Hey everybody, hope you’re all doing and keeping well.
Today I wanted to share why I absolute love spending time in my garden with nature whilst capturing it with my camera.
Setting up the Garden Environment
As you’ll all be aware this year we’ve all be affected by the coronavirus (covid19) in some shape or form wherever we are in the world. With living in Scotland we came under restrictions in March/ April where a lot of us including myself had to make the transition from traveling into the office to working from home. Where only essential travel was necessary with a 5 mile restrictions which meant that the only ‘exploring‘ I could do was a very small woodland walk. Which is lovely, but every small and unfortunately for wildlife there is very slim pickings.
So I decided to set up my own garden to try and invite birds and other wildlife. At first I set up some bird feeders with birdseed, nuts and fatballs at first no one came to visit. Which was very disappointing and just as I was beginning to lose faith, the birds slowly but surely they started to visit. At first we had a few House Sparrows visit then followed, Starlings, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bluetits, Coaltits. Greattits. Wrens, Jackdaws, and a Sparrowhawk.
Then I introduced mealworms and my world, I’ve never seen so many birds in such a small area. They certainly to love their mealworms.
With this I decided to build a hedgehog house for the garden. Unfortunately as of yet, no hedgehogs have decided to pop by, but fingers crossed if they do, there will be someplace safe for them to stay in the winter should they choose to.
If you want to start encouraging wildlife to your garden. Get yourself some bird feeders make sure you space them apart and off the ground. You don’t want any cats to get their paws on them. Also mix up what you feed them, it could be fatballs, bird seed, berries, nuts or their favourite mealworms. I’m sure in no time the feathered friends near you will will be visiting and loving your garden in no time.
Get to Know the Wildlife
This may sound silly, but I genuinely feel that I have made connections with the wildlife especially with my favourite the little House Sparrows. I really believe that they know and feel comfortable and safe in my garden as they have no fear when I’m out there.
At first, they would fly away as soon as I would go outside but now they feel comfortable enough around and are always delighted to see me put fresh food and water out for them.
This is why, I believe it has helped with getting so many great bird photos from just my back garden. As their always there in most weather conditions and I believe they feel safe on the whole. However with the popularity of the garden increasing in has also attracted a few birds of prey to very occasionally visit. Mainly Sparrowhawks.
On one occasion in the I went out to the garden and saw a Sparrowhawk trying to get into one of my bush plants. After seeing me the sparrow hawk decided to fly off. However after checking there was a very shaken House Sparrow in the bush. She seemed petrified and almost frozen still, so I left out some food and water the bottom of the bush. I kept a eye on her and must of been more than a hour before she decided to move on. I know that’s nature way and this does happen, but I’m really glad she survived the encounter.
It Can Improve your Photography and Your Mental Health
As mentioned I absolute love spending time in garden with nature. It has profoundly improved my photography with getting out with my camera where with coronavirus could of prevented me from visiting my usually places and travelling far distances for a photo adventures. Simply getting in the garden and taking photos of the wildlife and different angles and perspectives in all weather conditions as made me a better photographer.
It also has a benefited my metal health, by getting outside and de-stressing from an extremely stressful day job within this period which is stressful enough. Just disconnecting and not having worry about anything for even just for 20-30 minutes day makes a huge difference.
What do you do to help your mental health and wellbeing?
A walk, run , yoga or something else? Let me know in the comments below. It would be if could all share or ideas and methods and that might help someone else.
Also on the subject of mental health, I have decided to take part in Movember, where I will shaving my face (the lower half) and growing the moustache to raise awareness for mens health and on particular mental .
If you would like to make a donation you can at::
https://movember.com/m/johnrennie87?mc=1
Keep tabs on my Instagram and twitter for updates throughout the month. (@johnrennie87)
Thank you once again and see you all soon,