Time Outdoors

I've managed a few impromptu outdoor moments this month, squeezed in around all the work I've had...

One day, I visited Sheffield and managed to get in a walk at Ecclesall Woods before I came home...

There were very short walks at Swineholes Wood and Wetley Moor Common one rainy Sunday afternoon.

I found some very fresh porcelain fungus in the woods during a working day with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in Buxton. I also got in a couple of hours of pond dipping that day too, netting some nice beetles and water boatmen!

After working all day in Buxton, I was full of energy - such is the power of a lovely day outdoors for me! I was feeling so energetic, I decided I must go and climb Shutlingsloe in the evening, to burn off some energy and make the most of the sunshine. I did it barefoot too, the first barefoot walk I've done for a long time.

There were several ravens flying around by the top, along with a kestrel and plenty of meadow pipits.

The following day (last Sunday), I led a bushcraft birthday party for a 6 year old (which earned both myself and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust some fantastic praise from the family via an email - always nice to be told you've done a great job!)  and then in the evening, I once again had a hankering to get outdoors... I didn't go far, just up onto Gun Hill for a wander.

That pointy hill in the cloud in the distance is Shutlingsloe

Broom moth caterpillar

It had been a rather wet afternoon so I didn't expect great things up here, I was just enjoying the fresh air, but as I wandered through the wood, the light changed...

The sun broke through just before it set and bathed the land in a golden glow

This last photo was taken on Friday. I was supposed to be working but wasn't needed after all. The extra day was most appreciated. I had a quick walk in the woods and then cleaned my house thoroughly, for the first time in almost two weeks, which felt so good!

All these outdoor moments have given my a desire to get out more so I'm going to attempt another 'Wild October'. You may recall I did this three years ago as a kind of autumn version of 30 Days Wild.

I have quite a lot of work again for October, but not as much work as I had this month thankfully. I'm hoping to have time to share some Wild October blog posts, maybe even a daily post. We'll see how that goes.