Day 6: Connecting with nature to improve my wellbeing in the dark days of winter, by watching a snail giving another snail a piggyback
This friday evening the weather is wet, wild and windy again! We have just had a government warning go off on all our phones to warn us of a red weather warning. Once again, I have put on full wet weather gear, to pop into the front garden to connect with nature. It is still really mild so despite the rain, I do not mind going outside. I ventured into the front garden with the torch in my hand to see if I can spot any wildlife this evening. There are spiders hiding in crevices, slugs out and about and woodlice scurrying hither and thither.
The wind was buffeting the plants all over the place. Under the lip of the capping stone I spotted something a little bit strange. As I got closer I realised that it was one small snail giving the other snail a piggyback. There are a number of common species of snails that can be found in the garden. Because they were upside down, and it was dark it was tricky to get a really good look at them. I believe they are a Cepaea sp. however I am not a Gastropod expert.
This evening it was thrill to see something unusual in the garden, despite the darkness, wind and rain. I lose sense of time when I am watching nature. I am so pleased four years ago that I changed my gravel covered garden with no plants into a mini flower meadow. Since, then I have been tweaking the balance of plants to increase the biodiverstiy of all organisms that come into the garden. This December challenge is making me get out into the garden when normally I would be indoors curled up under a blanket. I hope that my little blogs and videos are inspiring you to step outside and connect with the nature just outside your home this winter.