3 ways to go wild in June
I'm incredibly late writing this, but I did want to get it in just before June came to an end!
What a complete 180 the weather has done this June. It's been absolutely fabulous and I hope you've all been able to go out and explore a little, or at least inject a tiny bit of wild in your life, whether that's through gardening, building a campfire or going to the seaside.
Since last week's summer solstice, we are now 100% full on into the busy buzz of the summer season, and there's so much more time to go outside and enjoy what nature has to offer.
Here's some simple ways to get some 'wild' in this weekend (or maybe even sneak in some June wild into next weekend too!)
Collect elderflower
You'll see elderflower flowering everywhere from May to mid June and later on in summer it will have purple berries. The flowers and fruit is the only edible part of the plant but even those are mildly toxic until cooked. The best way to pick them is on a sunny before it gets too hot and grab the freshest looking flowers.
Used in anything from champagne and cordial, to desserts and ice cream, it's almost synonymous with the British summer. To make it, you only really need sugar, some lemon and elderflower heads. Some recipes call for you to add citric acid, others don't. The citric acid, which is a preservative that looks like sugar, stops the cordial from fermenting, so if you intend to keep it longer than a month do add it. The downside? It gives it a bitter of a sour flavour.
A simple recipe to make the cordial is:
2.5kg of sugar (granulated or caster will do)
2 lemons - sliced and zested
20 elderflower heads (shake off to make sure all the insects have been removed and gently wash them)
85g citric acid (optional) - or lemon can be used instead as well (contains citric acid naturally)
Mix the sugar with 1.5l of water and let it dissolve by slowly warming it up in a pan. Once the sugar has fully dissolved bring the syrup to a boil and then turn off the heat.
Now add in the cleaned elderflower heads, lemon zest and lemon slices (and citric acid if using). Stir well and let it sit for 24 hours.
After, drain it out by lining a colander with a tea towel and letting the syrup pour through, collecting the large bits. You can now keep this cordial for up to 6 weeks in the fridge or freeze it.
Fun tip! Why not pour it into an ice cube tray for flavoured ice cubes?
2. See some bats
Bats are endlessly fascinating scientists with their adaptations to life - whether it's simply through sonar, hibernation or their ubiquity around the world. They don't always charm people with their faces, sharp ears and sharp claws at the end of their wings. There are 18 species of bat in the UK, meaning they account for almost 25% of all mammal species here. To have a look at some of the species you might find, follow this woodlandtrust link.
They are both amazing fertilisers as well as insect consumers, and for some species they are also pollinators too. They have had a rough time with loss of roosting and habitat, urbanisation, artificial lighting, and wind turbines. However, some cautious evidence is proving that the populations are generally remaining stable, meaning that the current legislation is having a positive impact.
To go out and see them, best choose a dry still night and go out at dusk. Ideally near water bodies or at the edge of forests, where they can find lots of insects hovering around. Depending on where you live that might even mean your garden! You can bring a torch to take a peek, and keep an eye on any water surface for disturbances or silhouettes.
If you're keen to see them but feel a bit out of your depth trying to find them yourself, then google for locally organised bat walks with volunteers who know a thing or two about where and how to see them. They probably will also have a bat detector with them so that you can ever listen to them echolocate!
3. Join the 30 days wild campaign!
The wildlife trusts organise an annual 30-day event in June encouraging anyone and everyone to get in touch with their wild side. They send daily e-mails with suggestions and you can also download a calendar. They're all super simple, from walking in the grass barefoot, to taking a nature photo or watching the sunset (sunrise is a bit ambitious this time of year!)
One of my favourites is wildflower meadows, and they encourage you to identify a wildflower you didn't know by name yet, with this handy little chart. I always like to plant some wildflowers in my garden and most of the ones on the bottom row were completely new to me by name! There's lots of wildflower meadows that you can go out to visit as a day trip or you don't even need to go that far - most verges are great for wildflowers.
If you haven't done it yet but are thinking about it - definitely plant some wherever you can. The bees and butterflies will be very grateful to you. It's why I include some wildflower seeds with every UK order I send!
As ever, happy wild-ing!
Ester
Meet Ester
Wildlife camerawoman by day, jewellery designer by night, with a heap of crafting in the middle. Bristol-based but longing for a wilder setting.
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