We created the page of great educational, informative, entertaining and inspiring resources to read, watch and do over the 2021 lockdown. We are leaving these as is – and although may be out of date will hopefully still inspire.
- CONTENTS
- Longridge Slate Verse Trail
- Films and Documentaries
- Lost Words and Lost Spells
- iNoticeNature
- Slate Verse
- Local walks
- Slow Ways
- Bird Garden Birdwatch
- Birdsong Lessons
- Nature and Mental Health
- Connecting with Nature Course
- Dark Skies Festival
- Star Count
The Longridge Slate Verse Trail
Welcome to a new Lockdown activity offered by Longridge Environmental Group.
We all know the benefit of getting outside and this is something a little different to encourage you and your family on a little treasure hunt during your daily local exercise. We hope you enjoy exploring Longridge and find some new areas and quiet spots.
Welcome to a new Lockdown activity offered by Longridge Environmental Group.
We all know the benefit of getting outside and this is something a little different to encourage you and your family on a little treasure hunt during your daily local exercise. We hope you enjoy exploring Longridge and find some new areas and quiet spots. Using the /// What Three Words app – can you find the six linked slates – and can you find the bird? And wait – there are treats.
1. Download the free What 3 Words app You don’t need an account to use it.
2. Have a look at the opening screen, tap the little map circle, bottom right on my phone. It will show your location by satellite image. The box at the top will give your location as 3 random words from the grid.
3. Walk around a bit and see how the words change with little movement. That is all that is needed to tell emergency services where you are, and you can see the level of detail, those 3 random words!
Our Golden Letter Trail. You will most likely already be aware of the poetry on slates randomly around Longridge at different times. We are using these and will be sending you to find them. Each slate has a poem with one letter written in gold. Follow the directions below to collect all 6 golden letters, unscramble them to find a bird’s name.
Finding the Verse Slates …
1. Type one of the 3-word-phrases with fullstops and no spaces between, as below, into the top bar of the app map page. It will zoom in to the location, you can use the ‘navigate’ option offered, we used Google Maps and it worked out mostly pretty well.
zaps.crafts.match
geology.mealtime.graduated
jubilant.requests.lightly
standard.refilled.letter
stays.streetcar.bitters
slings.croak.upsetting
Whilst Out and About – we all know that being out and about in nature is good for us. That goodness is far better when we notice nature, rather than just walk through it. As you get out to find the slates, what were the smells, sounds and sights you noticed? how did you feel? (and … if you saw a bird, plant, tree or animal you didn’t know the name of – get in touch with LEG and ask!)
Films and Documentaries …
The Story of Plastic (link)
2040 (link)
Kissing the Ground (link)
Fantastic Fungi (link)
The Biggest Little Farm (link)
Perfect Planet (link)
Lost Words and Lost Spells …
If you are not aware of the wonderful and inspiring Lost Words, Lost Spells publications, poems, card games and songs from Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris and others check out https://www.thelostwords.org/lostwordsbook/Also, there are school Explorers Guides available for free download which provide wonderful material for lockdown home schooling … or just enjoying. (These guides are for teachers, librarians and children. They are for anyone who wants to explore The Lost Spells and celebrate the magic of nature and language. These guides are for use in classrooms, at home or in an outdoor space of your choosing. The various activities and challenges included can be dipped in and out of or used consecutively as a cross-curricular scheme of work.) Click here to download a free copy of the Spell Songs Explorer’s Guide and Click here for the a free copy of the Winter Explorers Guide
iNoticeNature …
Relive the images taken by LEG members and others during the first lockdown
Link to video – https://bit.ly/LEGnoticenature
Slate Verse …
You will have notice the wonderful and inspiring poems in slates around town. Watch out for a slate trail coming soon. What slate verse is your favourite? Could you write an eco-themed verse for a slate? Tell us on twitter, facebook or email.
Local Walks …
Taking local walks is one thing we can do in the lockdown, for exercise, for our wellbeing and taking time to notice nature. Please do share you walks so we can add here.
You may have seen on TV, or read about SlowWays as walking routes to connect towns and villages across the UK. Longridge will be a SlowWays hub with many routes starting from the centre. watch out for more news soon.
SlowWays held a number of webinars recently in Jan Note these were recorded and now available on youtube. Its an hour long, so grab a coffee sit back and enjoy .
RSPB …
There is a wealth of resources on birds and bird habitats on the RSBP website
Big Garden Birdwatch
This is the link to the RSPB garden birdwatch survey taking place 29-31 January. Only needs an hour!
Get Ready for RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch!
Think your garden may seem quieter in the winter? Winter is anything but lifeless – especially for birds. Tune it to learn more about birds you may have visiting your garden, what to feed them and how to get involved in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch in the last weekend of January.
The Pendle Hill Landscape partnership are hosting a free zoom session on Wednesday 20th January 2021: 5.30pm – 7.00pm Suitable for all the family and best for bird beginners. We will also be holding a mini live craft session and showing you how to make a bird feeder out of simple household objects! Booking essential. For further information and to book a place please email jayne.ashe@lancashire.gov.uk
Birdsong Lessons
Can you tell a goldfinch from a greenfinch by sound? …. Tune into British bird calls with Lucy Lapwing’s series of birdsong lessons on YouTube.
Nature and Mental Wellbeing …
The Nature Connectedness Research Group at Derby University has provided some resources to help us look after our mental wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak. Even when we can’t get out and about, nature can still help us keep well. When required to stay at or close to home, and be socially distant, it’s important to look after our mental wellbeing.
Our wellbeing can benefit from a close relationship with nature. This ‘friendship with nature’ isn’t dependent on taking a trip into distant natural landscapes, it can be made at or very close to home. Here are four ways you can let everyday nature lend a hand – try a variety of approaches to maintain your wellbeing and find ones that work for you:
- Notice and write down the ‘Good Things in Nature’
- Explore your relationship with nature
- Undertake an audio nature meditation
- Immerse yourself in Virtual Nature – let nature help manage your emotions
I see The Nature Connectedness Research Group at Derby University has also curated an 8 Module free MOOC course on Connectivity with Nature. The course is open to anyone and will be of particular interest to those who feel passionate about nature and pro-nature behaviours, our relationship with the natural world and its influences on our well-being.
Click here for more ideas, nature soundtracks for meditation, virtual nature videos and more from Derby Uni … https://www.derby.ac.uk/research/centres-groups/nature-connectedness-research-group/covid-19-resources/
Dark Skies …
Cumbria Dark Skies Festival has live events for all ages over 17 evenings in February giving the opportunity to explore our dark skies with astronomers, astrophotographers, authors, filmmakers, lighting and design professionals, performers, poets and outdoor adventurers.
Star Count …
The CPRE are planning a Star Count between the 6th and 14th Feb. Details here
BUT, let’s do this as a LEG activity to get an understanding of the level of dark skies in our area. It’s easy – just look to the heavens on a clear night between the 6th and 14th Feb and count the number of stars you see in the constellation of Orion. Details of how to find Orion and how to share your count soon.
Longridge Environment Group 