Small Wonders

By Fran Southgate

Living Landscape Advisor

With lockdown becoming the new normal, the removal of my daily commute has given me extra time to appreciate the flurry of wildlife activity that this time of year brings. Nature is delighting in spring and in this brief respite from our hustle and bustle, so it’s a great time to see shy wildlife that might otherwise be hidden. Birds are being a braver about where they perch and nest, the seagulls have moved to I-know-not where, and the local foxes are starting to search out mates. 

I’m an outdoor girl at heart, so I’m using my daily physical and mental exercise slot as an opportunity to be in the fresh air and to observe the emergence of spring from afar. We’re lucky on the coast to be seeing some really low tides during lockdown. Vast expanses of exposed sand and rock pools make paddling whilst social distancing fairly easy at the right time of day.

Just those few extra minutes to stop, and spend time looking around at what is thriving has helped me to see some fantastic wildlife wonders. Small things that I might otherwise have rushed passed, or that might have run away from me, are much easier to spot when you take time to observe. Yesterday I was completely in awe of this Dahlia anemone. I’ve never seen one before – it’s truly like a flower in the sea. 

For those who aren’t lucky enough to have land, sea or gardens, our public open spaces are essential to their welfare at the moment. So if you see someone getting their daily doses of the outdoors, please smile at them, give them a wide berth, and tell them if you’ve spotted anything wildlife wonderful.

Visit our Go Wild at Home section for more wildlife activities and nature ideas