving a sense of companionship.

The setting sun and the lingering snow evoked a mood of tranquility and reflection. Had I been visiting a fallen relative, I think I'd have felt it an appropriate setting.

Wind and rain

On a very very brief walk today between appointments, I noticed that the breeze was quite strong yet also quite warm. As windy weather is one of my least favourite kinds, I was slightly surprised by how pleasant it was. A vague thought about a Southerly wind crossed my mind - very vague, as Geography was one my least favourite subjects at school. I got out my phone and checked the compass - sure enough, a Southerly or maybe South Westerly breeze.

I know the photo is less than informative about the wind direction (just pleased I remembered how to take it) but it was coming from the arrow bottom left, more or less. The Met Office site agreed. So I learnt something about wind direction, but I also realise how little I understand about the weather generally. I mean, why doesn't it rain when the clouds look pretty grey and threatening? An online search suggests these are stratus, low level clouds which may produce drizzle; fog is ground level stratus cloud, apparently.

I don't believe the old wives' tale about cows lying down if rain is imminent - these ones mostly are but it certainly didn't rain today anyway. I think I need to get to grips with the meaning of different types of clouds to be properly knowledgable about the outdoors.

Blossom and bare (ish) feet

On a short walk today I noticed how the cherry blossom trees are in flower, even though their leaves (along with most other trees) aren't yet out. This apparently odd timing means the flowers have much more impact than if they were hidden among leaves. How clever of them!

I do love winter but I also love each new season as it comes. As the weather looked quite pleasant today, I decided to risk going out in sandals for the first time after months of being muffled up in winter boots, and it turned out to be amply warm enough. For me, the switch from boots to sandals (well, almost bare feet) must mean we're well out of winter now, and after this long long winter, that's a lovely feeling.

Darned dandelions - or delicacy?

Today I head off for a short walk from my house before work, noticing dandelion flowers on the verges for the first time this year. For most people they're weeds; me too, when I'm in gardening mode.

Today they're delicacies for my house rabbits, who have been surviving on kale and cabbage greens for months and are very grateful for fresh new leaves.

Earth Day: the perfect launch day?

Hello on Earth Day 2013.
This seems like an auspicious day to begin a blog about the outdoors.

Heading home (reluctantly) to flat old Cheshire after a week in the Lake District got me thinking about how I'd love to get more of the outdoors into my daily life.

It's too important to save for the odd weekend away. It lifts my mood and opens my horizons.

This blog aims to encourage me, and maybe  you, to find ways to make that happen more often. I've never blogged before, so bear with me...