Orielton Field Centre

Record the wildlife in your garden using iRecord. iRecord is a website and app that allows you to submit biological records. This information allows us to build up a picture of where different species are around the UK. If it is done regularly, then we can see how a species’ location, or distribution, is changing and may be able to conserve or manage it better.

Grow your own sunflowers, vegetables or a wildflower meadow! What is more joyous than seeing a little seedling grow each day into a beautiful plant? You could even have competitions to see whose is the tallest, widest, or produces the most flowers

Spring is starting to take hold. April's nature's calendar look out for trees in leaf, chiffchaff, house martins and butterflies galore. As the saying goes one swallow doesn't make a summer, but it certainly means it's on its way! Swallows could start to be arriving.
Remember to record your important sightings https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org .uk/

Its National Pet Month and I'm missing our office dogs while we're all working from home. Do you have a pet to keep you company during #Isolation? Share a photo of your companion below

Why not take this time to hone your wildlife ID skills? We have a number of ID Guides and publications to get you started. Visit to view our full selection and buy online

Species of the day... Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) A member of the fly family (Diptera) which, with its furry black and orange body, mimics the bumblebee - even buzzing. They fly from March to May and feed off nectar from flowers such as Primrose and Violets with their long proboscis. Bee-flies lay their eggs at the entrance holes of Solitary Bees, which nest in soil, the larvae, when hatched feed on the grubs of the bees.

Take part in a Scavenger Hunt and find a range of items in your garden or house! What will you collect? Visit https://buff.ly/2UKFGoS for ideas of what to search for

Clocks go forward tonight! We're looking forward to the longer evenings :)

Do you have a garden? Make the most of this spring weather and get outside to watch for butterflies appearing. Find out how you can record your findings and contribute to a long term data set at https://buff.ly/3bfMUrw

Be inspired by your surroundings today by making works of art out of whatever you can forage either in your garden or around your house! Visit https://buff.ly/2QDKA5O for more ideas

Species of the day in our daily minibeast hunt is the Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum). This insect is predatory and usually feeds on aphids and spider mites. This one was patrolling the fringes of the dandelions growing in the garden. How about starting your own daily minibeast hunt? Share your findings below-

Does your child have a favourite cuddly toy? Have them look up how that animal survives in the wild- What does it eat? How does it keep warm? Where does it live? How does it protect itself? Get them to build a shelter for their animal ensuring it has everything it needs to survive. Share your photos below :)

A few tips for learning at home 🏠