A path up the mountains

The Skrrid (also know as the holy or sacred) mountain in the heart of South Wales really is an enchanting place to take an autumnal stroll. Filled as it is with leaves that are busy burning through all the autumn hues. The clouds that sweep across the sky before bursting spectacularly with rain.

There are many legends associated with this mountain and the huge chunk that has been carved out of it. Some say that a part of it broke off at the moment of Christ's crucifixion, other legends say that earth from mountain is sacred and has the power to make any land it touches fertile. On a more personal note the land here also has a special association for me, home as it is to both the people that I consider to be my extended family and as a neighbor to where we laid my stepdad to rest.

It was therefore a pleasure to take a pleasant Saturday to hike up to the top, taking photos as I went. The views were spectacular spanning the black mountain range and as I struggled at the top to take pictures while the wind tried to pitch me off the top I was filled with a real sense of accomplishment.

If you do decide to scale the Skirrid I would thoroughly recommend a trip to The Skirrid Mountain Inn, one of the oldest (reputedly most haunted) and welcoming pubs in Wales. I spent many a happy night there as a child enjoying the great food.

It really was a great day to take a trip up this historic mountain.

Tape Cardiff: The RSPB and Migrations promoting nature through art

*As a important note I would like to state that all photos and views on this blog are my own and therefore do not reflect the views, official photography and opinions of the RSPB as an organisation.

If you had gone down to Bute Park over the month of August, you might have noticed something strange in the woods. A gigantic spiderweb suspended between the trees of Bute Park.


Made entirely out of sticky tape and brought to life by Migrations, RSPB Cymru and the City of Cardiff Council, this great events gave adults and kids alike the chance to explore a spider's eye view of the natural world first hand.

As a volunteer at the event, it was great to see something like this set up that so directly engaged the general public. Children ran around the exhibit excitedly, people would stop randomly to take pictures on their phones and the looks of delight on people's faces as they left the exhibit was palpable.

Being actually able to crawl round the structure like a spider in its web or a moth in a cocoon was enormous fun and really gave you a childlike sense of wonder, joy and a sense of discovering the natural world for yourself. One of the great parts was knowing that this whole structure was entirely renewable, as afterwards it would be taken down and turned into perfectly usable plant pots.

There was also a strong sense that the installation had a serious message behind it as well. Set up in Bute Park as a way to encourage adults and children to think about and connect with the nature that surrounds them.

So after this structure has been taken down and recycled, how can the public promote the welfare of nature in their own homes? Well perhaps they can set up piles of wood in their back gardens to give spiders, moths and other insects a place to live. Or they could think about putting out bird feeders (particularly over harder winter months) that they can clean and refill regularly in order to help birds in the area. They could think about digging a pond in their back garden to help animals like frogs, newts and toads. Finally if they have a hedge or fence in the garden and the neighbors approve a small hole could be put in it to create a nature highway through which animals like hedgehogs could move freely.

For more ideas about how to help the natural world and to find out more about what the RSPB are doing you'll find a link to their website below.

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/givenatureahomeinyourgarden/