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.
Activities for children;
RNLI: Find a variety of activity sheets, video clips and online activities about beach and water safety at RNLI_youth-education-resources
Steve Backshall: Watch a Wildlife Q&A session that can be viewed on YouTube or his Facebook page here
Wildlife Trusts: Find some great practical ideas for nature-based activities for children including making a bird feeder, a mini nature reserve, and lots more here
National Trust: There are several of the Trust's '50 things to do before you are 11 ¾' which can be ticked off at home, including National_Trust-cloud-watching, National_Trust-make-friends-with-a-bug and National_Trust-help-a-wild-animal
Scout & Girlguiding Leaders: We have produced a Norfolk Coast AONB Challenge for Scout and Guiding members of all ages. This year various travel restrictions are in place due to coronavirus which will obviously result in groups currently being unable to visit the Norfolk coast. However, most of the activities in the challenge from the Norfolk Coast Partnership are suitable for Scouting and Guiding members to do at home.
Support in the community
Advice, support and volunteering opportunities for local communities are available at;
https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/tasks/projects/coronavirus/
https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus
Shop local
Many local shops and businesses are now offering delivery services for people in isolation, they need your business more than ever right now. Find our Norfolk AONB local products directory at Norfolk_Coast_AONB_local-products
The Marine Conservation Society have a useful guide for supporting our local fishing industry at MCSuk_support_local_sustainable_fishing