Night & Tay

Sand dunes in the UK? Absolutely! They’re a bit different from the Saharan desert sand dunes that you might be thinking of, but sand dunes are found around the UK coast, and provide a unique habitat for lots of rare species. So, let’s get some sand between our toes and explore the world of sand dunes. Jen next to sand dunes at  Morfa Dyffryn National Nature Reserve in Barmouth How do sand dunes form? I remember studying sand dunes in GCSE geography but I’m afraid I had to look up how they form for this article. To save you from a geography lesson too, I’ll simply say that sand dunes are hills of sand which form when sand is blown inland from the beach by an onshore wind and is trapped by debris or plants.  More plants grow on this sand and stabilise it with their roots and before you know it, the pile of sand has grown and grown and turned into a dune. There’s more to it than that, and this is a great article if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of it.  Sue Adair / S...

(9 minute read) Index We’ve seen a lot of love for puffins from our post on UK coastal wildlife (check it out here ) so let’s give these adorable little guys a post of their own! One of the UK’s most loved and recognisable birds, they are often called the “clowns of the sea” due to their jazzy bills and bright orange legs. But there’s much more to puffins than their comical appearance!  Photo by Wynand van Poortvliet on Unsplash Puffin Habits and Habitats Puffin Diet and Hunting Where to See Puffins in the UK Puffin Conservation How You Can Help 1. Puffin Habits and Habitats The classic photo of a puffin shows them perching on a cliff, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that that’s where they spend most of their time, but in fact, they're only found on land for a few of the spring and summer months, when they’re raising their offspring. Once their chicks have fledged, puffins return to the sea where they spend the rest of the year. You’l...

  Summer on the British coast means beach trips with ice creams, fresh doughnuts and sitting on the sea wall eating scaldingly hot fish and chips. But there’s much more to do around Britain’s coastlines and I want to share three of my favourite wildlife experiences - keep an eye out for these if you’re heading near the coast this summer. Seabird colonies – A cliffside cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells!  Starting off strong - Britain’s seabird colonies are a sight I think everyone should see in their lives. The sounds, the smell, the thousands of birds perched precariously on vertical cliffs, it’s a spectacle that shouldn’t be missed. For optimum viewing, you want to be going between May and early July as the birds will start leaving by the end of the month (I really must get a last trip in this year!). Bempton Cliffs - if you look closely you can spot the cliffs are covered in birds! Photo by Jen Shemmings-Payne The beloved puffin is one of the most easily recognized s...

This April, I had my first bout of COVID, which left me quarantined in our bedroom for 14 days. The isolation was tough, but what I hadn't considered was the difficulty of being stuck indoors when I was used to being outside every day. When my quarantine was over my first priority (after hugging my husband!) was going somewhere outdoors. So, we drove to the bank of the Humber and sitting on a bench, breathing in the fresh air, I felt weak and tired, yet better than I had in weeks. It was a wake-up call for me about the importance of being outside for my mental health. I couldn't believe how much better I felt with just some fresh air and a view. Photo by Jen Shemmings-Payne Since then, I've been reading up on research on the benefits of nature for mental well-being, and I want to share what I've found. Even a short trip outside can boost your mood and reduce stress. It's not just mental either—there are physical health benefits like reduced blood pressure and im...

  If you're an autumn person at heart, like I am, you might find yourself complaining about the heat and counting down the days until cosy blankets, hot chocolate, and all things pumpkin. Or perhaps you’re the kind of person who loves summer, but you get frustrated by the sometimes seemingly endless British rain and grey skies. Whichever you are, I’m here to remind you that there are some excellent reasons to love British summers: rain, heat, humidity, and all. This year I’m making the effort to slow down and appreciate everything the year has to offer and enjoy each season, and what makes it unique.  So, here are some of my favourite things Britain has to offer in the summer: 10 things to love about a British summer: 1: Long evenings & enjoying the extra light Photo by Jen Shemmings-Payne  (Taken at 7:53pm!) Even when the weather isn’t playing ball and the clouds have rolled in thickly, those summer evenings stretch on, and it stays light until at least 10 PM. Alth...