Garden therapy
IF there can be a silver lining to this cloud that the Coronavirus is spreading over our lives, it is that we can still enjoy spring in our enforced isolation.
Our main concern at the Wildlife Trust is that people will literally lock themselves in a room in their own individual efforts to stop this deadly virus spreading.
But that could cause many more problems – depression and isolation are still huge issues in this country.
Over the past few years our Myplace and volunteering projects have stressed the importance of nature as a prescription to both physical and mental health issues.
Getting outdoors and breathing in the fresh air is vital to our well-being.
Personally, when I get up early for my once-a-day walk and hear the astonishing dawn chorus in the local woods it raises my spirits no end.
In fact, you can probably hear this wonderful symphony from your bedroom if you have the windows open.
Blackbirds have the most astonishing songs and will join in the chorus, which is generally started by robins and thrushes.
Your local great and blue tits will add their voices – great tits have dozens of songs to act as a deterrent to predators.
If they sing a number of songs it sounds like they are in a gang.
The most prominent great tit song is the ‘teacher, teacher, teacher’ melody, you will hear it in woodland and parks.
Sparrows are shouting out for new mates at the moment and starlings will sing but they are best at squabbling on bird tables in desperate hunt to be best at grabbing food.
We can often have 10 or 15 starlings on the table and feeders at this time of year with double that number when the young come out in late spring.
Just sitting in your garden is a great way to relax and de-stress.
Try to count the types of bumblebee that are visiting your flowers.
We have between 20 and 25 types of bumblebee in the UK, and you will see as many as 10 of these, including white-tailed, red-tailed and carder bees.
Add 250 kinds of bee in the UK and there are plenty of other insects to look out for.
Hoverflies are truly beautiful insects and, if you live close to water, look out for dragonflies and damselflies.
Squirrels will pop in to some gardens to raid bird feeders.
You can have mixed feelings about these mammals but they are entertaining and will use their acrobatic skills to beat any fancy squirrelproof feeders you may buy.
If you are really lucky, a hedgehog may wander in through your bushes.
Hedgehog numbers in the North West are at an all-time low, so love and care for your visitor if they grace you with a visit.
As lots of tiny insects buzz around your gardens at dusk, they will be creating food for bats.
Bats are always a treat to watch as they zig zag across your garden.
So, please don’t let your self-isolation affect your health, and try to use the nature in and around your home as a therapy over the coming weeks.