CONKER NATURE MAGAZINE: SPRING| MARCH 2022 | VOL VI ISSUE I

SPRING| MARCH 2022 | VOL VI ISSUE I

THE SPRING AWAKENING

TIME FOR THE TURN OF OUR

Roadside Verges

Spotlight Interviews

BY HARRY MUNT

CROSSWORD INCLUDED INSIDE!

With MARTIN PRITCHeTT AND HARRIET DAY

WELCOME TO THE SETTLER'S GARDEN, MARYLAND, USA

LET'S VISIT CORSICA & ALTAI SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE REVEALED

BOXING CHAMPIONS OF SPRING WITH ELISE THOMAS

WILDLIFE

MAGAZINE

Inside Cover

Peregrine Falcon Photographer: Dan Knight IG: @Danknightphotos Twitter: @DanKnightPhotos Facebook: Dan Knight Photography & Workshops

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FOUNDER Editor-in-chief Lucy Morris Instagram @lucymorriswild Email: lucymorriswildmedia@gmail.com

Sally Marie Angela Mitchell Zoe Richards Heather Wilkins Darren Wynne Jaquelyn Rodgers Eric Jones Anna Clarke Laszlo Balogh Jenny Murphy Simon Hughes

Executive Editor Editor Junior Editor Advertising Director Photography Director Deputy Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Proofreader Contributor Logo Illustrator Digital Editor Digital Co-Editor

EDITORIAL OFFICE Wildlife photography, art, and written articles are welcomed, once images are submitted they become the property of Conker Nature Magazine; which will be used to promote the magazine if needed, not for any other purpose.

Please send j.pegs images to conkernaturephotography@gmail.com Conker Nature Magazine is published

by Morris Media Publishing Group.

Follow us on Social media @conkernature

www.conkernature.com Front Cover: Pheasant Photographer: Nick Bartrum IG: @reynardfoxuk Website: www.nickbartrum.com

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CONKER NATURE TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING | MARCH 2022 | VOL VI ISSUE I

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LETTER FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THIS MONTH'S LETTER FROM CONKER NATURE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LUCY MORRIS. AS SHE DISCUSSES SPRINGTIME STARTING TO KICK IN.

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THE SPRING AWAKENING WE ARE JUST STARTING TO EDGE FROM WINTER TO SPRING, AND WHO BETTER TO TALK ABOUT IT THAN FREYA SALTER? SHE'S BACK WITH SPRING LOVE!

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ON A FOGGY MORNING

PHOTOGRAPHER EVSTRATOV VIKTOR CAPTURES A FOGGY MORNING LANDSCAPES

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PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT MARTIN PRITCHETT IS A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND VLOGGER ON YOUTUBE. MARTIN IS ALSO THE CO-OWNER OF SCOT PINE PHOTOGRAPHER

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THE NEWMAINS FOXES

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LITTLE INHABITANTS OF THE BIG WORLD PHOTOGRAPHER ANNA REMENYK CAPTURES A LOOK INTO THE MICRO-WORLD

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SPRING FLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHER ANNA KATERENCHUK GIVES US A LOOK INTO THE BLOOMING AND BEAUTIFUL SPRING FLOWERS THAT HAVE ARRIVED WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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Photographer: phototrip

PHOTOGRAPHER ALAN CLARK SHOWCASES HIS FOXES PHOTOGRAPHY. THESE FOXES WERE PHOTOGRAPHED ON HIS SON'S ESTATE IN SCOTLAND, THEY ROAM FREELY ON THE ESTATE WITH OTHER WILDLIFE IN THE AREA.

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ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF SPRING OUR WORDSEARCH IS BACK! FIND ALL THE SPRING-THEMED RELATED SPECIES OR WORDS HIDDEN IN THIS MONTH'S WORDSEARCH ON LITTLE CONKERS

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BOXING CHAMPIONS OF SPRING AWARE WINNING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER ELISE THOMAS WRITES ON HER FIRST EXPERIENCE PHOTOGRAPHING BOXING HARES IN THE SPRING

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SPRING HARES & GREBES WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, ROSIE BROWN SHARES HER SPRING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY.

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TIME FOR THE TURN OF OUR ROADSIDE VERGES WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST HARRY MUNT DISCUSSES THE HISTORY AND IMPACT HUMAN DISTURBANCE HAS ON ROADSIDE VERGES AND HOW IF EACH COUNTY AGREED, ROADSIDE VERGES COULD MAKE A MASSIVE CHANGE

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, GORDON ROACH SHARES SOME SNAPS OF HIS SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY

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SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW THIS MONTH WE INTERVIEW WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST, AVID BIRDWATCHER AND BLOGGER, HARRIET DAY.

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Photographer: mavy2k

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GREAT CREASTED GREBE, GREY HERON & DIPPER

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164 - 167 MAGICAL FOREST

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PHOTOGRAPHER Ольга Кудина EXPLORES MAGICAL FORESTS THIS MONTH

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168 - 170

JAYS

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER EVSTRATOV VIKTOR SHARES JAY PHOTOGRAPHY

108 - 111 CORSICA

PHOTOGRAPHER ANDREA OTTAVY SHARES PHOTOGRAPHY FROM 'A SUMMER ON THE ISLAND OF BEAUTY'

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PARK VIEWS WITH THE HERON PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE RHINEHART CAPTURES A HERON 'A HERON IS A BEAUTIFUL AND MAJESTIC BIRD'

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SOME THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR PHOTOGRAPHER CYDNEY Z MARTIN CAPTURES DEARY DAYS WITH PEAKS OF EXPECTATION.

ALTAI

PHOTOGRAPHER JEANNE LEFLER SHARES IMAGES FROM ALTAI

120 - 127 NATURE

PHOTOGRAPHER ELENA MATYUSHENKO CAPTURES SOME OF HER NATURE IMAGES.

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A SETTLER'S GARDEN

Photographer: estratov viktor

WELCOME TO SETTLERS GARDEN. PHOTOGRAPHER F.STALLWORTH SHOWCASES HIS IMAGES FROM MARYLAND

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SPRING AWAKENING OF NATURE IN EASTERN KAZAKSTAN PHOTOGRAPHER TANYA DOROZHKO CAPTURES SPRING BLOOMING IN KAZAKSTAN

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ANIMALS ON MY TRAVELS PHOTOGRAPHER JOHNATHAN GREENSTEIN SHARES IMAGES FROM HIS TRAVELS ACROSS THE WORLD

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As winter comes to a close, there is a feel of spring in the air, from the blooming snowdrops to the budding daffodils that line roadside verges.

This month is also the start of when nature's instinct starts kicking in for the breeding season such as the great crested grebes courtship, and birds are beginning to sing their songs more frequently!

Lucy Morris Editor-in-chief LJM

I've had the pleasure to go out this month to explore in nature, the cherry blossoms are truly spectacular at the minute, and there's been a lot of frog activity in the ponds around the area so definitely try and find some spring nature in your local area.

I hope you enjoy this welcome to spring issue this month, we look forward to celebrating the season!

Conkernature submissions@ gmail.com kavyar.com/conkernature-magazine Conkernature@gmail.com for general inquires

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Follow us @conkernaturemagazine @Conkernature

@conkernaturemag

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Image: comstock

Submit to us

Contact us

The Spring Awakening Words by Freya Salter IG: @wildlife_drummer_girl Photographer: Bastiaan Schuit

We’re just starting to edge from winter to spring and there’s no better time to take a woodland walk!

ping-ponging through the trees, collecting spiders webs, lichens, and moss to create its intricate and delicate dome-shaped nest!

The woodland canopy is still relatively bare and won’t close until the end of spring when the trees’ leaves have grabbed any space available where direct sunlight can get to.

I must not forget the simple melody of the ChiffChaff which echos its name through the treetops through Spring!

Several species of plants are jumping in before this happens, making the most of the tentative sunlight filtering through the trees’ branches!

These include the vibrant colors of daisies, dandelions, and lesser celandines - beautiful yellow wildflowers in the buttercup family also known as ‘the messengers of Spring’.

This time of year is also extremely important for birds as they start building nests, attracting mates, and defending territories. Our garden birds will all be singing much more - and if you’re lucky, you may see them gathering up nest materials.

One of the most amazing nest builders is the Long Tailed Tit, WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

However, you cannot talk about Spring birds without also mentioning Swallows and swifts!

Soon our skies will once again be home to these amazing travelers who migrate to the UK from Africa to breed, returning to the exact same nesting site year on year!

It’s not just birds that are busy during the spring.

Some of our favourite mammal species are also waking up after a long winter sleep!

Freya Salter Freya Salter is a 12-year-old naturalist, amateur wildlife photographer and aspiring conservationist Instagram: @wildlife_drummer_girl

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Including Hedgehogs which are being spotted again across city's and gardens, and badgers which become more active after winter!

Life underwater is also beginning to erupt as amphibians start to breed and our garden ponds fill with frog and toad spawn. It’s easy to tell them apart as frog spawn is laid in large clumps of jelly, whereas toad spawn is laid in long strings.

Photographer: Max Fredxy

On warmer years, smooth newts have seen a steep rise in early sightings such as the mild spring in 2019 saw the sharp rise from the BTO BirdWatch survey.

On wet nights, keep an eye out for newts being on the move. Where frogs migrate in ponds, newts have to migrate to reach them for spring.

Photographer: phototrip

One thing’s for sure - spring is an amazing time of year, with lots of wildlife to enjoy and see! So get out and enjoy the wildlife around you.

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On a foggy morning Photographer: Evstratov Viktor IG: @evik1962

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martin pritchett

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER Photographer: MARTIN PRITCHETT IG: martinpritchettwildlife

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A Yorkshire born chap full of enthusiasm and energy. I have two beautiful girls and a fiancé who is my rock. I don’t just do Wildlife Photography even though it is now my prime focus, but I do Weddings, Commercial, Portrait/studio photography as well.

Martin Pritchett

Martin Pritchett is a wildlife photographer and vlogger on YouTube. Martin is also the coowner of Scot Pine Photography hides.

Hi Martin, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed on our photography spotlight for Conker Nature Magazine!

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself & what it is you do.

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I am also the Co-owner of a hide named Scots Pine Photography Hides, which is a woodland hide so sees a nice array of wildlife.

I also do vlogging on YouTube presenting trips I’ve taken, product reviews and tutorials.

When, and what inspired you to get into photography, and do you have any favourite photographers you admire?

From a very young age my father used to own a Olympus 35mm camera, I would find myself always wanting to go into his bag and try to use,

learn, figure out how it would work.

Granted at the time I saw it more as an interesting toy and not as an instrument to capture moments. As I grew older, I started to realise what could be done with this Olympus camera.

Many blurry, blown out images was taken but hey back in the day there was no such a thing as a LCD screen to view back on images it was a case of sending the film in to be developed and keeping those fingers crossed in the hope one image would be great.

Photographers I admire have two very different styles one been Ansel Adams his technique in the dark room with dodge and burning (making areas light and dark)

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within an image was breath taking, known as a landscape photographer from America and helping found the F/64 group which was an association of photographers who chased pure photography which favoured sharp focus and the use of the full tonal range of a photograph.

My second admiration would be Steve McCurry many in the photography world will know of this name been associated with the image named “the Afghan Girl” which was the most recognised portrait in the history of the National Geographic magazine. His prime focus was as a photojournalist, but I would recommend anyone to spend a moment to research his name and see the expeditions this gent underwent.

What does your photography mean to you?

Means many things, freedom to express myself would be

a great way to explain what photography means to me having the ability to show the world how I see it through my lens is something unique and priceless.

Granted not every image I take is ground-breaking not every image I take is something everyone would like but knowing I was able to take the image at that specific moment in time and freeze it to create a memory…well, I am sure we all can relate to that!

What is your process when photographing, do you have a particular area or species you’re most drawn to?

The Process to attain an image in wildlife photography can be a tricky one depending on species there is no guarantee I will get the shot I want this is where experience and patience plays its part though.

Scouting multiple locations without a camera to hand is

a good, no is a GREAT way to learn field craft listening to the environment around me, watching how species behave all those factors mentioned when combined can mean the next time I visit I'll have a higher success rate to attain an image.

Species which I am drawn to…varies on the seasons really, I know of many photographers whose galleries are full of raptors and nothing else but then I know others who love insects and macro but for myself I like to work with nature and its seasons on what it has to offer.

What is your favourite animal, and what has been your best wildlife encounter to date?

My favourite animal hmm, another one of those questions where my head says I love all wildlife but I do have one animal I find myself always taking images of or even liking on social media

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channels, A LOT which is the Great Crested Grebe here in the UK we do have a wide array of wildlife granted its nothing like what can be seen in say India or North America which is why I think I always smile when I see a great crested grebe nothing else comes close to it.

Ironically you would think I would have selected one of the many images I have of such a bird for Conker Nature Magazine, but I’ve bitten my tongue and thought to myself “no Martin don’t do something so obvious”.

My best wildlife encounter to date would be of a short-eared owl which is one of the images I did select for Conker Nature Magazine.

Out on my own at a undisclosed location, walking up what I can only explain as a mound I had my head down, walking and tripped over a rock protruding from the ground (imagine the classic trying to save yourself from fully falling over) well, I did fall over but as I stood up I looked over towards a fence line, which was no more than 3 meters from me and here was this Short-eared owl looking straight at me, most probably took pity on me for my circus act of a fall. It was a surreal moment as I had enough time to raise my camera, adjust settings and take around 5-6 images.

Even after taking the images it was still perched in front of me....

So I decided to speak and say thank you for the moment once I said my sentence the owl happily flew off totally calm. Before I carried on with my walk, I had to compose myself of the encounter. To this day I am unsure if I'll ever be so close to what was a wild owl and totally by my clumsiness the encounter happened.

What is the most interesting thing you have learnt about wildlife over the years?

Don’t take it for granted, including the weather one moment you can be in sunshine next a blizzard this all comes hand in hand when doing wildlife or nature photography.

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Been respectful of wildlife is a must whenever I am out my first thought is that I am introducing myself to their environment, their home.

Understanding this will make you a more patient photographer. Learning the binomial nomenclature of species is very interesting and allows us all throughout the world to communicate unambiguously about animal species.

Presently, what is your biggest aspiration in your photography?

Sharing with the world, not just my photography but me as a person the images I take, the stories behind them will only be known if I am willing to push myself more and more.

How many times have you looked at a photographer's

image and maybe thought how did they do that? how did they take that image?

Do you have a preferred camera you use, and favourite lens?

I wish to be one of those photographers who openly says this is how it can be done.

The next generation of photographers are always growing and with over 13 years under my belt I’d like to feel I am making a contribution on helping and guiding the next generation forward.

My Canon 7D is pretty much glued to my side especially when using the Cotton Carrier which allows for easy release when on the move.

Lens I have two I keep using which is Sigma 120-300 F2.8 Sigma 17-50 F2.8. I like to pair the 120-300 with teleconverters which are a marmite subject as some love them some not so much.

Is there a specific species or place you’ve always wanted to experience?

India, I really want to see black kites, Indian vultures in action. Another species id love to see is Bamboo bats which is one of the smallest mammals in the world around the size of a bumblebee and lives within bamboo.

What advice would you give to the past you and what advice would you give people with similar interest and dreams?

Excuse the photography pun here but STAY FOCUSED I found myself at a young age bouncing from one thing to another I never really knew what I wanted to me so if I was able to visit my past self I sure would be making him/

myself know I need to stay focused and be driven on the one thing been photography.

Finally, what do you think of our new magazine?

A clean breath of fresh air, nothing better then been able to be apart of a magazine which is been professional, thoughtful and respectful I can see this magazine going places has a great team behind it which I am thankful for this opportunity.

Brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Martin. I’m sure the readers of Conker Nature Magazine will enjoy learning more about you and appreciate your tips and advice!

Follow martin here IG: @martinpritchettwildlife Facebook - www.facebook.com/PhotoMPMedia YouTube - Martin Pritchett Youpic - https://youpic.com/MartinPritchett

The

NEWMAINS FOXES Photographer: Alan Clark IG: @allynneclark

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Little inhabitants of the big world Photographer: Anna Remenyk IG: @shadow_anna

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FLOWERS Photographer: Anna Katerenchuk IG: @anna_katerenchuk_photo

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@conkernaturemagazine

CALL FOR WORK - LITTLE CONKERS MARCH 2022, NOW OPEN! FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY, ART, STORIES, INTERVIEWS - AGED 16 & UNDER FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM PHOTO: BENAJIMN FALLOW WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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ANIMALS & PLANTS OF SPRING S

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This season is known as_________. Flowers start blooming in this season During March ______ ____ pairs can be seen creating or living in nestboxes in the garden for breeding Great crested ______ adults emerge from overwinter sites in spring and head to a pond to breed During march a vixen's ____ cubs are born, and the vixen stays underground whilst her male hunts.

A pink flower that is usually one of the first to bloom in spring. This is a ___________ Considered the national flower of Wales, the ___________ has instant recognisable yellow petals.

Their arrival in early March signals the arrival of spring the __________ is a known singer at this time A white flower, has two words involved and starts ith the letter W and is known to be blooming in March. W____ ________.

Soaring over the sahara, the _______ ________ begins to return to the UK in march, and looks very cute It may seem a tad early for butterflies but this species is one of the first to appear and has another species it is named after. This is the __________ butterfly.

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ELISE THOMAS'

BOXING CHAMPIONS OF SPRING WRITING & PHOTOGRAPHY

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M

y name is Elise

Thomas, I am a 16 year old wildlife photographer based in East Yorkshire.

My passion for wildlife photographer came about when the first lockdown in 2020 happened.

Because I live on a farm there is a lot of nice places to go on walks.

I was out one day and I saw a strange behaviour from some local hares. I stood and watched for about 45 minutes, once I got home I immediately started to google what behaviour I saw.

It was the 22nd of March, this was in the middle of the 'boxing season' for hares, so I set myself a challenge to photograph

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this boxing behaviour. At the time I only had my bridge camera for 3 days!

After 4 hours of crawling through the fields I managed to get the shot I wanted!

That’s when I realised how much I enjoyed it, the thrill of getting the photo you have worked hard for! It’s coming up to boxing season again and I can’t wait to set myself more photography challenges.

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ANSWER KEY

ANIMALS & PLANTS OF SPRING S

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This season is known as Spring. Flowers start blooming in this season During March blue tits pairs can be seen creating or living in nestboxes in the garden for breeding Great crested newts adults emerge from overwinter sites in spring and head to a pond to breed During march a vixen's foxes cubs are born, and the vixen stays underground whilst her male hunts.

A pink flower that is usually one of the first to bloom in spring. This is a Blossom.

Considered the national flower of Wales, the Daffodil has instant recognisable yellow petals.

Their arrival in early March signals the arrival of spring the chiffchaff is a known singer at this time A white flower, has two words involved and starts ith the letter W and is known to be blooming in March. wood anemone.

Soaring over the Sahara, the sand martin begins to return to the UK in March, and looks very cute It may seem a tad early for butterflies but this species is one of the first to appear and has another species it is named after. This is the peacock butterfly.

Spring Hares & Grebes Photographer: Rosie Brown IG: @rosiebrownphotography

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Time For The Turn

OF OUR ROADSIDE VERGES WORDS BY HARRY MUNT

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'w

e want to see a ribbon of wildflowers running alongside roads, and on roundabouts supporting crucial pollinators like bees and butterflies. Small changes, such as mowing later in summer make a big contribution to putting nature on the road to recovery.

Thousands of miles of road verges need to become a key part of an essential national Nature Recovery Network, connecting town and countryside, and joining up vital places for wildlife.'

'Rachel Hackett, Living Landscapes Development Manager The Wildlife Trusts' www.wildlifetrust.org

'E

urope's miniature

rainforests.' The fond name given to Britain's chalk grasslands.

Idyllic, flowing hills of colours, textures, and shapes as diverse as anything in a real rainforest, the heavy drone and buzz of life practically suffocated them at summer’s zenith. They’re a brilliantly unique habitat, and 50% of the world’s chalk grassland pleat over the hills of South England, predominantly in my home county of Hampshire.

And alongside them in the Hampshire countryside, sleeps the largest tract of wood pasture in Britain. The New Forest is a riot of ancient trees, mutilated by hundreds of years of weathering, which exchange thousands of wise words with one another every minute, without making a sound. Mingling amongst them ponies, cattle, pigs and deer steward the landscape as their extinct, Neolithic counterparts would’ve.

Travelling further North, you’ll find Hampshire’s Heathlands.

Exhausted relics, they're the

the product of decades of human-induced beatings.

Mining, drilling and clearance has produced these endless seas of white, lilac and pink heather oceans in Summer, their thorny barricades haunted by only the most specialist animals.

Hampshire is a jewel in the crown of Britain’s wildlife, homing some of its most primeval plant communities in Britain.

of White Storks, extinct in Britain for over 600yrs. Even our supposed wild spaces are stunted by our domesticating mindset.

The Cairngorms National Park is currently the centre of exciting talks on a possible rewilding project, to reintroduce Eurasian Lynx, with Brown Bears and Wolves ruled out due to lack of space.

Unbeknown to most though, the Cairngorms is actually only half the size of Yellowstone National Park, a wilderness lorded by 30,000 Elk, 4,000 Bison, 500 Brown Bears, 250 Black Bears, and 100 Wolves. The Cairngorms, meanwhile, has none of these herculean creatures. The difference?

Our domesticating mindset.

However, it can also be very hostile. Rural landscapes are largely sterilized with chemicals and harsh management.

Wild places like the New Forest are fractured; laced with roads, villages, and the gloomy footprint of humanity. And ABOUT THE AUTHOR alongside our real woodlands tower gigantic, concrete jungles.

Harry Munt is a nature-loving, bird-box builder, as Fortresses of metal, brick and well as an ecology student, with a passion glass, nature is domesticated particularly on global conservation. into tightly cropped lawns or Harry has boomed in public manicured parks. and online for his work on

Harry Munt

The practice of ‘domesticating’ wildlife is an oddly British addiction. In Poland, many towns are still haunted by the prehistoric silhouettes

house sparrow conservation, known as Save The House Sparrows, and has been an advocate for their conservation for over a year IG: @save_the_house_sparrows Twitter: @SavetheHouseSp1 Website: savethehousesparrow.com

And this mindset is no more prominent than on Britain’s roadside verges.

In European countries, many roadsides are star-studded with giant daisies, orchids, and serenaded with a chorus of insects.

Here though, they’re stunted, monocultured turfs, devoured by mowers once every 2 weeks in some harsh councils.

This assault damages roadside verges by both shredding the vegetation down to Bonsai versions, robbing them of a chance to grow and bloom before they even get going. And, by discarding the cuttings themselves on the verge, causing a suffocating thatch to build up, flooding the soil with nutrients as it decomposes.

This supercharges competitive species like Nettles and Dandelions to grow at breakneck speed, swamping the verge so it must be cut again, renewing the vicious cycle.

It is practices like this, in alliance with urbanization and agricultural intensification which have brought Britain’s grasslands and meadows to their knees.

The pockets we cherish today are mere scraps of what once graced our country, with just 3% of the wildflower meadows, and 2% of un-altered grasslands from 1930 still remaining today. Entombed in concrete and sterilized with chemicals, these sacred lifebloods that fuel our invertebrates, the foundations of our ecosystems, are slipping away.

Indeed, 2.5% of our invertebrate population now vanishes annually as a result. So, if you were to visit your local nature reserve in 2042, you’d only see half the invertebrates you do today.

However, back in 2019, a revolutionary management plan coined by bodies including Plantlife, The Highways Authorities and the Wildlife Trusts set to turn the fortunes of our diminishing grasslands and meadows around, by rewilding our roadsides.

The plan’s principles are: “cut less and cut later”. Cutting less permitting slowgrowing wildflowers breathing room and time to grow and bloom.

Meanwhile, cutting later allows their seeds to mature and disperse, securing the roadside’s next vibrant generation.

The plan’s principles are: “cut less and cut later”.

These two actions alone are the recipe for turning our roadside verges into “surrogates” for the rich meadows and grasslands absent from hostile, modern Britain, bolstering our depleted wildflower and invertebrate numbers.

Not only would we be reintroducing a lost habitat, but these verges would filter air and water pollution through their tissues and roots and sequester CO2 safely underground.

Some studies show they can actually absorb Carbon faster than forests - up to 3x faster!

Flooding would also be less imminent, as the tangled network of roots and thriving soil communities would help sponge up any overflowing rainwater.

This management plan has been notoriously disagreed with by councils and the public in the past, but pioneers like Lincolnshire and Dorset County Council are adopting it with open arms, blazing a trail for others to follow.

However, here in Hampshire, it’s still yet to be adopted. And with our boundless floristic spectacles like the New Forest and South Downs, it’s madness!

While Hampshire’s forward-thinking Capital, Winchester, and a handful of isolated councils have embraced the management plan, many are unwilling, rooted in the past. And some, like Havant Parish Council, are completely unable to, paralyzed in legalities unless Hampshire County Council enforces the plan County-wide.

Logically, to make this happen, I founded my own petition. With identical goals to Plantlife’s, the only difference is it’s addressed specifically to Hampshire County Council, asking them to following suit of counties like Lincolnshire. And, following a few failed petitions (seven to be exact - due to regulations a petition must comply with if it’s to be accepted) a working one is finally up and primed, the council themselves having sent conformation that it’s in accordance with the regulation. It just needs some signatures...

It’ll revitalize landscapes, connecting patchy biodiversity hotspots into one united habitat. It’ll help fight climate change. It’ll clean our air. It’ll remove water from roads, ironically making them safer. And it costs nothing.

The reasons for opposing this idea is scarce. It’ll incorporate a futuristic, biodiverse habitat into our daily lives.

We’ll never be able to twist Britain back into its previous state, of untamed wilderness, commanded by Aurochs,

For once, we’re asking councils to not do something.

They’d actually save money long-term, from reduced cutting costs. Dorset saved over £350,000 in just 5yrs under the plan, which could instead fund infrastructure and healthcare. And today, one single road in Dorset, the Weymouth Relief Road, contains half of all the butterfly species in Britain..

Tarpan, Brown Bears and Wolves. Nonetheless, we also can’t continue driving down our current road (pun unintended) where wild spaces are reduced to everdiminishing postage-stamps.

Considering wildlife and humans and striking a harmonious balance between both sides through ideas like this, is the route forward. So please do consider signing my petition to make a wilder, interconnected Hampshire by scanning the QR code below.

To sign Plantlife’s national petition, simply go to: roadverges.plantlife.org.uk.

Thank-you for taking the time to read!

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Great Crested Grebe Photographer: Gordon Roach IG: @gordonroachphotography

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Grey Heron Photographer: Gordon Roach IG: @gordonroachphotography

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DIPPER Photographer: Gordon Roach IG: @gordonroachphotography

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Harriet Day Harriet Day is a wildlife conservationist, blogger, and wildlife photographer. She is an avid bird-watcher and is a young ambassador for the BTO...

IG: @wildpics12 Twitter: @harriet_day Website: harrietday0.wixsite.com/harrietdayphotograpy

Hi Harriet, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed on our photography spotlight for Conker Nature Magazine!

You have described yourself as an avid bird watcher, do you have any favourite bird watching spots to go to, and why is it so special to you?

Farne Island is the place to be, surrounded by thousands of sea birds literally at your feet. The island is full of wildlife heaven.

Puffins flying just millimeters past your face, Terns flying over your heads with fish. But remember to wear a hat if you visit, what goes in must come out!

Do you have a favourite species, and what has been your best wildlife encounter to date?

My favourite species is the Dipper bird, it’s the only semi-aquatic songbird in Britain.

It has a third eyelid allowing it to see underwater with its eye closed. Very cool, they can be found amongst fast-flowing brooks. But my best encounter has to be the common dolphin in Falmouth when it was breaching out of the water at the very side of me of the boat.

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You have a blog on your website Harriet Day Wildlife Photography & Blog, how do you get started on your writing and creative process? Do you have experiences with wildlife that inspire you?

Getting out and watching nature is incredible, I felt that, I wanted people to realise how therapeutic nature can be! For me capturing wildlife behaviour through the lens, freezing that moment, being able to take it home is just breath-taking.

I wanted to share my experiences with others. I would love to think my blogs have inspired people to go exploring and write about what they have discovered.

My best wildlife experience that inspired me, feels a long time ago. My family and I went on holiday to Norfolk Broads, I was 8 years old when me and my parents were sitting outside on the boat.

The sky was just turning to dusk as the light was dispersing, I could see movement in the water, brown with a long tail. By the time I was trying to describe it had gone. Then repapering out of the water with a fish, wow it was an otter. that moment was special, it's only now I realise how special it was! Seeing otters is difficult, very elusive. So that moment was a rare opportunity.

What is one wildlife-filled paradise would you like to visit and why?

My wildlife haven would have to be the Cairngorms. Spring watch inspired me to want to go and visit, it looks amazing.

With the great opportunity of seeing Pine Martins, Badgers, Otters, Capercaille, Crossbills Golden eagles and a special bird on my list. The Crested tit, RSPB Loch Garten is where these little guys eat out of your hand, can you just imagine. The list is just endless.

You are a young ambassador for the British Trust for Ornithology, what is it about their work that inspired you to become an ambassador for them, and continue to do so?

BTO is a fantastic charity, being the best one in the UK for birds in particular. Since 1933 volunteers for the BTO have worked together, understanding bird

population and just how and why it's declining. BTO puts a lot into perspective with what they find, in their data, guiding the people on how to protect our birds. All of their hard work inspired me to become a young ambassador, feeling it was my role to encourage young people to get involved.

Their website offers a great opportunity to take part in citizen science. Such as the Webs count survey, visiting your local lakes every month to discover what birds are present. The consistency of these surveys leads us to discover just what exactly is happening to birds. So sign up for the surveys and help make a difference.

Presently, what is your biggest aspiration in your photography?

My aspiration is that I am currently writing a book of all of the top wildlife places to visit in the UK, and all of my present photography will be used to create the book!

As well as an avid birder, you are also a wildlife photographer, when and what inspired you to get into photography, and do you have any favourite photographers you admire?

One particular day, sitting amongst a riverbank was a male kingfisher. That electric blue blaze never left my mind, as it dove into the water to return with its fish, speechless by what I had seen I couldn't take my eyes off it. I remember thinking if only I had a photo of that incredible moment. I went home to tell everyone what I had seen, but the look on their faces wasn't surprising like mine was at the time.

If only I had a picture then people would understand how incredible it actually was.

So from that day I was determined to save up for my first camera and never miss an opportunity like that again, each picture taken is a memory of where you were, what it was you saw, and how it made you feel!

My admiration has got to be Chris Packham, he recently had taken a photograph of a pair of Gannets, he captured them in black and white! Now not many people would capture wildlife in black and white especially colourful birds. But I feel there's a message in that, taking the colour away from the bird does not make it any less beautiful.

You are also a bird ringer, what has been your favourite species to ring, and what is one thing you wish people knew about bird ringing?

My favourite species is difficult, as I have been fortunate to rung with some awesome birds with some awesome groups. But this bird was caught and ringed with my own group on my local patch, the cuckoo! I was honoured to have ringed this bird knowing this bird can migrate up to 7000 miles.

Bird ringing allows us to study how far and long birds live and migrate, giving a status of population.

What advice would you give to your past self, and what advice would you give to people with similar ambitions and dreams?

My advice would be don't let anyone hold you back from discovering wildlife. When I was growing up, birdwatching and wildlife seemed to be uncool. For most people, this is still the issue. Please enjoy what you're passionate about. Don t give up on your dreams because of the ones that criticise and don't like nature, well there are the uncool ones. Don t give up your connection with nature.

JAYS Photographer: Evstratov Viktor IG: @evik1962

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CORSICA UN ÉTÉ SUR L’ÎLE DE BEAUTÉ Photographer: Andrea Ottavy IG: @andreao_photo Website: andreao.fr

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Altai Photographer: Jeanne Lefler IG: @iefier.pro

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e r u t a N Photographer: Elena Matyushenko IG: @leena_suomi

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Welcome to

A SETTLER'S GARDEN Pickering Creek Audubon Center, a beautiful piece of heaven on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Photographer: F. Stallworth Photography IG: @f.stallworth_photography FB: www.facebook.com/f.stallworth.photography WB: www.f.stallworth.photography.com

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Spring awakening of nature in eastern kazakhstan Photographer: Tanya Dorozhko IG: @ta.nyshkin.d

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Animals On My Travels Photographer: Johnathan Greenstein IG: @jgrnstn

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@conkernaturemagazine

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MAGICAL FOREST

Wardrobe Stylist: Валентина Новицкая IG: @valentina_nova815 Photographer: Ольга Кудина IG: kudina.photo FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013104245190 WB: photographerkudina.tilda.ws/ WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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PARK VIEWS WITH THE HERON Photographer: Michelle Rhinehart IG: paparazzipixphoto

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SOME THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR Photographer: Cydney Martin IG: @czmartin WB: https://society6.com/czmartin

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Next Month....

Spring Wildlife, april edition Deadline 28th March WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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