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January's Activity Calendar
January is all about trying new things and reaching our goals. Although it’s often a quiet month when many of us prefer to stay cosy indoors, our activities offer a mix of comforting things to do inside, as well challenges that invite you to step outdoors. It’s the perfect time to embrace the crisp winter weather and notice the small but resilient signs of nature that often go unseen at this time of year.
Advice:
When going out in winter it is important to keep your safety at the forefront of your decisions. Winter conditions change quickly. Before heading out:
- Check the weather forecast and plan ahead.
- Check for any maintenance or works, which might prevent you from getting to where you want to go.
- Wear layers to keep warm and shoes with good grip.
- Carry a mobile phone and let someone know the route you plan to take.
- Bring a hot drink in a flask or thermos.
- Bring a torch if you plan to be gone for long.
Further Resources:
- Winter Photography:
If you have a camera and tripod available, Paul Miguel has some tips for taking winter woodland photographs on YouTube. – (431) Winter Woodland Photography Tips, Techniques & Camera Settings – YouTube - Winter Photography Continued: For any phone users, Love Your Lens has an article about capturing brilliant winter moments. – Freeze the moment: how to take stunning winter photographs |
- Snowdrops in the Tamar Valley:
Visit Tamar Valley have a page all about where you can find snowdrops around the Tamar Valley. – Where to See Snowdrops: The Best Spots for a Magical Winter Walk - Warming Winter Drinks:
For inspiration on a new warming winter drink to take outdoors, BBC Good Food have 58 suggestions. – Winter drinks recipes | Good Food - Bird Feeders:
The Woodland Trust has solutions and instructions for easy bird feeders. – How to Make a Bird Feeder – Woodland Trust - Bird Food: RSPB have an easy recipe for a bird food cake to keep birds full and warm in the winter. – Feed the birds
- Nature Connects Podcast:
For the full list of Nature Connects podcasts you can visit PodBean. – Nature Connects | tamarvalleynationallandscape - Nature Spotter’s Guides:
To find out what nature you could see this month, visit our Nature Spotter’s Guides page.
February's Activity Calendar
February is often described as a transitional month, sitting between the darkest point of winter and the first hints of spring. The month’s name comes from the Latin februa, meaning to cleanse. Modern wellbeing writing highlights February as a symbolic period for mental decluttering, renewal, and habit‑refreshing. It is also a time of love, for yourself and others. For all these reasons, this month’s calendar invites you to slow down, savour the small moments, reconnect with nature and others, and nurture a sense of wellbeing and self‑love.
Advice:
February often brings wet and changeable conditions, and it is also a sensitive period for wildlife, with many species beginning to nest, mate, or prepare for new young
Before heading out:
- Check the weather forecast and plan ahead.
- Check for any maintenance or works, which might prevent you from getting to where you want to go.
- Wear layers to keep warm and shoes with good grip.
- Carry a mobile phone and let someone know the route you plan to take.
- Be aware of mud and slippery paths, which you could fall on.
- Bring a torch if you plan to be gone for long.
- If you are walking a dog, please follow the countryside code and keep your dog on a lead during lambing seasons and around wetlands.
Other considerations for this month:
- Do not eat any horse chestnuts as they are toxic.
- If you are not 100% sure about any mushrooms be edible, be safe and do not eat them.
Further Resources:
- Horse Chestnut Laundry Detergent:
If you want to try something new this month, there are lots of alternative purposes for Horse Chestnuts, otherwise known as ‘Conkers’. ‘Kitchen and Other Stories’ has created a guide for making your own natural laundry detergent, using Horse Chestnuts. – Natural Laundry Detergent Made With Conkers – Kitchen and Other Stories - Set up a wildlife camera:
If you don’t want to invest in a permanent wildlife camera, you can hire one for us. Email bryony.james@cornwall.gov.uk, or enquiries@tamarvalley.org.uk (after March). - Pressing flowers:
RHS (the Royal Horticultural Society) have some great instructions on how to press your own flowers, what equipment you will need, building your own press and possible gift ideas. – Pressing flowers and leaves / RHS Gardening - Baking with rhubarb:
If you’re not sure how to cook rhubarb, or would like to try a new recipe, The Rhubarb Fool has put together a collection of their favourite rhubarb recipes for you to try. – The Rhubarb Recipe Page – sweet things | The Rhubarb Fool - Making a storm snug:
With so many storms this month, sometimes we all need a bit of comfort. To make a storm snug, you could simply gather your torches and hunker down in a comfy armchair with a book, a flask of your favourite hot drink and a blanket. Or you could embrace your inner child and create a blanket fort. Tasty Home have made a video on how to make a cozy blanket fort for some inspiration. – How To Make The Coziest Blanket Fort Ever | Tasty Home - Collect twigs to make into a heart shaped wreath:
The National Trust have a tutorial for creating lime tree twig hearts. – Make a twig heart | Discover | National Trust
Alternatively, Missie Lizzie has created a range of crafts, including heart-shaped wreaths made out of twigs. – Me and my shadow: How to make rustic twig heart wreaths
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