August 2008 Archives

I often wonder where my interests in wildlife came from.

I remember clearly, about six years old, scrambling amongst seaside rocks, paddling in rock pools, engrossed in the fantastic shapes, colours and richness of underwater life. The sudden shapes darting into hiding; then with apprehension using a cautious finger to tease out the little aliens.

The tin bucket holding the day's catch had to be left outside our cottage, but I always managed to peer at them again before bedtime. Alas the fast movers like shrimps were dead the next day, but the slow moving life in shells, like the winkles were ok and could be returned to their home on the shore.

Further into childhood it was butterflies, moths, beetles and more or less any insect that could be kept in a matchbox. Then it was flowers, all shapes, sizes and colours carefully pressed and dried between sheets of blotting paper.
I was always in trouble for wandering off and being late to get home.

My middle years of family and career left little time for indulgence in nature, although there were joyous moments with our children on country holidays. Today my young grandchildren remind me of the sense of pure wonder which happen when a child is encouraged to chance upon a new flower or insect. They also show vividly that curiosity and affinity for wildlife is, for most, a part of being human.

The difficulty is maintaining the interest when there are so many alternatives provided by the visual and digital media worlds, all available from the armchair!
In recent years I have been lucky to resume closeness with nature. I've realised that many crucial issues are less obvious and subtle; the smallest and ugliest forms of life can be the most important.

I have been fortunate to be able to talk about many topics in the Grass Roots pages of the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald and Holyhead and Anglesey Mail; and I am privileged to begin their website section on wildlife for the same readers.

The lands of Anglesey Llyn and Snowdonia are rural. They contain an extremely rich variety of habitats and wildlife, which for many of us is within easy walking distance.
This website is for us to share our feelings and experiences on things going on in the natural world around us, and the changes with seasons and altered climate.

Every few weeks I shall be chatting about things which strike me of interest. It's up to everyone to contact the website with any topics, worries or questions about what's happening to the life around us.
There's an amazing amount of things to discuss. At first it would be good to hear any stories about why one got interested (or put off!) wildlife, especially in childhood.