I first became involved in the Dunsmore Living Landscape scheme as a volunteer in 2019 after completing a degree in Zoology. I was working in an office at the time and I found that being outside, surrounded by nature, once a week was literally a breath of fresh air. It also gave me a taste of the work involved in practical conservation, an area that has always felt incredibly important to me. So,...
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From the evergreens with which we bedeck our homes, to the fruits, nuts, herbs and spices that make up our traditional table fayre, plants have provided the essential ingredients for our mid-winter rituals for millennia. Here we will share fun facts of some of the plants that have come to shape our concept of Christmas. Holly In pagan times, this decorative green plant was associated with...
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‘Memories of Binley Colliery’ is a community-focused oral history project led by the Dunsmore Living Landscape scheme and assisted by the University of Warwick through its Oral History Network. The network has attracted a new young generation of history enthusiasts who have been helping us dive into learning more and showcasing Binley's rich industrial heritage. Work started with the Oral...
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Our Dunsmore Living Landscape Trainee Rhiannon talks of her summer of surveys on the project. The summer months of the Dunsmore project are often spent outside, ID book in hand, carrying out various habitat surveys. These surveys play a really significant role in our conservation efforts as they allow us to learn so much about the nature that we are trying to protect. We can identify any rare...
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Nature plays an important role in our daily lives – be it wildlife watching, playing outdoors, as a mood enhancer or even commuting through a green space on the way to work. There is now a substantial body of evidence supporting the value of green (and blue) spaces to our health and well-being and that by protecting and enhancing these wild places and creating more, we would improve our lives...
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We recently celebrated National Moth Night (27th - 29th August), where we observed and documented the diversity of moths at Wappenbury Wood with expert David Brown. This year, the three nights were chosen to coincide with the flight periods of four of the Red Underwing moths recorded in the British Isles. These are the Red Underwing, Rosy Underwing, Dark Crimson Underwing and the Light Crimson...
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My Traineeship: Who knew the twists and turns that I and indeed the World would take?! From installing deer fencing and hedge planting to the lockdown, then homeworking to being furloughed and having activity restricted. My traineeship was certainly interesting to say the least. I shouldn’t forget that there was so much I helped with on the project. For starters, there were lots of...
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It's 4.30am on a cold April morning and I'm walking through Bubbenhall Wood listening to a symphony of clicks, churrs, chyaks and intense trills. I head slowly along a gravel path, stopping constantly trying to hone in on the birds that are waking up and bursting into song. The first bird to break the silence is the blackbird. His eyes are mostly larger than the other birds and therefore...
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When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot can seem somewhat uncertain and settling into self-isolation may seem like a challenge. However, there are still many things that you can do from the comfort of your own home to remain connected to nature. Below are some ways that can help you positively navigate through these uncertain times whilst keeping your mind active, improving your mood and...
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It was a Monday morning and I received the good news that I have passed my Diploma in Work-based Environmental Conservation. I looked on this with a real sense of satisfaction after nine months of hard, but enjoyable work. I was a mature student working on a career change, so not your average trainee. A few years ago you would have found me poring over the accounts of large US companies as a...
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