Flower Identification in the wild

 

One very useful skill is being able to identify different species of flowers while you are out exploring and this chart is most handy in that regard with its illustrations.

Scouting in comics

It's not by any means unknown for Scouting to feature in popular culture not least that for children and young people, we've had for instance the "Beagle Scouts" in the long running Peanuts cartoon strips but I was pleasantly surprised to see in this years Dandy Summer Special a whole new strip featuring the Dandytown Scouts.

They have meetings on Friday, work on their badges enjoying adventures while having fun which is after all the message we'd all like to see going out about Scouting so thanks D C Thomson for a new cartoon strip that will run in the 2024 Annual.

Hopefully this will encourage involvement not just by young people but also adult helpers.

Back to the fields

 Week so far has shaped up well with plenty of sunshine around, not especially warm for time of year but certainly pleasant enough to be out without ones coat on just enjoying everything as things come to life.

There was a good amount of insect life about, not least from the pollenators having had to carefully remove myself from their attentions in the middle of the week in a field where I could see a number flying out of a hedge in numbers.

Sometimes it's best to back off and revise your plans.

Rustic features

 

Rustic structures are fascinating and this was one I saw a few days ago, just beyond a field.

One sight we are treated two around here is that of a horse pulled cart going across our treets from time to time and here it is parked up by a field holding my attention for several minutes.

Over yonder fields

We were off exploring over by the nursery late last week, taking advantage of the improved weather coats off where I noticed the saplings planted in the channels.

l also greeted with this pleasant view across the fields with the traditional form buildings in the background and hedgerows intersecting each field fully out.

It proved to be a most enjoyable half day out.

We're off!

 Having tackled the lock a short while before by hand we are through and off until we encounter the next set a couple of miles on, enjoying the countryside on the right, oblivious to its industrial heritage just a few decades before.

Ay up duck!

 

 While out at the weekend I saw six ducks of which one was on grassy verge awaiting some food but there were no swans about which is a  bit odd as I would of expected them to be around at this time of year.

In a nearby allotment vegetables were being grown under polytunnels and many pigs were about foraging.

Blossoms are out II

After last weeks excursion into all things Coronation we get back into core territory looking at what I love about this time of year even though it does nothing for my hay fever unfortunately.

The great thing about Spring is everything comes back from its rest suitably refreshed with vibrant colour.

Wild  flowers just pop up anywhere such as with this example along a path I was exploring a few days ago.

They even encroach onto more developed areas such as the fence of a property leading on to a pathway where they help support the local insect population with butterflies being spotted in the last few days hovering about

I did see a squirrel in a tree lined play area between two parts of the estate on Thursday going across the grasslands before scampering up a tree which was fascinating to watch.

The coronation as celebrated here.

 

We're concluding the coronation related features today with some pictures taken of decorations here while I was about last week along a canal side development that's getting on for something like twenty two or so years as I recall.

A good number do have gardens that go down to the edge of the canal itself and have some restrictions on future development.

Scouts and Coronation weekend

It's Wednesday so I thought we'd look at Scouting across the Coronation Weekend.

Scouts aged between 18 and 25 were involved in the coronation as stewards, helping at various points along the route and where areas with big screens had been set up, providing first aid and so on, stepping up to the responsibilities.

They performed their duties well and no doubt have every reason to feel proud of what they had done on this most special day.

Scouts too were in attendence at the service selected for their own contributions among the many guests at the service, a huge honour.

Scouts were at and in some instances involved in the many street parties held, mainly on Sunday across the country an example being that of the one held by our Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak outside No 10, Downing Street.

Monday was the Big Help Out which many scout groups were involved in doing things in the community and raising awareness of what voluntary organizations do and what you can get from being a volunteer.

Pictured here Thier Royal Highness's The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis helped at 3rd Upton for The Big Help Out helping with repairs to a building used by Scouts and other community groups.

It wouldn't be Scouts without a camp fire and toasted marsh mallows and here they are being prepared, everybody waiting in turn.

The theme of the Coronation was service and across the weekend we saw Scouts offering just that and what we get from being of use to people.

The King is Crowned

 This weekend saw the Coronation of our King, Charles III.

I watched the whole coverage BBC in high defination from the music played and sung as the guests made their way into Westminister Abbey and the procession from Buckingham Palace to it by the King and Queen.

It was a very moving service and I renewed my pledge of allegiance like many others when invited.

Yesterday I was at a cake and tea celebration locally.

Post Box toppers of a knitted variety are a thing in many areas and this one is ours for the Coronation looking most respendent.

Long Live The King!

The Big Help Out

 From May 8th a variety of special events to both undertake some community project and to encourage volunteering will be taking place as a part of the Coronation of our King Charles III to which Girl Guiding and the Scout Association will be playing a full part both doing things such as community tidy ups, tree planting and also getting meet new potential volunteers as much of Scouts is run by unpaid helpers in official roles with appropriate training provided.

Running activities safely requires an adequate number of volunteers for the number of children and young people attending and obviously doing such things as following health and safety guidance so everything goes to plan without incidents.

As in any organization, some people stand down over time for personal reasons, others may move making continuing difficult while increased awareness of what Scouting has to offer means often there can delays in being able to accept more scouts and guides into the appropriate programs offered and in some areas even the loss of whole sections which is something that happened here with Brownies making things harder all round.

Thus the big help out does matter not least in helping to expand our offerings to children and young people who contary to popular sentiment do want and enjoy more out of life than what the virtual world and social media have to offer.

Getting about

 Monday it had to be said was a overcast shower-laden kind of a day here although I did get out, getting a little damp where ones padded waterproof jacket cut off exposing the bottom of my shorts and legs to the elements.

That somewhat damp month we had as you can see in the picture above has helped a lot of things to come out such as the dandelions ready to disperse their seeds and nettles which obviously one has to be mindful of having caught myself a few years ago out hiking by one next to a stile.

This lush vegetation was near the canal where a variety of insects were seeing hovering about as I keeping my eye out for gnats and tics both of which are bad news if they get on me being prone to strong reactions.

Whatever things may come to make getting out difficult, whatever extra steps you may need to take just doing so I feel is well worth the effort.

Looking after the land

Managing the land on the edge of the canal doesn't always involve the use of hand held tools but of machinery such as tractors.

There are a good deal of dandelions out presently here of which this is a fairly typical group but no signs of daisies or clover growing.