The Siberian airmass arrived on the very Western edge of Wales this week, bringing with it snows, ice, and thousands upon thousands of birds we rarely see in such numbers. Redwing, lapwing, fieldfare and golden plover driven to the edge of the country in search of food and shelter from the storm.
So for the first time in years not only were there thousands of unusual birds on the beach, there was snow too!
This is the same beach (Marloes Sands, photo Mike Alexander) in summer…….
Up here, on the roof of Snowdonia, we have restored the blanket bog and protected the largest and deepest area of peat in Wales. Not only is this good for increasingly rare birds such as curlew and hen harrier, but it locks up more carbon than all of the woodlands in Wales combined, and stops it from being released into the atmosphere.
This is also the place where I first thought of this tune, which bizzarely went on to be nominated at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, two very different worlds. But that’s the power of music I guess……
Loved it here, it was absolutely silent, like nowhere else I’ve ever been, stunning
Just back from a great road trip around the Mid-West USA. Amazing contrasts in landscapes and weather. The Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was beautiful, cold (snowing at times), remote, haunting…hiking in the land of the Grizzly Bear and the Mountain Lion focusses the mind somewhat, but it gives the land a wildness that I love.
My office yesterday amongst the regenerating heather on an @NTWales Farm high up above the Ogwen Valley in Snowdonia #highnaturefarming
We were looking for new tenants for this gorgeous Welsh mountain farm this week so that they can help us restore the habitats and make more space for nature. I got to spend time looking at the rare plants, which made me forget about the rain.
