30 Days Wild

[GoogleMe]

Does everyone know about this initiative from the Wildlife Trusts encouraging people to connect with nature every day in June?

The obvious place for me to start was with a run since I always run 'in nature'. Lush growth on the trail round the local reservoir with some lovely scents from the flowers and that fresh shade of green on the trees. I am rubbish at identifying waterbirds but saw cormorant, Canada geese, coot, great crested grebe, tufted duck and some sort of small gull/tern.

I'm making a list of ideas - better crack on with the nettle soup before it gets too late in the season.

[misswobble Graduate]

Ooooh nettle soup! My mum used to make a "brew" with nettles and dandelions. Very lemony flavour, oddly enough.

I love running on the trails, and walking too as much as possible and spying the flora and fauna. It's free which is why I like it so much. I have noticed how lush the trees are, billowing masses of them, as it's rained so much

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I love nettle soup but haven't got round to making it the last few years - got to be young (the nettles, not the cook). Quite a bit like watercress soup only ever nicer and terribly good for you.

[Pigivi]

Thank you, I never heard of it, and the Irish wildlife trust doesn't seem to do it - but it doesn't matter really, it's a good initiative!

Mind you, today stepping out of the door even for 1 minute is having a more than wild connection with nature!!! wind gusts up to 60 km/h, and floods... this is a picture of one of my favourite woods (actually, that is the car park) in the area - no... am not going for a run today ! facebook.com/GlengarriffWoo...

[misswobble Graduate]

I have a Champneys recipe for nettle quiche lying about somewhere. I have a Hugh Fernly wotsit one too. I let nettles grow on my plot margins, under the hedge rows. The tips get used for cooking. full of Vitamin C apparently. My chooks would eat them only once picked and wilted

[Pigivi in reply to misswobble]

some recipes here too

herbalacademyofne.com/2015/...

oh, I just call him HFW - it's much easier!

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

What a lovely idea! Elderflowers are ready to be made into champagne too, if only the rain would let up a bit! I'm connecting with nature by looking out of my window today (though sill is filled with tomato plants that smell amazing. Does that count?)

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

I believe it does (they've tried to make it accessible I think). Although possibly cheating/not terribly beneficial if you did something like that for all of the 30 days.... but you're the tea fairy and there's not much risk of that unless you are laid up after your amazing feat/feet.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Not exactly laid up - been on my feet at work all day - but definitely avoiding staircases as far as possible and not too keen on the idea of an incline. One more lazy day, I reckon, then a wee jog to loosen the legs back up.

[misswobble Graduate]

Thanks Pigivi!!!! Some great looking recipes there!