CONKER NATURE MAGAZINE | SPRING | MARCH 2023 | VOL XX | ISSUE I

Spring IS AWAKENED

SPRING SEASON| MARCH 2023

MEET THE FOUNDERS OF

THE COUNTRY CRIB STUDIO & GARDENS

THE WILD OBSERVER WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW

An Interview with soil scientist Dr Aga

GARDEN LOOK

THE GARDEN LIFESTYLE WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM

INTO THE FOREST | SPRING ISSUE

ON SALE 06TH MARCH 2023

READ MORE ON THE FOREST HABITAT IN BRITAIN WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM

Editor-in-chief Lucy Morris Sally Marie Angela Mitchell Tobias James Amelia Bazzone Darren Wynne Heather Wilkins Lyndsey Adams Chloe Bennet Isabelle Price Laszlo Balogh

Executive Editor Wildlife Editor Digital Editor Features Editor Photography Director Deputy Photo Editor Sub Editor Editorial Assistant Editorial Intern Logo Illustrator

Contributors Stephen and Brett, Elise Thomas, Steve N, Rosie Brown, Den, Yusuke Ide, Sara Cremer, National Museum Scotland, Nora Cheprasova, Nikhil Rajwar, A Daily Something Blog, Loreta J, Maria Tolkacheva, Lyudmila Belova, Kama Isaeva, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Anton Leonov, Scott Duffield, Dr Agnieszka Piwowarczyk, Olya Bondarets, Lyudmila Aksenova, Christie Goldstein.

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@conkernaturemagazine @conkernaturemagazine @conkernaturemag www.conkernature.com @conkernaturemagazine Info@conkernature.com Conker Nature, PO Box 9661, United Kingdom, BH1 9LY

Conker Nature Magazine takes pride in ethical wildlife photography that prioritises the safety and welfare of wildlife and their environment. Conker Nature Magazine is committed to the correct representation of the natural world, away from the manipulation of media, and total honesty in our captioning.

Photographers, please support us in providing all relevant information around the circumstance of the image and giving total clarity of where the image was taken (to include, but not just restricted to, use of bait, captivity or habituated animals).

Conker Nature Magazine will provide trusted, independent travel, wildlife, and gardening advice and information. Our aim is to allow access to (including, but not limited to, clothing, travel, accessories, tools and books) for a range of backgrounds and budgets. Within our travel sector, we are clear with the positives and negatives of a location we visit or recommend. The views that are expressed within Conker Nature Magazine are entirely the views of the authors, and not necessarily the views of the magazine, editorial team, or publisher. The editor-in-chief, the publisher, the contributors or the editorial team accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors, mistakes, omissions, or issues in any such advertisement feature.

Conker Nature Magazine should not, under any circumstance, be reproduced either partially or wholly in any form or means without prior consent with the publication. It should not be hired, resold, or otherwise disposed to in any means of trade more than the recommended retail price set.

© Conker Nature Magazine 2023

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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Contents

MARCH 2023

08 BEHIND-THE-COVER

In this month's behind-thecover story, we are joined by founders of garden brand, The Country Crib, Stephen and Brett.

18 SPRING AWAKENS

Conker Nature Magazine writes the arrival of a colourful and bright season of spring.

20 THE WILD OBSERVER

Discover what's happening in the natural world now with Conker Nature Magazine's Wild Observer feature.

24 THE FAIRY GARDEN Photographer Nora Cheprasova snaps her beautiful spring garden.

28 FLORAL NATURE Photographer Nikhil Rajwar captures the beauty of flora close up.

32 LITTLE CONKERS LOOK Conker Nature Magazine brings you the garden look ideas for time spent outside with your Little Conker.

36 WILD RABBITS Catch a glimpse of wild urban rabbits by photographer Maria Tolkacheva.

38 GET THE GARDEN LOOK FLOWERS

44

Photographer Lyudmila Belova returns with snaps of flora species.

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

Conker Nature Magazine brings you the best practical garden and garden party clothes for all outside uses.

48 THE BEAUTY OF GARDENS Showcasing the beauty of our gardens is photographer Kama Isaeva.

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CONTENTS

MARCH 2023

52 WILD TRAVEL

Guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet made more than 4,400 wildlife sightings with the help of marine wildlife charity ORCA in 2022.

54 SPRING TIME IN SUBURB Photographer Anton Leonov captures the iconic spring blooms of crocus, that is a staple in March's calendar.

58 SPRINGTIME SPECIALISTS Brand ambassador and photographer, Scott Duffield documents his experience with the UK's wildlife springtime specialists.

62 MEET THE SOIL SCIENTIST In this issue we are joined by soil scientist, Dr Aga, as she delves into her work with the earth.

64 LITTLE GARDEN

Everyone should have their own little garden. Garden lover Olya Bondarets shares her snaps.

68 COLOURS OF SPRING Discover the colours of spring with photographer Lyudmila Aksenova.

74 THE WILD LIFESTYLE Conker Nature Magazine brings you the interior and exterior gardens wild edit.

82 WILD WONDERS Conker Nature Magazine covers the latest of botanical travel across the UK and natural world entertainment.

44 WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM Back cover photographer, Christie Goldstein snaps her spring beauty of wildflowers.

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD DIGITAL ISSUES For details on how to subscribe visit us www.conkernature.com

Front Cover: The Country Crib Stephen and Brett Photography Credit: Stephen Garden Instagram: @thecountrycrib Studio Instagram: @thecountrycribsomerset Website: www.thecountrycrib.com

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© NEIL HOLDEN | THE EDEN PROJECT - RAINFOREST BIOME

Lucy Morris Conker Nature Editor-in-chief

LJM It is my delight to bring our readers our first garden-themed issue!

We had the pleasure of interviewing the garden brand The Country Crib's founders, Stephen and Brett, on their tulip garden shot that was featured on both the front cover and the cover of their garden-themed 2023 year calendar. If you are looking into perfecting your garden this spring I'd definitely recommend you give them a follow! Read their interview from page 8.

I've been lucky enough that throughout my childhood and into adulthood I have always had a fantastic garden. One garden of mine in a few particular memories was a humble farmhouse garden of around one acre of land nestled in the Welsh valley countryside. As a child, the garden was a dream playground filled with hedgerows, a chicken coop, a greenhouse and a lovely little pond facing the lounge. I'll always remember the biggest lawnmower I've ever been on - bearing in mind I was a child - I loved the rumble of the engine and constantly asked my dad if I could drive it! but there was no doubt my childhood greenhouse was minute compared to the greenhouses of The Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh when I arrived. Find out more on the British botanical escapes brought to you by the Conker Nature Magazine Editorial team and their adventures.

In other news, we have launched a new Your Letters and Q+A feature in our upcoming issues - so if you have a letter to send us whether it is a wildlife sighting, an opinion on our latest article, or your favourite wildlife moment the put it in a letter to us.

Alternatively, if you have a question about the natural world (this could be a species, environment or behaviour) our experts are on hand to answer your burning questions to be featured in print!

If you want to be placed in our features email featureseditor@conkernature.com with your letters and questions!

Next month we look forward to delivering a special habitats issue Into the Forest, where we will be chatting with The Secret Life of a Woodland Habitat author, Chloè Valerie Harmsworth on the release of her new book!

Until next month!

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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BATTERY LANTERN KENTISH | £4.99

CONKER NATURE

WISH LIST

THE COUNTRY CRIB LONG APRON | £60

THE COUNTRY CRIB SOAP £7

TX MAX GREEN COAT DRESS £39.99

D ISE AL N K O RS FOR PE IC EL + L B PU TROW RE 0 £4 AT PPER E TR CO

HOMESENSE THREE SONGBIRD ENAMEL POTS | £6.99

SEED SELF HOME SENSE £12.99

HOMESENSE GARDENING GLOVES £5.99

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S TOP PICKS FOR THIS MONTH

BEHIND-THE-COVER With The Country Crib FOUNDERS STEPHEN + BRETT

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Welcome Stephen and Brett, and congratulations on making the front cover of this month’s garden special. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Please introduce yourself to our readers, telling them a little bit about yourselves and your passions for gardening.

We are Stephen, a photographer and business consultant & Brett, a designer, and a maker of organic utility wear.

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area of rural Somerset, England. With backgrounds in art and design our home, garden and studio are places where we can be creative - slowly renovating our thatched cottage and making the garden our own, through to designing and adding to our collection of organic hand-made products.

Gardening really is our passion, and we love growing our own food and cutting flowers, organically and nature friendly. These principles are continued in our design methods.

Please introduce our readers to your brand the country crib and how the brand bloomed from your passions.

It all began when we moved into the cottage in 2019 and created an Instagram page @thecountrycrib.

It started as a photo journal of the changing seasons in the garden, and the account has grown organically ever since. Our studio (@thecountrycribsomerset) and online store www.thecountrycrib.com was launched in November 2021 and we have been overwhelmed by the response and feedback from the community of creatives, like-minded growers, and garden lovers.

How did the passion for your garden come about? Have you both always felt passionate for gardening?

Stephen: I always have had an appreciation of nature. Whilst I wasn’t a mud-cake-loving child, I was inspired by my grandparents who grew their own vegetables and took a lot of pride in maintaining their gardens.

Brett: my grandparents had a smallholding so much of my childhood was spent around animals and nature. As a designer, I have always been interested in creating new spaces or reworking the garden.

As you have been featured on the front cover in spring, what are both of your favourites things in spring, that makes spring so special to you?

Stephen: I absolutely love spring. It’s when everything comes alive, seeing daffodils and tulips.

The highlight of spring particularly in the countryside is when pillows of cow parsley adorn the hedgerows of country lanes. After a long winter of recharging our batteries, the new spring season is always such a welcome and lifts our moods.

Brett: I love how the greens are different during spring. It’s a particular shade of light soft green on young beech and hornbeam leaves that you only see at this time of year.

What is featured on the front cover?

Spring really comes into its own when the tulips begin to flower.

We have collected quite a range of terracotta pots over the years – all shapes and sizes. The front cover contains mainly tulips, grown from bulbs planted from November to December, sometimes even into January. The view is from the back garden looking back to the cottage.

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What is both of your favourite features on the cover? Do you have any specific flowering favourites there?

Stephen: I love the colours – the stonework on the cottage, contrasting with the terracotta pots and of course the raspberry ripple colours of the tulips.

Brett: the way the light hits the flagstones is quite lovely. I like the wisteria and so pleased it’s flowering so well considering it was only planted a couple of years ago.

What is the story of this cover, and what was the process of getting this shot?

Stephen: I wanted to capture the tulips blooming at their best. Although, as the tulips and wisteria begin to flourish and steal the show, equally there are forget-me-nots and muscari slightly going over and fading yet still looking beautiful.

The photographs I take often rely on how the light falls and how it brings something to life, and on this sunny morning in April I was lucky that the light soaked everything in a beautiful glow.

What are your end goals for your garden, what will make you garden feel completed for the both of you?

Well, we always have a project underway, whether it’s renovating the cottage, or the garden so there’s always something going on! A garden is never really finished, it’s always evolving, and growing. Whilst we like areas of the garden to grow wild, we are not afraid to change areas quite radically so long as it’s improving the space for our enjoyment and benefits for nature.

The borders that we’ve planted up have only been in a couple of years, so we are looking forward to the plants establishing and the hedges filling out more.

What are your end goals for your garden, what will make you garden feel completed for the both of you?

Well, we always have a project underway, whether it’s renovating the cottage, or the garden so there’s always something going on!

A garden is never really finished, it’s always evolving, and growing. Whilst we like areas of the garden to grow wild, we are not afraid to change areas quite radically so long as it’s improving the space for our enjoyment and benefits for nature.

The borders that we’ve planted up have only been in a couple of years, so we are looking forward to the plants establishing and the hedges filling out more.

What are your next ideas and projects for your garden?

400 hedges were planted last year with the aim to create wildlife corridors and ‘garden rooms’, so we are really looking forward to seeing them grow.

Also, a new wildlife pond was created last year so we need to spend more time planting up around it.

We would like to work more on the woodland area and add more pathways. Additionally, we have lots of ideas to improve the end of the garden – maybe a larger orchard, adding more fruit trees.

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What is next for your brand the country crib? What would you like to see the country crib achieve in the future?

We continue to add more of our own handmade products to the studio and store as well as a carefully curated selection of sustainable products.

Last year we collaborated with the very talented @thewildpotager who made us a gardener’s soap exclusive to The Country Crib. The natural soap is inspired by scents from our garden and contains poppy seeds we collected. We are really pleased with the result.

Like our garden, we hope The Country Crib will grow and evolve organically.

What advice would you both give to anyone that is interested in starting to design their garden?

Try to leave the area for a good year, through four seasons to understand what is growing already; get an idea of how the light falls, and feel the soil.

Think about what you want from a garden and grow what you want to see.

Equally if you would like to grow vegetables only plant what you like eating. Grow pollen and nectar rich flowers which will attract wildlife.

If you have enough space its always great to grow hedges to encourage wildlife to make it their home habitats over colder months.

And never be tempted to use plastic artificial grass!

Finally, what advice would you both give to someone who potentially has not got the space to fulfil their garden dreams, but stills wants to bring out their passion?

The most important thing for us is to have green living things around us.

Having lived in flats for many years before a garden we have amassed quite a collection of houseplants. It’s amazing what you can grow in a tiny space – whether it’s a yard, a window box or sill. Through summer months if you have a sunny windowsill space try growing herbs, such as basil and parsley. It’s a wonderful feeling to grow from seed so we would always recommend growing something and seeing the progress. We still get a thrill from seeing a shoot from seed.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Stephen and Brett. We’re sure the readers of Conker Nature Magazine will enjoy your wonderful front cover, the story you have provided for our behind the cover feature and enjoy being introduced to the country crib.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brett + Stephen

Stephen is a photographer and business consultant + Brett is a designer and maker of organic utility wear. Based in rural Somerset, England.

Both are co-founders of their brand, The Country Crib.

Follow The Country Crib: Garden Instagram: @thecountrycrib Studio Instagram: @thecountrycribsomerset Website: www.thecountrycrib.com

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DISCOVER OUR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS: THE MANGROVE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS AT WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM @conkernaturemagazine

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PHOTOGRAPHER: ELISE THOMAS / IG: @ELISETHOMASPHOTOS

SPRING AWAKENS Spring brings a bloom to life once again.

Across three months of spring, the country is slowly woken from its dormancy and gently coaxed back to life, like a chrysalis. As winter loosens her frozen grip and nature, thawing from her grasp, re-emerges to life.

March brings life slowly: the first of the signs being wildlife primroses and bluebells emerging from the woodland floor, drawing out hungry bees from their deep sleep of hibernation. High in the trees, the songs of birds begin to join the beginnings of the new lives. Listen out for the stirring song of the Skylark, a small brown bird, that is somewhat larger in size than a sparrow, but smaller than a starling. Its recent and dramatic population declines make it a Red List species. In other treetop activity, rooks have been busy for days, rebuilding their long-gone nests with bare twigs from the winter season.

By April, more birds have returned to the UK. Migrating from locations of warmer spells in search for a place to raise their young.

The end of April and early May marks the return of our glorious swifts. After a long flight back from their summer in Africa, these perky little birds will have one thing on their minds - to mate.

Swifts pair for life, rendezvousing at the same site each year for a little nest renovation before laying and incubating their eggs. (RSPB) April also brings a change to our flora.

Over a mere few weeks, the trees begin to shake off their blossom branches.

Blackthorn is almost always first , with wild cherry and hawthorn following in second and third quickly after.

Mammals in April being to arise from their deep hibernations. Hedgehogs, thin from the deep sleep, begin their nocturnal walks from garden to garden, scouring for their juicy earthworms and other delicious treats.

Come May, spring is well and truly arrived. Wildflowers converge on roadside verges with cow parsley and golden, tall buttercups.

©RSPB

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The spring has pale, sunny days that by night turns into frosty nights; gardeners sit and wait for the time to be right to start the growing season. Summer is just around the corner, ready to sow the seeds.

SPRING WILDLIFE GUIDE Our expert spring wildlife guide explains how to identify the season's best wildlife spectacles and best places to see.

Read a snippet of our website spring guide below Cuckoo flowers in ditches The small, delicate, soft-lilac blooms of cuckoo flower appear along ditches and other wet places at the end of March in southern Britain and can still be found in bloom until June in more northerly areas.

Wild daffodils on rivers A few fields and woods near the attractive town of Newent on the Gloucestershire-Herefordshire border are among the last strongholds of the native daffodil.

Find out more on our website at www.conkernature.com/discover

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PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE N / GETTY IMAGES | ROSIE BROWN / IG: @ROSIEBROWNPHOTOGRAPHY|DEN J / GETTY IMAGES| YUSUKE IDE / GETTY IMAGES

W I L D OBSERVER WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

Sara Cremer | Getty Images

PRECIOUS WINGS Small tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae) are medium-sized and have evolved to hibernate in dry, cool placed with a stable temperature - such as an unheated room in your house and sheds are perfect little habitats for these pretty butterflies. Like other overwintering species such as the Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies, they're liable to be disturbed by human presence such as the radiators turning on, or the midwinter sunshine through a window - if you see them fluttering around catching too much heat then relocate them to somewhere cool. Every small tortoiseshell is precious, since the species' population declined by 78% between 1976 and 2018, though the summer of 2019 was their best since 2014.

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W I L D OBSERVER THE LATEST NEWS

The whale, which stranded on 1 March 2012 at Hazelbeach near Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was initially identified as a long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas.

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LATEST NEWS NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND

First recorded stranding of a short-finned pilot whale in the UK reported A new study of a whale which stranded off the Pembrokeshire coast in 2012 has revealed it to be the first short-finned pilot whale ever to be found in British waters.

The short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, is more frequently found in tropical to warm temperate seas and is not normally encountered in Europe north of the Bay of Biscay.

The whale, which stranded on 1 March 2012 at Hazelbeach near Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was initially identified as a long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas. Long-finned pilot whales are far more commonly found in British waters and strand frequently. The two species are similar and difficult to distinguish based on skeletal remains.

However, features of the Hazelbeach whale’s skull and teeth, described by scientists in a newly published article in the journal Mammal Communications, confirm that it is a short-finned pilot whale, the first found in British waters.

Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland, where the whale’s remains are now held, said: "This is one of a growing number of examples in our collection going back to the 1980s of what we would normally think of as warm-water species being found for the first time in British waters. Others include striped dolphins, pygmy sperm whales and a Fraser’s dolphin. It’s important to develop our understanding of changing marine populations and their distributions, and the existence of collections and research facilities such as ours are crucial to building that understanding over time. This discovery means that we can no longer assume that every stranded pilot whale in Britain is a long-finned pilot whale.”

Rob Deaville of the Institute of Zoology in London where the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme is based, said: “The identification of this short-finned pilot whale in UK waters adds to the evidence of a clear trend of cetacean life being affected by climate change, part of a wider impact on our seas and oceans.”.

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Fairy Garden

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Floral Nature

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Wild rabbits of the urban garden

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Wild rabbits are notorious. They’ll run riot over plants and trees, treating your garden like their very own all-you-caneat buffet.

Place fencing around your greens to protect them from wild rabbit damage!

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FLOWERS

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WILDLIFE TRAVEL

CELEBRATING ORCA'S CRUISE CONSERVATION PROGRAMME GUESTS ABOARD FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES’ FLEET MADE MORE THAN 4,400 WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS WITH THE HELP OF MARINE WILDLIFE CHARITY ORCA IN 2022.

It came as part of ORCA’s Cruise Conservationist programme, hosted aboard the Fred. Olsen fleet.

The most frequent wildlife spotted was the common dolphin, sighted 296 times - with the total number of individual dolphins spotted being 1,996. Other sightings included humpback whales, orca, a blue whale and even the deepest diving animal known, the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whale, which can dive to depths of nearly 3,000m.

The ORCA Cruise Conservationist programme is a unique whale and dolphin monitoring project, which uses the data collected during these cruises to identify and monitor whale and dolphin populations around the world.

James Moss, Journey Experience Co-ordinator at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Spotting native wildlife is something that makes a holiday truly special, and we have a really unique opportunity as a cruise line to be able to offer guests the chance to have this experience directly from the deck as they sail between destinations.

“It has been a real privilege to work with ORCA this year, with their team of Ocean Conservationists helping our guests not only to spot marine mammals, but to learn more about the wildlife they spot and to play a part in capturing important data too.

Credits top to bottom: Ruddy turnstone: ©Richard Lovelock Orca:©Richard Lovelock Woman:©ORCA team

“We’re looking forward to another successful year working together in 2023.”

Steve Jones, Director of Fundraising & Operations at ORCA, said: "These sightings show the absolutely phenomenal range of habitats that our Ocean Conservationists can study aboard Fred. Olsen itineraries, monitoring areas that it would be otherwise impossible to reach.

“The data we've collected in 2022 will help give us important insights into the lives of these whales, dolphins and porpoises, and we can understand better than ever the protections they need to safeguard them for future generations.

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"A huge thank you to everyone at Fred. Olsen for welcoming our teams on board, and also to the thousands of guests who lent us their eyes during our time at sea in 2022 - I'm sure we will see many of you in 2023 and beyond!"

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be welcoming ORCA’s Cruise Conservationists on board a further 16 sailings in 2023.

Discover Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines destinations and contact details at web: www.fredolsencruises.com telephone: 0800 327 7198

GET CLOSE TO ENCOUNTER

WILDLIFE ON BOARD THE 2023 TRIPS

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SPRING TIME IN SUBURB Photographer: Anton Leonov Instagram: @leonov.kids

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MEET THE

SPRINGTIME SPECIALISTS Photographer: Scott Duffield Instagram: @scott.duffield.photography

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EARTH SCIENCE

DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF SOIL SCIENCE DR AGNIESZKA PIWOWARCZYK TELLS ISABELLE PRICE THE SECRETS OF BEING A SOIL SCIENTIST. Please introduce yourself to our readers, where are you from and what is your profession?

Hello! My name is Agnieszka Piwowarczyk, Aga for short. I am originally from Poland and this is where I developed by passion for soils and the wider environment, however, for the last 18 years I have been living in Ireland where I continue learning and exploring urban, industrial and natural ecosystems.

My background is Environmental Protection/Environmental Science with an expertise is Soil Sciences.

How did you initially become interested in your career pathway? Did you always know that this is what you wanted to pursue?

Yes and no! I think there is never a straight pathway but let me explain.

During my primary school years I noticed a big interest in the natural environment or its degradation to be more specific. I could not understand why such a beautiful world around us is being negatively affected by industrialisation and us – humans, and I could not stay idle. I was taking action by conducting my own research on waste management and sharing the finings with friends and family, I was only 13 years old back then.

Nevertheless, as much as I had this enthusiasm for the environment, I was equally interested in still very new (back then), extremely fascinating and growing topic – IT. This led me to choose IT, physics and mathematics as the leading subjects continuing my education at the secondary level. Even though I was very busy at school, I remained very active during my free time taking actions promoting the protection of our natural world. I had joined (as an active member) various NGO’s based in Poland, also helping local vets dealing with animal welfare issues. Some of the campaigns I had supported ended up extremely successful while some failed, but that’s ok, from failures we can learn a lot too!

The last year of the secondary school was the time when we had to prepare for the leaving cert exams and university exams accordingly. This was the moment when I took a leap of faith and switch my leaving cert subjects.

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I had to remain in the class with extended IT, maths and physics while taking also extended hours to learn more about biology and chemistry in order to take exams to study environmental protection. I was delighted when I found out I was accepted.

Studying environmental protection was a pure joy. I did not have any difficulties passing the exams successfully because I was extremely interested in most modules and for that reason learning was easy.

On top of that, my high results had been monetised in a form of stipend being awarded at the end of each term and for the whole duration of my university time. It definitely felt like I found my passion that can hopefully become a career path one day.

Getting a Master degree was when I took a leap of faith for the second time by choosing soil science and soil degradation as my major.

The research work helped me to discover my passion for soils that has been with me since.

From far left: Dr Aga with students from Poland learning about soils in Ireland. Dr Aga on her workshop testing soil pH. Dr Aga using a soil auger for her life underground lesson with children.

Do you have aspects of your profession that you would say are your favourite aspects? Do you have any memorable experiences you can think of?

for herself and her kids. She somewhat aggressively responded that I am too young and not educated enough to educate her, and that was the ‘eureka’ moment for me!

I would say my favourite aspect is educating others, especially those who are actively working with the land because through their management practices I can have a broader impact on soil and environment.

Having studied to a PhD level, what would, in your opinion be the most important and concerning aspects of soil conservation at the present time, and what advice would you give to someone who wants to help conserve soil?

Yes, the day that changed my life when I completed my first soil survey as part of the Master thesis research in Poland.

My answer is very simple, we should always remember that soil is a living systems and should be treated like one. If we won’t begin regenerating our soils immediately, there will be devastating consequences to the life of our planet and us – humans.

Yes, there was a person, time and location that challenged me to become educated to a PhD level, although I always had the curiosity to answer specific questions.

One of the campaigns I was strongly involved in during my secondary school years was to support the implementation of a new law in Poland regarding animal welfare to stop using them in circus shows. I was 17 back then trying to educate a lady how badly animals are treated/trained to perform during shows as she was walking in to buy tickets

The most attracting aspect perhaps was to allow myself to discover and self test various possibilities in environmental education. Even though my background is strongly academic, I always believed that experiencing science in the outdoor environment is the best teacher. For example, I never understood statistics until I started applying the methods and designs in the field. No book could teach me stats and I absolutely love stats now! Everybody has their own way of learning things I suppose and this thought strongly influenced my decision.

What is your favourite aspect of designing and delivering a series of educational workshops for a range of ages? Do you have a specific experience you would like to share with us?

'I always believed that experiencing science in the outdoor environment is the best teacher.'

You studied Environmental Protection to a Master Degree at Wroclaw University of Life Sciences in Poland and the University of Llerida in Spain and then you studied for a PhD in Biosystems Engineering at University College Dublin. What was your inspiration and motivation to further your studies to a PhD level - was there a specific person, time or location that motivated you to study it?

What is it that attracted you to become an enviromental educationalist outside of the conventional curriculum, and to make your own curriculum in this field?

You are an environmental and soil educationalist, please can you describe to our readers what your job entails and what your is your aim to educate people about?

Indeed, a big part of my professional time is dedicated to education as I strongly believe that knowledge is power. Often lack of action is not ignorance but lack of awareness and this is my primary aim - to make people aware of things.

I strongly emphasise the effects our actions and choices we make every day impact the soil and environment, and what achievable changes can be made to improve them.

The audience strongly influences the format and the content of my workshops and talks as they can be farmers, growers, teachers, international students, children or elders from the local community to list a few.

There is never boredom when you have to be creative as there is an excitement and a challenge simultaneously. I suppose children have been the most reciprocating but equally challenging audience I am still learning about.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in environmental science? How can someone gain more information about your job role?

Please always follow your ethos and passion for the good of the environment despite the challenges that will occur on your journey.

Online research using key words.

Joining in or contacting environmental organisations.

Inquiring to associations, especially when considering soil science that is still very niche. University open days.

Finally, what projects have you got in store for 2023 that you can share with our readers? Is anything exciting in particular?

There is a very exciting idea currently being developed that involves bringing soil science to a totally different working environment, quite unknown to me I must say - making it a theatre production, but that’s all I can share at the present moment.

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Little Garden

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Colours of Spring

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DISCOVER BRITISH WILDLIFE BEHAVIOUR | SPECIES | PHOTOGRAPHY VISIT US ON WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM

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THE WILD INTERIORS EDIT

BEE HAPPY BOLSTER Matalan £14

Dandelion & Bee Ceramic Jug £13.50

Daisy & Bee 6 " Plate £15

National Trust Throw, Azzuro Golden Chenille £48

Leather bee keyring, National Trust £12

Bee Happy Mug National Trust £10

Dandelion & Bee Ceramic Coaster £4

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WILD HERITAGE POLLINATOR DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRE

THE WILD EXTERIOR EDIT

Botanical opulence spider planting green ceramic pot £17.99

Garden compost bin T.K. MAXX £12.99 RRP £21.99

Long Trowl Homesense £19.99

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W a B& ter in g £6 M C

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National Trust School of Gardening £20

HOMESENSE GREEN GARDENING GLOVES £4.99

VERDI RECTANGULAR PLANTER Cuckooland £79

Round garden tool bag National Trust £17

Indoor gardening set Dobbies Garden Centre £49.99

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THE WILD EXTERIOR EDIT

Home Cream and Pink Floral Cushion T.K. Maxx £12.99

Fresh fruit wrapped with a bow Visit The Fruit Factory £38.00

VERD

I GAR

DEN L OUNG CHAIR E Cucko oland £139

Orange Tree Citrus Fruit Houseplant Amazon £12.99

Past Sarah £60.00

Rose Cushion T.K. Maxx £14.99

Mikasa Satori Teapot And Cup Set Wayfair £24.99

VERDI WOODEN POTTING TABLE Cuckooland £99

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THE WILD EXTERIOR EDIT Hudson Green Corrugated Planter Set of 2 IvyLine £129.98

National Trust School of Gardening £20

Homesense Rolling Pin £10.99

Preserved Style Eucalyptus in a Vase B&M £12

Ke

nt

Cavendish Home Potted Herb | Mint £18.50

&S to Ga we L rde e nin athe r g eb Glov Luxu ay ry es £12 .49

Shell on Earth crushed whelk shells - super crush Crocus £5.99

Wild daisy ceramic mug, green National Trust £8

Plant Pot Homesense £8.99

SOLID WOODEN WALL SHELF with Label Plaques Cuckooland £59

THE BRITISH BOTANICAL RETREAT ACROSS THE UK'S BIGGEST BOTANICAL GARDENS

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BENMORE BOTANICAL GARDEN Benmore Botanic Gardens is a beautiful and large botanical gardens situated in Strath Eachaig at the foot of Beinn Mhòr, on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Benmore's 120 acres are home to a world-famous collection of plants from regions ranging from the Himalaya, China and Japan to North and South America.

A walk through Benmore can bring close encounters with red squirrels, sparrowhawks and the occasional Golden Eagle. The Wildlife Hide is the ideal spot to watch out for wildlife.

Is perhaps one of the spotlight recommended Botanical gardens to visit. Perfect for all visitors, energetic and relaxed alike. Energetic visitors can enjoy an ascent to a spectacular viewpoint at 137 metres (450 ft) to enjoy views of Holy Loch and the neighbouring mountains. On lower ground, accessible to all, enjoy the splendour of the Golden Gates dating back to 1878 and the serenity of the Pond.

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National Trust, Bodnant Gardens, North Wales.

With intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, there are many gardens in one at Bodnant.

Created over 150 years, with plants collected and brought to Britain from far afield, and the incredible vision of generations of the McLaren family and Puddle head gardeners, this haven of rarity and beauty with a stunning backdrop of the Carneddau mountains of Snowdonia is a delight for the senses.

Bodnant is a truly special place to visit, with events like marshmellow roasting at Christmas time and kids-friendly teddy bear picnics in the summer - there is plenty to do at Bodnant On the downside, it can be pricey for some who are not signed up to National Trust membership - but it is worth a visit if you are in the area!

© Tatiana Gerus | National Trust, Bodnant Gardens

Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, Scotland.

Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is one of the word's leading botanical gardens, and it's not a surprise when you go to visit.

A whole day is definitely needed, and little legs might become tired so definitely plan to sit on some benches - there is a lot to explore here.

The RBGE has the status of one of the world's richest collections of living flora and more than 13,500 species built from centuries of exploration across the world.

Visit the Arboretum, the rock garden, woodland garden, the rhododendron collection and one of our top spots for its utter beauty - the Chinese hillside!

© Martin Fuentes | Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh

If you are in Edinburgh, we would definitely recommend this destination - its a dream for every flora passionate individual.

The Eden Project, Cornwall, England.

A former clay mine with no signs of floral life. The Eden Project grew from the huge crater into a beautiful famous garden known worldwide for its different themed biomes.

The biggest and gleaming jewel of the 'crown' of biomes is the wonderous Rainforest biome. This biome is the world's largest indoor rainforest habitat - and is a definite must-see if you are planning a visit, it would not be the same trip without visiting this biome.

In the second biome, is the sight of huge spiky cacti, gnarled-looking old olive trees, delicious fruits and herbs awaiting in the Mediterranean Biome.

Enjoy a tasty fresh pizza from the Biome Kitchen - located on the ground floor building in between the Biomes.

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© Simon Morris | The Eden Project © Neil Holden | The Eden Project - Rainforest Biome

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, England.

Kew Gardens is the mothership of botanical gardens in England.

Kew is renowned across the world for its leading research, plants and training courses.

Visit the four landmarks of Kew - the Great Broad Walk Borders where you can discover the colourful and striking walkway of Kew. Stroll under the temperate woody flora of the Kew Arboretum. Take a mindful moment in Kew's tranquil Japanese Landscape. Finally, the last but not least beautiful landmark - the temperate house full of rare and threatened flora inside the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world.

For the little ones there is an exciting interactive botanical play zone perfect for combining play with environmental and flora education for youngsters.

© Kimberley Davies | Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Exbury Gardens, Hampshire, England.

Exbury Garden is relatively young in comparison to other gardens, but it is no less beautiful than other garden locations.

Over100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens based in Hampshire, Southern England has glorious gardens, designed and curated by the famous Rothschild family. Exbury has both the power to delight and inspire visitors with its beauty of flora.

Exbury gardens houses spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, comtempory, fomral and wildlife gardens give a stunning ever-changing palette of colour that entice you again and again as the colour change throughout the seasons.

© Steph & Teddy Gravell | Exbury Gardens

One downside to this attraction is that it is closed from October 31st to 18th of March - meaning the winter season gets a complete miss from the experience.

Ventnor Botanic Garden, Isle of Wight, England Ventnor Botanic Garden lies in the remarkable microclimate at the heart of the famous ‘Undercliff.’ This unique garden is protected from the cold northerly winds by chalk downs. Indeed, it holds the warmth from its southerly aspect so well that, combined with the moderating influence of the sea, frost is rarely known. When frost does occur it is usually of short duration and not great severity.

Many of Ventnor plants are shown in representations of geographical regions, growing in association with each other as in the wild. Ventnor wants to present an immersive experience where the visitor is transported to landscapes from around the world.

There’s an impressive collection of succulents and cacti including huge spiky agaves and flowering aloes. Sun-loving herbs, giant echiums, vibrant tender bedding plants and mature palm trees thrive here, as do many colourful South African treasures, Australian eucalyptus, bottlebrushes, tree ferns, and much more. © David Ward | Ventnor Botanic Gardens

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WILD WONDERS!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT - GARDENS

Wild Gardens: Inspired by Nature

By Stephanie Mahon, National Trust | £14.99 Purchase via www.shop.nationaltrust.org.uk Despite our best efforts, and no matter how much we prune, tidy and shape our gardens, they are inherently wild. In fact, it is often the most unrestrained and untamed areas that add drama and romance.

Discover lush valleys and tropical jungles shaped by Victorian plant hunters. Explore special places influenced by natural landscapes and sustainably managed spaces designed with wildlife in mind.

Wander through blossoming orchards, magical meadows, unruly cottage gardens and past the most

Wild Show Watch Out

Life On Our Planet (2023) Life's epic battle to conquer and survive on planet Earth. Today there are 20 million species on our planet, yet what we see is just a snapshot in time 99% of earth's inhabitants are lost to our deep past. The story of what happened to these dynasties' rise and fall is truly remarkable.

Narrated By Morgan Freeman Episodes: 8 x 60 minutes

wildly romantic borders. Discover lush valleys and tropical jungles shaped

by Victorian plant hunters. Explore special places influenced by natural landscapes and sustainably managed spaces designed with wildlife in mind.

Wander through blossoming orchards, magical meadows, unruly cottage gardens and past the most wildly romantic borders.

Offering a rich and inspiring journey, Wild Gardens also features advice on how to create and manage your own wildlife-friendly garden, so that you can attract birds, bees, bats, bugs and other wild and wonderful creatures into your own plot.

Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild Ben Fogle returned in January 2023 with season 17 of New lives in the wild on Channel 5. The British urbanite follows in the footsteps of various individuals, who against all odds, have willingly forsaken the luxuries and lifestyle of the modern world, for a less-than-ordinary life in the wilderness.

Find out the next episodes by visiting www.channel5.com

You'll find out how wild play areas can help children to connect with nature and how immersing yourself in quiet woodland can immediately benefit your sense of well-being. A helpful guide also offers advice and tips on how to create and manage your own wildlife-friendly garden so that you can attract birds, bees, bats, bugs and many other wild and wonderful creatures.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

WILD BOOK ROUND UP

Birds, Beasts and Bedlam

The Quiet Moon

Grow

By Derek Gow, Chelsea Green Publishing | £20

By Kevin Parr, Flint Books £14.99

By Robyn Booth, National Trust £12.99

Birds, Beasts and Bedlam tells us the realities of Derek’s experiences; how he reared delicate roe deer and a sofaloving wild boar piglet, moved a raging bison bull across the country, got bitten by a Scottish wildcat, returned honking skeins of greylag geese to the land and water that was theirs and restored the white stork to the Knepp Estate with Charlie Burrell and Isabella Tree.

Tearing down fences literally and metaphorically, Derek Gow is the one person with the character and strength of will to defy authority, bend the rules – and save our wildlife. Derek Gow is also author of Bringing Back the Beaver.

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The Ancient Celts lived by and worshipped the moon. In a quest to find more harmonious way of being, Kevin Parr discovers how a year of moons has much to teach us about how we live within the world that surrounds us.

While modern, digital life is often at odds with nature, rubbing against it rather than working in harmony with it, Kevin explores how being more in tune with to the rhythms of the world around us, even the cold and the dark, can help ease one's suffering mind.

Kevin Parr brings you to a deep and powerful place of curiosity and opens up to the struggle of mental health.

Discover the joy of growing and using plants indoors and outdoors, no matter how limited your space. This beautifully illustrated book is a modern, fresh take on gardening that shows how anyone can grow their own vegetables, create a mini wildflower meadow or learn how to make the most of their houseplants. And you don't need your own garden to get started. Creating a thriving window box, choosing suitable plant pots for a desktop oasis or joining a local community garden are perfect ways to experience the joys of gardening. Learn which plants will encourage wildlife, discover what works best for your space (no matter how small), find inspiration, experiment with colour, texture and techniques.

The British urbanite follows in the footsteps of various individuals, who against all odds, have willingly forsaken the luxuries and lifestyle of the modern world, for a less-than-ordinary life in the wilderness.

Find out the next episodes by visiting www.channel5.com

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Wildflowers in Bloom Photographer: Christie Goldstein Instagram: @flash_and_flame

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