Day 25 Be a ladybird detective

Take a trip to your local park, or even just go out into your garden and see how many types of ladybird you can find. Use our spotter sheet to help you identify the different species and discover the variety of colours and markings on ladybirds that can be found in your neighbourhood. There are 46 different species of ladybird living in Britain, you can find out more and even play some ladybird themed games here

However, watch out for the Harlequin ladybird. This is an invasive species and is a danger to our native ladybirds, out competing them for food and spreading across the country rapidly. You can learn more about all the ladybirds to be found in the UK and how the Harlequin ladybird came to be here in this short video. You can also do your bit to help by participating in the Harlequin ladybird survey.

happy hunting!

Day 21 Folly Farm Centre

For a full wildlife safari, take a trip to the Chew Valley for some stunning landscapes and wonderful walks. Start off at Chew Valley lake where you can follow the nature trails around the water's edge, full leaflets are available to download for both the Grebe trail and the Bittern trail. Walk through the wildflower meadows and shady woodlands to the bird hide and get a spectacular view across the water to Denny island where you can use our spotter sheet to look for summer waders. Then refuel in the cafe at the car park before heading off to explore the fantastic nature reserve at Folly farm. 

Well recommended is a circular walk through the woodlands up to Round Hill for spectacular views over the Chew Valley and back through the wildflower meadows. Discover the historic landscape of the ferme ornée with it's restored cascades and, later on, find the badger watching spot on the Access for All trail and wait for the badgers to come out foraging at dusk. A truly magical end to the day.

Day 16 - Snail hunt

Did you know there are around 90 different species of land snail in the UK? There are hairy ones, flat ones, stripey ones and tiny ones. Download this spotter sheet and see how many different ones you can find in your garden, local park or even in your street. They like to hide in cool, damp places so you may have to look hard. If the weather is too hot and dry they can stay in their shells for months and often camouflage themselves in gaps in walls. 

Snails have four tentacles; two are eyes and two are for feeling, they only have one foot and a tongue known as a radula that is covered in tiny 'teeth' . As you probably know they love to eat plants, particularly nice soft ones like lettuce and spinach. But beware, studies have shown that snails have a homing instinct, so the next time you throw one over the garden fence to stop it eating your plants - watch out because it may just come back! 

  

The reason that there are so many is probably because they lay about 100 eggs in an underground nest and most snails are hermaphrodite (both mail and female) so nearly all can lay eggs.

Happy snail hunting!

And if you are still a fan of snails you can download this poster from the Woodland Trust.