Nature of London #10
Connect with more nature in London this week (8th Feb)
👋 Hello Londoners
"When you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily." – Unknown
We’ve been graced with some wonderful wintery scenes the last couple weeks. It’s easy to disconnect and wish for warmer sunnier times but if we stay present, and brave the elements, we’ll find gems within our urban nature.
Have a nature filled week!
Fraser
Highlights from last week.
Foxes, fungi and flowers.
Something to notice.
Elder trees are common across the UK. They are of course the source of our favourite elderflower drinks.
Elder trees are significant in folklore. They were believed to ward off evil and provide protection from witches. Cutting down an elder would summon the Elder Mother to enact her revenge.
It is around this time of year that we see elder trees budburst. As the name suggests, budbursting is when this seasons new foliage growth bursts from the branches. During this phase leaves start out red before changing to green.
Plan your nature time this week.
Studies have found spending 2-hours in nature each week contributes to greater mental and physical wellbeing. People who visit nature several times a week report higher life satisfaction.
☀️ Sunrise is around 07:15
🌙 Sunset around 17:01 (Yay! We’ve broken the 5pm sunlight time)
🌑 New moon on Thursday (darker skies)
A much colder week this week. Perhaps snow on Tuesday. Sunday seems the best day for nature connection.
Nature Events in London this week.
In-person events are understandably thin on the ground with COVID-19 restrictions. Stay safe.
📅 Saving Britain's Wildlife - Charlie Le Marquand
With one in four of our native mammals threatened with extinction and many others in serious decline, Britain is now recognised as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, so urgent action is needed. Charlie will outline the work being done by the Mammal Society to help give our wildlife a better future.
Tuesday 9th February, 7:30pm. Zoom.
📅 Interactive Inverts
Join Katy Potts, Biodiversity Officer from the Natural History Museum, for an online talk to learn about the eDNA work happening on the Brilliant Butterfly sites and some of the fascinating species found there!
Wednesday 10th February, 4:30pm. Zoom.
Got an upcoming nature event in London? Let us know!
& More.
Some related nature viewing & reading.
🌿 The city is a lie, an essay on the human / nature separateness
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