Gallery | A Patch Wilder

As well as documenting the sights and sounds of nature at A Patch Wilder, Charlie and Spade have built up a portfolio of nature photography from across the globe. See our other photos here.

Whilst we are now in mid-December, the occasional

Whilst we are now in mid-December, the occasional warm temperatures through the winter so far have meant that bats have not been quite so sleepy as normal. These videos show serotine bats (one of our largest native species) in the loft having a good look around. 🦇

*These videos were taken with an infrared camera that was set up by a licensed ecologist*
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#apatchwilder #mendips #bats #seotine #batsofinstagram #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #naturelovers #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

Looks like it's going to be a bit blowy tonight -

Looks like it's going to be a bit blowy tonight - phones have been buzzing with government alerts all evening.
Farewell ash trees, it was nice knowing you! 💨
Stay safe out there x

Last year the @mendiphillsnl volunteers helped us

Last year the @mendiphillsnl volunteers helped us to dig a woodland pond. A few days ago, I went up to instal a wildlife camera to see how the pond was getting on. Over just the past 5 days the camera recorded 13 bird species drinking, bathing and generally having a good time in the water!
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #bushnelltrailcam #rspb_love nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbowildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebrítishwildlife #ifwebuildittheywillcome

First frost hit the Patch today and we enjoyed a b

First frost hit the Patch today and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny walk, looking over to the snowy Welsh mountains beyond the Bristol Channel. I'll take cold, crisp mornings over grey sleet any day! ❄️ This cluster of inkcaps was particularly beautiful
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#apatchwilder #rewilding #conservation #mushrooms #frost #winter #somerset #nature #fungi #fungiphotography #lurcher #rescuedog

A walk in the woods this morning turned up an unex

A walk in the woods this morning turned up an unexpected find - cobalt crust fungus, quite a rare species in the UK!
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #naturelovers #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife #cobaltcrust #fungi #fungiphotography #fungusamongus

Goldfinch in the knapweed seed heads. . . . #apatc

Goldfinch in the knapweed seed heads.
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #goldfinch #rspb_love _nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

At this time of year we start to see flocks of see

At this time of year we start to see flocks of seed-eating finches hiding out in areas of the meadow that we leave uncut. These areas of rank grassland harbour knapweed, teasel and thistles with thousands of energy-packed seeds providing an essential resource to keep these guys going through the winter.
The lack of cutting regime means that these areas will have fairly low botanical species diversity but, in addition to the finches, they are a haven for small mammals such as voles, shrews and mice, who in turn support predators such as owls, snakes, and foxes (any gruffalo fans out there?)
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #goldfinch #rspb_love _nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

Green woodpecker. . . . #apatchwilder #mendips #me

Green woodpecker.
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #greenwoodpecker #rspb_love _nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

💚 Green woodpecker snooping about a compost hea

💚 Green woodpecker snooping about a compost heap on the farm looking for tasty treats. These birds have a very characteristic call (known as a yaffle) and this has given rise to many different names for them over the years: yaffle bird, yaffingale, yappingale, laughing Betsey, weather cock, rain bird, wet bird, nickle, Jack Eikle and nicker pecker to name just a few!
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #greenwoodpecker #rspb_love _nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

It's my last full day with our youngest Patchling

It's my last full day with our youngest Patchling before she starts at nursery next week. We've been making the most of the beautiful sunshine to get out for a walk round the Patch, it feels so good to see some blue skies again! Maternity leave has been amazing but it's back to work soon and the new challenge of juggling work, kids and, in our limited spare time, jobs and events on the farm!
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#apatchwilder #mendips #nature #conservation #rewilding #somerset #shipham

One silver lining to the leaves dropping off the t

One silver lining to the leaves dropping off the trees - those sneaky bullfinches have much less foliage to hide behind!
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #bullfinch #somerset #somersetwildlife #stonechat #rspb_love _nature #birdstagram #britishbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #bird_billiance #naturelovers #birdphotography #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

The winter lawn mowers are back and set to work st

The winter lawn mowers are back and set to work straight away. Fern and Red have the important job of keeping all the fast-growing course grasses at bay over the winter months so that there is plenty of room for the 2025 wildflowers.
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#apatchwilder #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #naturelovers #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

Some strange goings-on at A Patch Wilder today. We

Some strange goings-on at A Patch Wilder today. We saw lots more witches than usual making their way through the woods. Plus several ghouls, monsters and re-animated skeletons. Must have been the annual Halloween craft event! 🍁 🎃 👻
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#apatchwilder #somerset #mendip #mendiphills #halloween #crafts

Finally got skies clear enough to see comet C2023

Finally got skies clear enough to see comet C2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over the house this evening. Set to a backdrop of migrating redwing calls.
This comet was last seen from Earth around 80,000 years ago when the Mendip hills were probably quite a different place.
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#apatchwilder #comet #cometa3 #nightphotography #astrophotography

A few spaces remaining for our nature-based Hallow

A few spaces remaining for our nature-based Halloween session at A Patch Wilder this Saturday 26th October, 10am - midday! Suitable for approx. ages 2-10, all children must be accompanied by an adult. £5 per child (adults free), includes a hot drink.
Activities will include owl pellet dissection, halloween crafts and a scavenger hunt.
Booking essential via our website www.apatchwilder.com/events

Hunters supermoon tonight - apparently the brighte

Hunters supermoon tonight - apparently the brightest moon of the year and it certainly is quite dazzling out there tonight.

Bonfire season! 🔥 . . . #apatchwilder #bonfire

Bonfire season! 🔥
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#apatchwilder #bonfire #slowmo #twistedfirestarter

A few of our biofluoresent finds on last night's U

A few of our biofluoresent finds on last night's UV Nature walk. It really does feel like uncovering a whole hidden world right beneath our noses.
The widespread extent of biofluorescence in nature is only just being and currently, relatively little is known about why this happens, however, it is suspected that fluorescence may serve important functions in signaling and communication, mating, lures, camouflage, UV protection and antioxidation.
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#apatchwilder #biofluorescence #fluorescent #ultraviolet #nightvideo #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetwildlife #naturelovers #bbcwildlifepotd #bbcwildlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot #springwatch #ukwildlifephotography #thebritishwildlife

Great UV Nature Glow walk last night - we found gl

Great UV Nature Glow walk last night - we found glowing caterpillars, spiders, worms, fungi, and plants. All completely invisible to the naked eye without the assistance of UV torches.
Video of some of our finds to follow!

Another one of last nights aurora. Not a sight I e

Another one of last nights aurora. Not a sight I ever thought I'd see in Somerset, let alone twice in a year!
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#apatchwilder #northernlights #northernlightsphotos #auora #auroraborealis #mendips #mendiphills #mendiphillsaonb #somerset #somersetlife #ukpotd #natgeoyourshot

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