Naturesbase Blog

A break in the Sahara

gylesmorris — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:53:57 +0000

Away from the normal teaching, training teachers and looking after the campsite and small holding, I have just returned from leading an Across the Divide walking expedition in the western Sahara Desert with 32 participants raising money for UNISEF. The UNICEF Morocco trek took place in the awe-inspiring landscape of gravel plains, sand dunes and Berber villages, where we walked 94km in 5 days. Temperatures hovered around 35 in the day but dropped dramatically at night to just above freezing. Habitation was limited, however the settlements we did see were made of the local adobe ( mud) bricks with flat roofs. Adobe is an excellent insulator, keeping the houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The desert was also alive with a wide range of wildlife both plant and animal. Scorpions, snakes, lizards, hares and foxes all live in this harsh environment, partly due to the clever relationship they have with a beetle. If you want to see more go to Naturesbase.co.uk and press the utube tag.

The trees are now turning…

gylesmorris — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:54:57 +0000

The small holding is looking a little worn now in this glorious late autumn sunshine. Trees beginning to turn golden, birds lining up ready to migrate, with only harden campers able to with stand the chilli nights and we have only 3 weeks to go before the pigs go. A time for hibernation. However, whilst walking along the droves tracks of Ceredigion the other day, I noticed that this year the acorns and conkers are in abundance. Looking further in the hedgerows so are the hazels nuts and deep red berries of the hawthorn. It is a great time of year to harvest these seeds, plant them in compost, put them outside and wait for the spring. As the days become longer and warmer the new shoots of your very own woodland will begin to appear. Simple and satisfying. A great present for anyone you know having baby next year. I gave my god son a hazel, oak and chesnut ( conker) tree when he was born in large clay pots, now he and they are heathy and growing strong after five years!

Hello world!

gylesmorris — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:42:53 +0000

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