Robin at bird feeder in the snow

Top 5 Foods to Feed Birds this Winter

Winter is the season when birds need out help the most in the UK – especially in the regions where the temperature often drops to below freezing and there is snow. If you’ve plenty of experience with feeding the birds, then you’ve probably already got a good idea as to what the birds in your area prefer to eat. You may have learned through the process of trial and error, or you may have done your research beforehand.

However if …

Mattress Recycling is a SCAM

This post is a bit different to others lately, but I felt it was my duty as a supposedly upstanding citizen of the countryside, to mention this.

We’ve all see mattresses dumped in skips or – even worse – left on a layby. Recycling a mattress is quite difficult as most council-run tips will NOT take them for free, you have to pay. Obviously this puts a lot of people off – perhaps the hardest hit in society by coronavirus, …

3 of the best UK camping holidays reviewed

1. Barefoot Campsite, Oxfordshire
Campers can start the day with a wild swim at three small riverside sites near Oxford which are next to a safe stretch of the Thames. Those who don’t fancy a dip can hire canoes, and fishing permits are available. The sites offer back-to-basics camping, with no electricity, just gas-fired showers and composting toilets. Campfires and barbecues are encouraged. Visitors can take their own tents and small campervans, or book a bell tent or log pod.…

Woodland Closed for May

We have made the decision to close the woodland for the month of May. That is, from 1st of May to the 28th – so not quite the full month. The reason for this, while unfortunate for our visitors, is due to family reasons. We also need to give the birds and bees a chance to recover after a record year.

We will be back again, open end of the month and hope to see as many people as possible …

How to tell the Difference between a Frog and a Toad

Now that spring has rolled around, you might have noticed that frogs and toads have begun to stir – they certainly have around Wilderness Wood! If you’re lucky you will see them hopping out of hibernation and heading to breeding pools to mate. But how do you tell the difference between a frog and a toad? While both frogs and toads might look very similar at first glance, there are a number of key differences between the two species.

 …

National Trust – Why We Love it (and why we don’t) – our story

A lot of people love to hate the National Trust. One of the problems is the price – it’s really expensive now for most people, and you often have to pay for parking. But don’t forget that you can always get a voucher code like we did, from here, before going. Memberships are about 20% less if you use a coupon.

And the negatives don’t really end there. Trust me, this isn’t going to be yet another negative National Trust …

Four Interesting things to do with Acorns

Acorns are well-known as being a favourite meal for many woodland creatures. Mice, squirrels and birds all forage for these nutty treats throughout Autumn as they can be stored easily for eating during the cold winter months when food is scarce. But it’s not just wild animals that can eat acorns, we humans can eat them too. Below we will share some great acorn recipes, as well as a few more interesting facts about acorns.

 

Are Acorns Edible?

Raw …

Why do Nettles Sting?

When it comes to a summer walk, stinging nettles can be a bit of a hazard. Almost all of us have vivid memories of being stung by stinging nettles as a child. And many of us will recall a parent of grandparent reaching for a dock leaf and rubbing it on the stinging area, helping us to feel better and get back on our way. But have you ever wondered why it is that nettle sting in the first place? …

Events

For 2018

Wilderness Wood is open every day of the year and there are many special events as shown below.  

For most events, booking is essential. The details of each event tell you if you need to book.  For events where there is no need to book, just come to the wood during the advertised time.

If you would like to come to a bookable event, please first call to check availability as places are strictly limited.

Make your booking

Owning your own Woodland

Recently, more and more people have been buying up woodlands in order to get themselves back i touch with nature. When compared to land with planning permission, woodland is quite cheap, and offers the owner many benefits. Here are just a few of the things you can expect to be doing if you ever take the plunge and decide to own your own peace of nature.

There’s nothing very like a genuine fire. How frequently do we hear that expression …