Wildlife Wonders in association with Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation
DO YOU know what you are looking at in the natural world?
Ever wondered what that flower, bird, butterfly or insect is called? On our occasional sunny summer days, the life around us can be bewildering. Recently I spent 10 minutes photographing all of the animals attracted to a patch of nettles outside the Barrandaimh wildlife centre – spiders, harvestmen, hoverflies, sawflies, snails, moths, butterflies, beetles, bugs, aphids and mites. They are all competing for food, light and space, and providing food for a host of other animals.
Is it important that we know what they are? I think it is. If we don’t know what is around us how can we inspire ourselves and others to protect it? ‘It is that range of biodiversity we must care for – the whole thing – rather than just one or two stars,’ is a quote from Sir David Attenborough that sums up this need.
We can all help in many small ways. We can provide shelter, food and a wild space in our gardens, we can use peat-free compost and help save our wetlands, we can hold back on the chemicals and slug pellets that work their way up the food chain and harm birds and other wildlife.
We can mow and strim a little less often and allow those wildflowers to flower and seed, and we can lobby our councils and other authorities to do the same.
A great way of getting to know our local wildlife and wild places is to get involved in one of the many citizen science projects that are taking place over the summer. We will be looking at red squirrels, bats, wildflowers and butterflies, and we have events taking place at that will give you a chance to hone your nature detective skills.
The Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation centre at Barrandaimh is currently open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am until 5pm.
We will be open Monday to Friday from July 17 to August 18. We also have a summer programme of walks and events. Full details via our website www.heartofargyywildlife.org or on our Facebook page.