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Going wild in June

1 June 2015 by Simon Barnes 17 Comments

 

          The Wildlife Trusts have told us that it’s a good idea to do something wild every single day of June. So Eddie and I thought we’d better do what they say, and we’re going to try and make a project out of it.

We began today simply enough: by walking round our scrap of marsh. And then we sat on the bench; Eddie drank apple juice and I, for once soberly, had some orange juice. The big sky of Norfolk all around us. Eddie, I should add, is my younger son. He was 14 last week. He loves wildlife, horses, dogs and Elvis, and he has Down’s syndrome.

So we sat in a rather chilly and blustery chunk of June weather and a few swifts flew overhead. I think Eddie’s got the hang of them. He also correctly identified whitethroat from the scratchy song that was belting out from a patch of brambles.

Perhaps the finest thing about this spring is the fact that a willow warbler has set up a territory on our own bit of the marsh and is singing his soft sweet song from its heart, doing so with great verve. So we stopped and had a good listen.

We then turned round and came back the way we had come, because the was blocked by a fresh crop of nettles, deeply hostile to a boy’s legs. A swan looked at us rather balefully from the dike and then a few more birds crossed the sky.

“Swifts!” said Eddie.

And then I realised that this project is not really about adding a bit of wild to an ordinary day. It’s about trying to demolish the barrier that we have created between wild and tame.

So here’s Eddie’s view of the same walk around the marsh.

30 days wild

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Posted in Wildblog

Comments

  1. David Valentine says

    1 June 2015 at 10:02 pm

    Miss both you and Eddie (now and again) from the times …. Not the same since you left ! But love the blog ! Thanks for your great writing!

    Reply
    • John Moore says

      2 June 2015 at 6:19 pm

      Second that David Valentine.

      Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:17 pm

      Thanks for kind words, will be staying with it.

      Reply
  2. Karen pipe says

    1 June 2015 at 10:04 pm

    I have had the pleasure of working with Eddie and have been impressed at his knowledge and love of wildlife .

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:20 pm

      How nice to hear from you, and a big hello from Eddie.

      Reply
  3. Jen Risdale says

    1 June 2015 at 10:06 pm

    Really enjoy reading your blogs Simon, thank you. I was shocked to hear of the lack of cuckoos, we’re lucky to still have them here in Newbourne and rely on them to remind us it really is Spring.

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:21 pm

      Thanks for this, it’s always a relief as much of a joy to hear a cuckoo these days.

      Reply
  4. Clare Mills says

    1 June 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Brilliant! You don’t have to see amazing exotic species every day, the small ‘LBJ’s’ are a revelation in themselves, the beauty in the everyday stuff is a constant joy, long may Eddie get enjoyment from it all!

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:22 pm

      Thanks for this. As you say, it’s all about tuning in.

      Reply
  5. starempath says

    1 June 2015 at 10:41 pm

    Lovely, I am certainly enjoying 30 Days Wild (we started early too!) in our own local patch by the Wensum complete as yours with nettles a chill wind and beautiful bird song. Have a great June.

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:22 pm

      You too!

      Reply
  6. Janey says

    2 June 2015 at 9:11 am

    Good morning, Simon. Thank you for sharing these lovely moments with us. Simple pleasures.

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:24 pm

      Delighted you’re enjoying it.

      Reply
  7. Terry Hinks says

    2 June 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Thank you both – great reminder of our need to connect with the natural world

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      17 June 2015 at 8:24 pm

      Absolutely, keep looking, keep listening.

      Reply
  8. Michael John Clark says

    8 June 2015 at 12:44 pm

    Maybe Eddie is so lucky seeing life through clear eyes. Enjoy the blogs, thank Eddie for me

    Reply
    • Simon Barnes says

      18 June 2015 at 9:32 pm

      He sees life through his own, but it’s fun when we’re both looking in the same direction.

      Reply

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