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Urban Wild

Wildlife enthusiast posting nature films & pictures of urban wild spaces & parks mostly in Reading UK Welcome to my page!

I'm a filmmaker and photographer who enjoys the natural world. During spring 2020, unable to work due to pandemic lockdown restrictions, I decided to take my camera with me when out exercising in my local area. I live on the edge of a housing estate in a large town, but I’m fortunate that I have some very beautiful open green spaces and an abundance of wildlife all within walking distance or a sho

rt cycle ride from my home. As I wandered through parks and other familiar places I also ventured off the paths well-trodden to explore some lesser-known areas, recording some of the beautiful things I saw along the way. In the height of the pandemic, there was so much change and uncertainty about the future it became a treat to escape from television, social media and the continuous onslaught of bad news. Outside in these wild spaces there was the age-old certainty that mother nature would continue to do her thing, and I felt grounded and comforted by this. The birds still sang their songs blissfully unaware of people problems; and if anything, I think they sang a little louder in those few weeks when the world came to a halt. The skies were clearer and the air felt cleaner - or perhaps, unencumbered by the pressure and pace of the everyday living I’d become accustomed to, I was learning how to really listen. It also become clear to me how important these spaces are, not only for the wonderful creatures and plant life contained within and around them, but for our own mental wellbeing. As our concrete world continues to expand we need to ensure that these wildlife habitats are looked after and protected. I felt sad at the amount of litter I came across on some of my walks, an issue which needs addressing. When out and about let's leave nothing but our footprints, and take nothing away except for beautiful pictures and memories. I’m not a wildlife expert, just someone who feels privileged to be able to get out and enjoy nature, and I thought it would be nice to set up this page to share some of my films and pictures for anyone who'd like to join me on my journeys and maybe inspire others to explore and look after the natural world. I hope you enjoy watching these 'urban wild snapshots' as much as I enjoy making them.

23/04/2024

In my garden today 🙂

10/04/2024

Wet bluebells in the woods, and a beautiful robin singing in the rain today.

21/03/2024

International Day of Forests was established by the United Nations General Assembly, and is observed annually on March 21st as a global celebration aimed at raising awareness about the importance of forests and trees to people and the planet.

This is a picture of Sulham Woods situated South West of Reading, a site I've always perceived as a forest due to its size. Intrigued, I decided to explore the criteria used to distinguish between woods and forests."

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, a forest is a thick growth of trees and underbrush covering an extensive tract of land whereas a wood is defined as a thick grove of trees.

The word "forest" dates back to the 13th century and originates from the French word "Foret" which means hunting land. These areas would be large and often used by royalty and might include heathland and farmland as well as wooded areas. They would be large enough to support species such as deer and wolves.

Whatever you choose to call it, Sulham, with its beautiful trees, is a wonderful place to explore!

03/03/2024

29/02/2024

Seeing as it's a leap day, here's some frogtography 😄

28/02/2024

Beautiful snowdrops bringing a touch of spring to an urban cemetery. They're often the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter signaling the arrival of spring, and despite their delicate appearance they are tough enough to push through frost and snow.

17/02/2024

A butterfly doesn't have kidneys or a bladder and therefore doesn't pass urine, but sometimes when they drink excess liquid they expel it via a tiny hole in their abdomen. Happened to catch a Red Admiral doing this.

15/02/2024

Took a walk around the Rookery at Prospect Park today. The tips of bluebell leaves are starting to poke through the ground, the squirrels were out in force, and the birds were singing loudly.

12/02/2024

So nice to have a rain free day and some time to get out and enjoy the sunshine this afternoon. This little Chaffinch was enjoying the sunshine too.

29/01/2024

High in the tree tops watching my every move as I walked past below. Saw a lot of kites today in Southcote.

26/01/2024

Kingfisher photographed in Reading today!

21/01/2024

Friday I walked to the Kennet and Avon Canal. The waterlogged path from Southcote had frozen overnight, but cars on route to and from the mill had broken most of the ice so I didn't have to skate! Met a fellow nature lover and on the walk home we shared our stories of local wildlife encounters. I'd just packed my camera away as the light was fading, and as is always the way when it's not in my hand, a photo opportunity arose! This heron was owning the path until an approaching vehicle scared him. Managed to get one decent shot before he flew away.

20/01/2024

Midweek I was standing near a tree in Linear Park, Calcot, hoping to get a shot of a berry-eating bird, when on the frozen ground beneath the tree this little Grey Wagtail appeared. He stood out against the ice with his grey feathers and pop of bright yellow.

18/01/2024

The path to Southcote Lock at sunset. Wellies were needed this week! Always a beautiful walk or wade.

12/01/2024

This week I took these pictures of the floodplains beside Southcote in Reading. They act as natural sponges helping to filter and store water which reduces the impact of flooding. Floodplains are vital to river systems, and you can see from the pictures how these are helping with the current run off from the River Kennet, the Kennet and Avon Canal and The Holy Brook. These urban wild spaces also have a rich biodiversity and provide a great habitat for wildlife.

08/01/2024

Big Garden Birdwatch is only a few weeks away, so we've created a guide of the top 10 birds you're most likely to see, whether you're watching from a balcony or a garden!

Sign up for so you can tell us which ones you see: https://bit.ly/488srm4

08/01/2024

Happy new year fellow nature lovers! Thank you for following this page. I hope you are enjoying the short films and pictures I’ve taken in our precious pockets of green – I’ve plenty more to share with you.

As we step into a brand-new year of urban exploration together, may 2024 bring moments of awe, discovery, and connection with the wild side of our towns. Here's to shared adventures, appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us, and opportunities to make a positive impact on our urban ecosystems.

20/07/2023

Most active at dawn and dusk you'll likely spot wild rabbits in meadows, fields, heaths, woodland and parks. This rabbit was photographed enjoying some late afternoon sunshine in a local park.

06/06/2023

Beautiful English bluebells looking magical in the last light of day. Picture taken in Sulham Woods as the sun was setting behind the trees.

29/05/2023

Happy Monday, and it's a bank holiday! If you're lucky enough to have the day off but you're stuck indoors; if you are able to, then take a walk around your local wild area or park. There are so many beautiful things to see, hear and smell right now as spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner. Have a wonderful day!

28/05/2023

Female Orange-tip butterfly on the long grass at Linear Park Southcote.

28/05/2023

Bluebells and Greater Stitchwort. What a beautiful colour combination.

25/05/2023

Throwback Thursday. Same place four months apart. Isn't nature amazing!

25/05/2023

My favourite kind of path!

22/05/2023

Happy Monday everyone! Here are some recent pictures taken on a windy day at Prospect Park Reading. The blossom fell in and around the pond like pink confetti.

19/05/2023

I was resting on a log in a forest on the outskirts of Reading; listening to the peaceful sounds of nature, when I heard a rustle! About thirty feet away from me this beautiful roe deer was cautiously watching me through the trees. I sat as still as I could, only moving my arms very slowly to raise my camera. We watched each other for a while until she turned and wandered away into the shadows. Moments like these are so special.

17/05/2023

Last weekend I visited a relative in Swindon for the day and we discovered a hidden gem completely surrounded by an industrial park, the M4 and the A3102. Hagbourne Copse is a Wiltshire Wildlife Reserve and although it's only a little over five acres, it was quite dense in places offering a refuge for birds and other wildlife. We followed the path that meandered through the woods and found a small stream and also a pond teeming with tadpoles. There were carpets of bluebells which had passed their peak when we visited but still looked very pretty.

30/04/2023

Where there are wild places, the wildlife will come. This urban fox currently resides at the end of a friends very overgrown garden. Picture taken through a kitchen window.

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Videos

Red Admiral Butterfly expelling liquid

Urban fox living in an overgrown back garden. #Fox #urbanfox #urbanwild #urbanwildlife #foxoftheday #nature

Barn Owl Flying at Dusk

Not the best video of an owl you'll see, but it's the very first wild owl I've ever seen and I was so excited to see it I thought I would share it with you. Filmed at dusk a couple of days ago, the image is very cropped in so a little fuzzy, but it's an OWL!! 😃

Just a little snow for Reading yesterday but lots of sleet and rain, so I gave a few treats to some soggy cold magpies at Prospect Park.

Redwings in the Mist

A small flock of Redwings gave me an early morning treat recently as I watched them enjoying the berries on offer at Reading Old Cemetery. The smallest thrush in the UK, these birds migrate here in the winter months to forage for food. A blur of red and white against a misty sky, and quite well camouflaged against fallen leaves when they were on the ground, they were easiest to spot on the trees and bushes.

I hope you all had a good weekend. The weather Sunday was great so I headed out for an eight mile hike in the Chilterns. Not urban but very beautiful, and I just wanted to share this short snippet taken late afternoon as I managed to capture some brief footage of a hare running up a hill which I thought some of you might like to see. No sound in this video.

Moonrise over Hosehill Lake Nature Reserve

I really enjoy watching the full moon rise. This month I decided to visit Hosehill Lake Nature Reserve to capture it over the water. As the moon rose from the mist, the clouds in the sky turned shades of pink from the setting sun. I was so captivated by the moon in front of me I nearly missed what was happening behind so I turned my camera around and recorded a few moments of the sky which was ablaze with colour.

The Holy Brook, Reading - A misty August morning.

An early morning walk alongside the Holy Brook, Southcote. This is a beautiful part of the Holy Brook which passes through Linear Park alongside the railway line. Lots of gorgeous trees line the route, and on this particular August morning I was rewarded with multiple spiderwebs which glistened like jewels as the sun broke through the mist.

Bees

Happy World Bee Day. I've put together a short montage of some of the beautiful bees I've recorded on my walks. So precious, and so important to our planet.