Nature connection whilst at home

During these times of travel restrictions due to Covid-19, there are still opportunities to engage with our natural surroundings, wherever we may be.

A multitude of studies have shown the importance of nature for our mental and physical health. There are plenty of ways to enjoy and share the natural world from your own home. Maybe you can create a new wildlife habitat in your garden, or record the plants and animals that you find in it, to maintain important natural connections and develop a closer relationship with nature on your doorstep?

Here are some ideas for how you can remain connected with nature whilst you are at home.               

Stay safe and well, everyone.

Stay at home activities from some Norfolk Coast AONB partners and friends;

Norfolk Wildlife Trust: Latest news and updates can be viewed at; www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/news-and-articles  along with details of how to book onto free online Cley Calling events.

RSPB: Find useful guidance at RSPB_how-to-attract-birds-to-your-garden-ten-top-tips which is full of information to get you ready to take part in the daily RSPBs-breakfast-birdwatch Use the tag #BreakfastBirdwatch on social media.

National Trust: Go to National_Trust.org.uk-guide-to-birdsong-and-bird-spotting for the National Trust guide to garden bird song and scroll down the page for links to further nature based activity ideas to do at home.   For information on which National Trust areas are open see https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/  and find them also at Facebook_EastofEnglandNT 

The Broads: Joining other National Parks, the Broads are using the tag #NatureInLockdown to share photos and stories of your wildlife observations in your homes and gardens at the time. Their website has links to lots of other useful ideas, including wildlife identification help and outdoor mindfulness  Visit_the_broads_blog-how-to-beat-the-coronavirus-blues

Holkham: Find the newly launched 'Holkhome' on their website & Social Media.  Holkhome  provides photos, videos, blogs and interviews to give you an insight into the running of the estate and national nature reserve to keep you in touch whilst you are not able to visit them.

Norfolk Museums: King's Lynn museum has virtual tours online at Norfolk_Museums-Lynn-museum-online-exhibitions while you are unable to visit.

More stay at home ideas;

Wildlife watching

News about the peregrines that nest on Cromer Church can be viewed via social media at  Facebook-Cromer Peregrines  and they're also on Twitter @CromerPeregrine

Go to Nature_ID_Bird_Quiz to take a quiz of your choice on birds. You can compete against friends in competition groups.

Use the tag #NatureNeighbours on social media to share photos of wildlife in your garden with others, including the Field-studies-council who also have a wealth of wildlife gardening activity ideas and identification guides.

Recording

The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership, working closely with NBIS, the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service, has a list of local and national recording programmes and guidance on how to use each of them on their website Norfolk_Biodiversity_Wildlife-Recording-at-home

The Norfolk Naturalists website also has a very comprehensive list of recording contacts and services to enable you to get involved at Norfolk_Naturalists_recording 

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust would like you to record various finches that you may see in your garden or neihbourhood. The survey runs until the end of November and full details are here NWT-find-these-fantastic-finches 

BTO are allowing people to join their Garden Birdwatch for free during Coronavirus at BTO_Garden_Bird_Watch  Tag #GardenBirdWatch on social media

Reading

'Walk with me', celebrating the Norfolk Coast area of outstanding natural beauty, is a book of poetry and images by those who love this place and is a fantastic celebration of the coast. It features the work of 23 photographers and nine poets, an introduction by journalist and author Patrick Barkham, 66 pages of evocative poems and dazzling photographs. Order a copy from our online shop at Norfolk_Coast_AONB_Online_shop  (we are still able to administer the online shop whilst working from home, but slight delays are inevitable).

Writing

'My Wildlife' is on the hunt for nature writers and have a free-to-enter competition. They are keen for writing by young people, up to the age of 16, on the theme of nature. Full details at: young-nature-writers-competition

Keep in touch with friends and family using our greetings cards. Featuring 'Outstanding', a print of Morston harbour by Robert Gillmor, they are a lovely reminder of the Norfolk coast. Available to buy in packs of five from Norfolk_Coast_AONB_Online_shop. A poster of the same beautiful image is also available.