30 Days Wild: Day 30 - look at the map!

I think if there was a motto for my #30DaysWild experience it would be "look at the map" - June has been one of my most hectic months ever workwise but I've still manged to squeeze in something wild each day, well with 1 exception.

Today I was back in Wigan wondering where I'd wander when I spotted on the map a whole new section of canal leading to Scotsman's Flash and Pearson's Flash.  A beautiful 20 minute walk in baking sunshine was just what was needed to get me through the afternoon.

I'll write a round up post later this week picking out my highlights, but for me the whole thing has been a voyage of discovery,  finding wonderful pockets of nature in some of the least expected places and all I ever needed was a map and a small sense of adventure.   Here's to more fabulous discoveries in the future.  #StayWild

30 Days Wild:Day 29 - Fir Tree Flash

OK I admit it, I finally gave in yesterday & stayed in bed all day despite the gorgeous sunshine.  I'd like to say I feel better for it but after a day delivering another course I can still do a pretty convincing rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart.

I managed to drag myself into the fresh air at lunchtime and discovered Fir Tree Flash (Pennington Flash was a bit far).  This looks to be on an old industrial site and though I'm sure many locals would prefer the industry and the jobs to still be here, Mother Nature is putting the site to good use.

I spotted a few butterflies but none stayed still long enough for me to get a pic. I think I saw a Cinnabar Moth - though I could be wrong, whatever it was it was very pretty. 

This challenge has pushed me to find pockets of wild in some unexpected places, in future I'll definitely take a closer look at the maps for where I'm working to see what else I can find.

Not wild but interesting.  Spotted on my walk back to Leigh. 

30 Days Wild: Day 27 - Edible Garden

A beautiful sunny day and I've been stuck indoors all day coughing and croaking like an old woman.  What voice I have sounds rather like Bonnie Tyler the morning after a night of karaoke and inadvisable heavy smoking.

Still determined not to miss a day I dragged myself into the garden to discover how the fruit was doing.  We inherited all the fruit trees from the previous owner and we have something to keep us going throughout most of the year.

In addition to all the ones in the photos we also get blackberries and wild garlic, both of which are technically weeds but both still wind up in the kitchen.  We've also supposedly got a damson tree, though I've never seen a damson on it so I'm not convinced. 

Gooseberries

Almost Redcurrants

Wild Strawberry

Soon to be blackcurrants

Apples coming along nicely

Figs - managed to eat 2 last year

Rhubarb ready for crumbles

Pansy - can you really eat these?

30 Days Wild: Day 26 - peering at Wigan Pier.

There aren't many wildlife experiences that begin with "I was working in the middle of Wigan & took a walk to Asda", but this one does.  Before I ever visited Wigan I expected it to be a bit of a hole - no idea why, blame the TV and northern stereotyping - but over the past couple of years I've been very pleasantly surprised by the place.  I'm sure it's got its grim areas but then so has everywhere but the parts of Wigan I get to visit are really rather lovely.

Today I was working at a venue alongside the canal and realised mid morning that I'd forgotten my cough syrup and was in danger of expiring.  At lunchtime I nipped along the canal to Asda to restock and took some time to explore along the way.

I'll be honest, there were plenty  of overgrown areas and an abundance of weeds, but that sort of untouched wilderness is great for wildlife. Canals are fantastic corridors for water related creatures and although they're usually considered the poor relation of rivers, I really rather like them.

This particular jaunt also took me past Wigan Pier - rather smaller than I'd imagined it would be, but choc full of interesting history, though the nearby statue didn't seem to be impressed.

Once back at the office there was just the small matter of battling the ducks for my lunch before taking a hearty swig of cough syrup and tackling the afternoon.

Wigan Pier - all of it.

She's not impressed...

30 Days Wild : Day 25 - Wild at home

This is my "I refuse to be beaten" post. My germs have multiplied & I've been confined to quarters on account of the fact I have to deliver a training course all day tomorrow and it will help if I’m audible.

But, determined not to miss a day, I've decided to share some pics of the wild bits and bobs I've collected on my travels.   

Tomorrow I'm off to Wigan so if I don't expire you can expect something a little more exciting.

Shap Granite - love this!

My round rocks collection - it began in Worthing

A couple of sheep horns - collected separately

From Silecroft beach

Quartz crystal from the top of St Sunday Crag

The 2 on the left are from Rockcliffe & the mussel is from Foulney Island

2 fossil ammonites & 1 fossil coral

Big white feather - probably swan

Stripy feather - no idea what from

A shell & a brown thing from an exotic paddle in Oman

30 Days Wild: Day 24 - Pennington Flash

I should probably call the Pennington Flash part 1 because I'm back near here twice next week - but with 200 hectares to go at, including a 70 hectare lake, there's plenty to keep me occupied, plus I only get to explore it in my lunch break so I'll be doing it piecemeal.

Pennington Flash is just to the south west of Leigh and today I visited the eastern edge.  It was a glorious sunny day & it was great to see loads of families out enjoying themselves, feeding the ducks & making the most of the sunshine. 

After a quick stop for my sarnies I headed on a small circular walk which took in a couple of bird hides and a section of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.  I didn't have time to do much birdwatching but I did spot a good number of herons from one hide.

On the flowers front it was daisies all the way both large and small - a flower I've adored since childhood when I apparently shunned my lovely duck rocker and made off with the daisy in its hat instead. I also spied an elderflower in full bloom and an unidentified flower which was clearly a big hit with the bees.

The only problem was I got a wee bit carried away and was nearly late back for my afternoon training session - good job it wasn't time management...