The Green Fingered Photographer

Beauty And The Mini Beast

2009-06-28T22:31:00.003+01:00

What a great combination, one of my favourite flowers and a Thick legged beetle.

The male beetle can be this or turquoise in colour and feeds on the pollen of plants. I see it a lot on ox-eyed daises, as I suppose with them being an open flower they are easy to feed from.

What Great News...

2009-06-19T23:34:00.003+01:00

At last nights 2009 Pride of Shropshire Awards ceremony,

Lawley Green Space Group won the

"Shropshire Community Group Award"

This is a great achievement for our group, as the whole project has been carried out on a shoestring and with the good will of many people and organisations.

Here you can see our winners trophy, certificate and bottle of champagne.

And finally from me... I would like to thank everyone who has helped us get to this stage and hope that other communities have seen what we have achieved and are inspired.

Focus On....The Meadow

2009-06-15T18:42:00.002+01:00

The community group that I belong to has finished structurally creating all of the different areas and habitats and I thought it would be a good idea to focus on one area in depth . So over the next couple of weeks you will be able to see more of each area.

The first area I shall take you through is The Meadow

The meadow has been under construction since Autumn of last year and it has involved building a dry stone wall, clearing out a small wooded area, making a fence around it , providing two benches, sowing some wildflower seed,creating two log pile/habitat things and finally marking out the area with 26 two meter logs. The view you are looking at it what you will see if you enter the meadow from the reindeer hut entrance.

As you can see the grass and wildflowers are starting to look quite meadowy and I think you will agree the logs marking out the area fit in very well. The paths will remain grass and will be strimmed every now and again to keep it short. I think leaving the paths grass adds to the feel rather than mulching them.

Several of the areas were sown with wildflowers around March time and they are just starting to fill out the beds and blend in with the grasses.

The log piles are also starting to blend in and the green roof will be in flower soon. You can also see our giant log pile in the middle of the picture, these logs where put there around 6 years ago and they are starting to break down quite nicely, creating habitats for insects.

I mentioned earlier that we had cleared out some of the lower branches from this wooded area, this has been planted with woodland plants and in the Autumn we shall be planting it with bluebells, so come next Spring it should look fantastic.

A bit of a closer look at the plants in the wood. The wooded area has a fence that goes around it which you can see at the top right of the picture. It is made from hazel and silver birch and works really well.

The view from the woods looking out onto the meadow. The two places blend quite nicely into each other by using the right plants in each area.

The dry stone wall is now complete with its grass bank. This has taken a while to establish due to the warm April, but with all of the rain we have had recently it has taken off.

And finally... this is the view from one of the benches and it one that I enjoy sitting on watching all of the insect. That in its self is important to me as I feel that we have created a useful habitat for many insects and other animals in what was just another bit of grass that was mowed once a month and was not a lot of use to anyone or anything.
So if you would like to have a closer look why not pop down and I'll fight you for the bench.

Picture Of The Month June 09

2009-06-13T00:03:00.004+01:00

Here is the seventh 'Picture Of The Month' , which you can view together with the previous months pictures at my photographic web site. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world. You can order them from my web site by using PayPal or just contact me at dragonsanddamsels@fsmail.net

This picture is called

'Three Of A Kind'

June is a time when the garden really gets going, the Ox-eyed daisy is always one that lights up a border and as it grows well just about anywhere it works well in a wild flower garden too, and as a extra plus insects love it.

Ok I Confess....

2009-05-26T10:31:00.004+01:00

I'm a logaholic

If you would like to hear more about my addiction you can see me tomorrow (May 27th) at the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival around 12.30hrs at the Wiggly Wigglers garden where I shall be talking about and demonstrating my addiction to log plies.

I would love to meet fellow logaholics so see you there.

Here are a couple of my recent log creations.

Just a simple pile of logs made up from various woods to create a visually interesting pile of different colours and textures.

This one is along the same theme but with logs around 4ft in length, they are kept in place by sweet chestnut stakes which in turn have enabled a green roof to be added, creating yet another habitat.

And finally.... this one is made from old pallets with all of the gaps filled with all sorts of things that will suit a wide variety of insects, spiders and mammals.

All of these piles have one thing in common, that is they hardly cost me anything to put together. So if you wish to be come a fellow logaholic why not give it ago and help wildlife out.

Pulling Up Radishes

2009-05-18T17:59:00.001+01:00

The first vegetables to come out of the new community veggie plots were harvested yesterday

The radishes were the first to grow and you can see the children were quite fascinated with them. New ones have been sown ready for the next crop.

How are your veggies doing?

Picture Of The Month May 09

2009-05-07T10:06:00.004+01:00

Here is the sixth 'Picture Of The Month' , which you can view together with the previous months pictures at my photographic web site. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world. You can order them from my web site by using PayPal or just contact me at dragonsanddamsels@fsmail.net

This picture is called

'Bluebell Wood'

You can't help but be inspired by the carpet of bluebells currently out in flower, they are certainly one of my nature highlights of the year.

"Pride In Shropshire" Awards

2009-04-17T00:13:00.002+01:00

I received some good news in the post today. Our green space group has made it through to the last three in the "Community Group Award" for this years "Pride In Shropshire" Awards

We will find out how well we have done at the award ceremony on June 18th, so fingers crossed.

Picture Of The Month April 09

2009-04-14T21:17:00.003+01:00

Here is the fifth 'Picture Of The Month' , which you can view together with the previous months pictures at my photographic web site. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world. You can order them from my web site by using PayPal or just contact me at dragonsanddamsels@fsmail.net

This picture is called

'White On Blue'

This is a Green Veined White butterfly enjoying some nectar from froget-me-nots which has recently emerged with the nice weather we have had this past week.

It Is Pleasing When....

2009-03-31T10:45:00.003+01:00

You have one of your pictures turned into something else.

In this case it is the front cover of the latest Wiggly Wigglers catalogue

It is even more pleasing knowing that the Greater Knapweed that the Silver Y Moth and the hover fly are feeding from was one that Wigglys supplied our community group, Lawley Green Space Group with when we first started.

If you would like to receive one of Wiggly's catalogues you can sign up by clicking here. You wont be disappointed as their are loads of great ideas and products inside.

Scarlet Elf Cups

2009-03-17T10:00:00.001Z

Have you ever come across these fungi?

They are Scarlet Elf Cups (Sarcoscypha coccinea) and they are a saprophyte, which means they grow on dead wood . They favour damp woodland areas and as here you will often see them growing with mosses. They are only quite small around 4cm in height and 5cm in width. I have never seen them before and was quite pleased when I came across them.

They certainly add a nice blob of colour to the woodlands this time of year.

Picture Of The Month March 09

2009-03-15T19:19:00.003Z

Here is the fourth 'Picture Of The Month' , which you can view together with the previous months pictures at my photographic web site. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world. You can order them from my web site by using PayPal or just contact me at dragonsanddamsels@fsmail.net .

This picture is called 'Snowdrop'

A nice close up of one of natures most beautiful flowers, that certainly puts a smile on your face at this time of the year.

Three Counties Open Photographic Competition 2009

2009-02-27T19:49:00.003Z

The Three Counties Competition is open to any one who lives in either Shropshire,Staffordshire or Cheshire and is held at Keele University. I entered " Snail Sworls " for which I received a Highly Commended award. This was quite pleasing to have this picture so highly placed from over 400 entries.

The picture is made up from snails that I came across whilst holidaying in the South Of France. The colour of the snails and the surrounding rocks just seemed to go well together. After arranging them, they were put back from where I had found them, so no snails were put in danger to make this photograph.....
The Exhibition runs from Thursday 26 February to Wednesday 1 April 2009. The Art Gallery is located within the Chancellor’s Building and is open to the the general public.

You can see more of my pictures that have done well in various exhibitions by clicking here, or if you would like to view or purchase more of my images just click here

BBC Radio Shropshire

2009-02-23T15:37:00.002Z

If you are looking for something to do today between 4pm and 7 pm the why not listen to John Darvall on Radio Shropshire. As Tim Cook has just been down to the green space to record a piece about the vegetable plots and other parts of the green.

Update...should be on around 5.40 ish but could be pushed back untill tomorrow due to other news breaking

Catkins Galore

2009-02-21T23:43:00.002Z

I don't know what it has been like in your part of the world , here in Shropshire it has been a glorious for several days, as a result the Hazel trees have been making the most of it.

Here you can see the male catkin really opened up and releasing its pollen so that the tiny red female flowers can be pollinated, hopefully to give us a good nut harvest this year after last years really poor one.

I am off visiting my favourite snow drop locations tomorrow as it promises to be another lovely day.

Food For Free

2009-02-10T21:15:00.003Z

For quite sometime I have wanted to know more about the wild food around us that we so often ignore. The biggest problem to this is not knowing what is what and what you can do with it. The usual answer is to find a book that can point you in the right direction. After seeking some advise I decided to purchase Richard Mabey's book 'Food For Free' . I intend to put the book to full use this year and find out as much is possible about the free food that surrounds me. I will also seek advise from people who are already knowledgeable in this subject and I will let you know how I am getting on in my quest.

Here is a description of his book.

A complete guide to help you safely identify edible species that grow around us, together with detailed artworks, field identification notes and recipes. First published in 1972, this updated edition of Richard Mabey's cult bestseller has been revised to reflect the ever-increasing eco-awareness and popular interest in finding different, and more natural, sources of food. Each of the 240 types of fruit, nut, flower, seaweed, fungi and shellfish featured has its own identification field notes and artwork. Understand and learn about the fascinating edible species that you may come across and, with the help of the numerous recipes also included, find out the best way to pick and enjoy them. Beautifully illustrated and written, 'Food for Free' will inspire you to take more notice of the natural harvest that surrounds us, learn how to make use of it and conserve it for future generations.

Does it sound like something you would be interested in ?

Snow Trains

2009-02-05T17:28:00.004Z

Thought you might enjoy these pictures of a couple of trains passing my signal box this morning on the Shrewsbury to Crewe line.

This one is the Holyhead to Cardiff train that is named Y Gerallt Gymro after the 12th century writer who travelled throughout Wales. It created quite a swirl of snow and I'm sure the people waiting at the crossing appreciated it as it went past.

Travelling the other way on it's way to Manchester is this calss 175 train passing my No 29 semaphore signal

What sort of snowy views have you had in the last couple of days?

Picture Of The Month February 09

2009-02-01T18:59:00.003Z

Here is the third 'Picture Of The Month' , which you can view together with the previous months pictures at my photographic web site. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world.

This picture is called
'Cole Mere Lake'

(click on the image to make larger)

As the name suggests this is a picture of one of Shropshire's lakes at one of Shropshire's most beautiful locations, Ellesmere.

Big Garden Bird Watch

2009-01-26T15:16:00.004Z

A very enjoyable hour was spent on the green yesterday, looking and counting the birds, we were taking part in the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch , and event which is run each year around this time. We saw a good selection of woodland and garden birds and quite surprised by the numbers, especially house sparrows, green finches and gold finches. Watching a flock of 8 green finches feeding on rose hips was good to watch and the sparrows fighting while one had the other around the neck was to say quite surprising. The hour was finished off very nicely though with sausage and bacon butties which Collette had kindly made.

The results of the birds that we have recorded have been forwarded to the RSPB to add to their data base of how birds are doing.

How did your garden watch go?

Wiggly Visit

2009-01-23T17:11:00.006Z

I paid a visit to Heather at Wiggly Wigglers the other day. She had invited me down so that I could do a piece on the Wiggly podcast about the Carols On The Green event we held on Christmas eve. I have been on a few other podcasts before and I always find it great fun.

After the podcast was recorded Heather and Ricardo recorded a video about Bokashi, which is to be put up on the Wiggly video channel on YouTube. Here is one of their other videos , this one about looking after your wormery.

Whilst I was there I ordered the Bird food taster pack ready for the RSPB Big Garden Bird watch which we are doing on Sunday. The pack arrived this morning and I can say that I was very impressed with the contents. Plenty of information about the different types of food and what birds they will attract and links to the feeders in the catalogue that you can put the food into.

Hopefully this should help make it a successful bird watch. I will let you know how we got on and hope you enjoy your own event.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2009

2009-01-11T18:35:00.009Z

Looking for something to do for an hour on the 24th or the 25th of this month, then why not take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch that is organised by the R.S.P.B. each year and is an excellent way to get a snap shot of the birds in your location. If you are not sure of your birds then you can download a counting sheet which shows pictures of the birds you are likely to see.

One of the best ways to attract birds to your garden is to feed them. Different birds however require different foods, so to make this easy for you my good friends at have come up with a special 30th RSPB anniversary selection of bird food. It contains

3 tubs of LIVE!Mealworms

1kg WigglySeed Extra

1kg Wiggly Huskless Feed

1kg Wiggly Seed

1kg Niger Seed1kg Peanuts

1 pk of Sunflower Hearts in Suet

I Round Suet Feast

1 Round Suet Feed Cage

so you can see that there is something for every bird, don't hang around though as they only have 300 of these packs.

Beautiful Start To The Year

2009-01-04T18:09:00.003Z

I found that last year my love of photography wained a little , this was due mainly to the amount of work the Lawley Green Space Group put into making the green space where we live a more beautiful and interesting place, not only for the humans but just as importantly the wildlife. All of the the big jobs have been done now so hopefully this year I shall have more chance to enjoy it and take some great wildlife pictures.

I'm not sure of the weather where you live , but in this part of Shropshire we have been enjoying (or not as the case may be) some hard frosts. This give great opportunities to take some interesting pictures. Below you can see pictures I took from the green space on New Years day, as you can see their is still colour to be had from some trees and plants,but it is mostly about texture this time of the year.

These berries are from a Rowan tree and I love the way the berries have a slight blush to them. These berries are still on the trees and they tend to get left till last as they are not on the top of the most favourite colour berries that the birds eat. They will be eaten though when their is no other berries left.

These crab apples are providing birds like blackbirds with winter food, they also give a good example of texture I mentioned earlier.

Some trees are completely devoid of leaves or berries, just like this hawthorn. The berries of the hawthorn are some of the earliest to go leaving this stark almost black and white picture.

Dotted about are some red berries, these provide that splash of colour in the frost conditions

However the rose hips,which almost look like fairy lights are not only providing colour but are also a food source for mice and birds.

Even oak leaves give that bit of interest to the green space though they are more of a texture interest.

This alpine lady's mantle (Alchemilla alpina) is also giving a little bit of colour with it's green and brown leaves. I hope you have enjoyed the trip around the green space ans I hope I have shown you what interesting pictures you can still take this time of the year. So if you have got a new camera for Christmas wrap up warm and venture out and see what pictures you can take.

All of these pictures and many more can also be seen on my photographic web site Dragons and damsels wildlife photography

Picture Of The Month January 09

2009-01-01T15:54:00.005Z

Here is the second 'Picture of the month' which you will be able to view on my photographic web site, together with previous pictures. All of the pictures showcased in the 'Picture of the month' gallery and are available at a special price, mounted (400mm x 500 mm) and signed by myself, posting and packaging is also free to anywhere in the world.

' Dancing In Ice '

(click image to make larger)

This picture was literally taken a few minutes ago. As we have had the most glorious covering of frost for the last two days creating beautiful images everywhere, these leaves were just gently dancing in the wind.

If you would like to see how our first 'Carols on the green' went, you can follow this link to the Green Space blog.

All that remains for me to do is wish you all a very happy New Year.

Number 284

2008-12-13T20:38:00.005Z

I expect you might be wondering what is 'number 284'. Well number 284 just happens to be a hedgehog that I found today wandering around outside the signal box were I work. Knowing that it is highly unusual to find hedgehogs out this time of the year I nipped outside and collected it.

Here you can see it wrapped up in some newspaper inside the signal box. I made a call to to Megan, who runs Cuan House Wildlife Rescue Centre, who said to bring it in so she could check it over. As I was working my wife came to pick it up and take it to Cuan House.

Here it is on the scales weighing in at 15 oz which is just under the recommended weight for a hedgehog to successfully hibernate.

Megan then placed the hedgehog in some blankets to warm up and she will monitor it over the next few days. I will keep you informed on how it gets on. It is number 284, because that is the number of hedgehogs that Cuan House has looked after this year. Megan expects to break through 300 by the end of the year, as for what ever reason it has not been a good year for hogs. Hopefully though this will one that will make it through to being released come the spring.

If you would like to find out more information about hedgehogs here is the link to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society .

Cuan House is a wildlife charity and if you would like to support it and the valuable work it does with wild animals, you can make a donation by following this link.

P.S. sorry the pictures are not all that sharp, they were taken with a camera phone.

A Big Thumbs Up

2008-12-07T21:57:00.003Z

We had the Christmas lights turn on the other day at our community Christmas tree on the green . This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the very kind donations made by the residents, which enabled us to purchase the solar powered Christmas lights. The lights were purchased from earthwhile and solar kits direct . The picture doesn't do the lights justice as they are very bright and work all the way through from when it gets dark until the following morning when it gets light enough again. They are ideal for that tree which you wish to light up which is in an awkward place or you just want free energy for your lights. Everyone who has seen them is very impressed and quite surprised they are solar.

We have 5 sets of lights on the tree, 2 red,2 green and white and when they are all flashing away they make a great display.

We even have a 'thumbs up' from 3 of Santa's little helpers.