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Autumn is here and the Wild Exmouth Team are on hand to help you to stay wild as the weather changes...

Photograph © Debs Rylands | Wild Ideas

Autumn is with us, there’s a slight chill in the air and we’re matching our facemasks with our scarves… but it’s not over for our bees, just yet. Autumn is the time to look out for the amazing Ivy Bee (Colletes hedera) which just loves the nectar and pollen from the subtle flower of ivy.

At first glance, this bee looks a little like a honey bee… but it’s smaller and the stripes on the abdomen are much smarter and neater. As you get really close, you may also notice that the bee is lacking the massive thigh on the hind leg which the honey bee has hanging down as it flies.

A beautiful bee (and quite large in the bee world!) – they are seen through October and your best bet is to look for flowering Ivy in a sheltered location… if it’s getting a bit of sun, even better as bees need to keep themselves warm.
Please do let us know where you see this bee!

The numbers of waders and wildfowl on the Exe increase during Autumn and among these are Debs’ favourite goose, the Dark-bellied Brent goose. This tiny goose travels thousands of miles from the Arctic tundra to enjoy Exmouth’s local eel grass cuisine.

Check out this video from our friends at Wild Ideas to discover more and find out how you can help….

Here at Wild Exmouth, we’re mad about mulch! Mulching your leaves provides a huge variety of benefits in your garden, by increasing nutrition to your plants, increasing worm activity and providing habitat for invertebrates, such as beetles and centipedes… this is also a great place for garden birds to seek out a tasty treat!

If you’re feeling the desire for a new DIY project, then check out this guide to making leaf mould from Gardeners’ World.

Do you have less time for a project?

Simply place your leaves in a jute sack or other aerated container and let them slowly rot down... this time next year, you'll have the perfect addition for your compost.

Tree planting season is nigh... This November, our My Patch for Nature pledgors can claim a tree for their garden, allotment or other outdoor space.

To claim a tree, contact Debs at drylands@eastdevon.gov.uk to choose and reserve your whip. We will hold collection events to safely provide you with your tree and you will be able to choose your collection day and time.

Pledge now

Photograph © David Smith

What better way to stay warm than with an Autumn coastal walk? Take in the changing colours, try the ripened fruits and breathe in the fresh, crisp air. South West Coast Path provides details of a variety of walks at different levels of difficulty, so why not start off easy and challenge yourself to tackle all three?

Don’t forget to check out the Brent geese!

Let's walk!

And don't forget to check out this fantastic walk from Tim; staring at taking in the Estuary, Lower Halsdon Farm, Bapton Brook Valley and Phear Park.
A gentle 3.4 mile walk to take in the fresh air and work up an appetite for lunch!

Please note that the Wildlife Refuge is now in place until December 31st. The Refuge areas are marked out with yellow ‘special mark’ buoys which have “WR” in black letters printed on them.

People are being asked to avoid the areas as the wildlife refuge protects important feeding areas during low season for a short period of time.

More about the Widlife Refuge...

We all know that worms are fabulous for our gardens, allotments, fields and woodlands, but did you know that 21^st October is World Earthworm Day 2020?

Worms turn waste into valuable nutrition for our plant life as well as turning soil so that roots can grow more easily – why wouldn’t we celebrate them?

If you’re interested in finding out more about these fabulous garden friends, We recommend the fantastic resources on The Earthworm Society of Britain’s website. Find identification and survey support… https://www.earthwormsoc.org.uk/downloads

Our landscapes and skies are changing and we're unpacking jumpers and scarves - it's a great time to get out and have fun in nature - there's so much to see!

Check out these spotter and activity guides from Wildlife Watch - Debs says they're not just for adults - we can all have a lot of fun - pull on your wellies and kick up some leaves!

Take me to the Autumn fun!