Get Your Boots On

A couple of years ago I had the idea to write a book aimed at young people just like me. Something I would have wanted to read when I was just starting out. A book that would encourage more people to engage with the wildlife on their doorstep, to see how fantastic nature is, and in turn want to protect the wildlife that they fall in love with.

It is mind blowing that on the 3rd July 2019 ‘Get Your Boots On’ will be released.

From the beginning I wanted the book to be packed full of information, helpful hints and photographs. Not something you had to read from front to back but a guide you just picked up when you wanted inspiration. I asked lots of people for advice, from people who work with wildlife in one way or another, people who spend time with wildlife as a hobby, people who make it their life to protect wildlife, as well as young people the same age, older or younger than me.

There were times when I didn’t think the book would become anything more than pages and pages of notes tucked into a folder in my bedroom, there were times when I was told how hard it is to get a book published and metaphorically patted on the head and told to forget the idea, but as every word of encouragement came in, as each contribution came back and more words came spilling out on to the page, I became more determined that I was actually going to get this finished.

The publishers received from me the words and my photos, together with a rough idea of how I wanted the layout. As soon as a few sample pages came back to me I was astounded. I never imaging seeing my photos and words looking so fantastically laid out.

It’s been what seems like a very long journey, umming and ahing over particular photographs, changing words here and there, rewriting sections that after consideration didn’t fit any more.

I’m really looking forward to revealing more about the content as July gets closer and if the book inspires just one extra person to become excited about nature and wildlife then I’ll be happy.

Get Your Boots On is available for Pre-order from
https://divedup.com/shop/get-your-boots-on/

ISBN 978-1-909455-22-1

£14.95

Amazon or you could ask your local bookshop to order it in for you.

Description
Young wildlife champion Alex White is on a quest to get more people out enjoying nature. In this inspirational book, he and a host of well-known contributors reveal what got them into wildlife in the first place – now they want you to Get Your Boots On. They offer tales of encouragement for anyone who wants to get closer to nature and indispensable advice to those who would like to get more involved or even build a career out of their passion for wildlife. Illustrated throughout by Alex’s stunning photographs, this book will appeal to young and old alike. It suggests: when and where to get out there; what to go looking for; how to do it; what to take… and a host of other tips. Practical advice for getting closer to nature. Encouragement from those who have lived it.

Reviews of Get Your Boots On
‘This fabulous and important book. It’s good, it’s inspirational and – critically – it’s heartening’— Chris Packham.

‘Alex is prominent as a standard-bearer for [a] new generation of wildlife champions… he is giving hope and inspiration to young people across this nation that despite all the challenges we face, it is still possible to make this world a better place for humans and wildlife’— Dominic Dyer, CEO Badger Trust & British Wildlife Advocate Born Free Foundation

Author
Alex White is a wildlife photographer and blogger. Since the age of ten, he has won a number of photography competitions. He has appeared on panels and spoken to audiences about his love of wildlife, from small local gatherings to BBC TV’s Springwatch Unsprung. Alex is passionate about British wildlife — in particular mammals — and keen to show other people how to find amazing wildlife on their doorstep. His blog Appleton Wildlife Diaries is a finalist in the UK Blog Awards 2019.

UK Blog Awards: Nature and Wildlife

You can vote for my blog here 

VOTE HERE

I’m really pleased to get through to the second stage of the UK blog awards.

This year they have included the category: Nature & Wildlife.

I’m up against some amazing blogs and people I admire, but I would be really grateful for a vote 

Thank you!

Appleton Wildlife Diary is 5 Years old today

When I started Appleton Wildlife Diary 5 years ago I never imagined that I would still be writing it 5 years later.

Over the past 5 years I have had some amazing wildlife encounters, met some inspirational people and been involved in some great projects.

I must admit sometimes it has been a chore, I love the photography but going home and writing about it is harder, but then something inspires me and my enthusiasm is back again.

I’m passionate about getting other kids interested in wildlife and showing people that fantastic wildlife can be found on your Local Patch when you step outside and look, so I’m really pleased to announce that I have written a book about UK wildlife, for kids and teenagers, to encourage interaction with nature and to hopefully inspire more people to explore their Local Patch

The publishing contracts have been signed, but it will be 2019 before the book is on sale.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the support and the advice from everyone I have met over the past 5 years.

Thank you for all the social media follows, retweets, likes, shares and comments.

You can now find my latest blogs at 

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/appleton-wildlife-diary-is-5-years-old-today/

Stay Wild

Alex

Into 2018

I don't very often blog here as I now mainly blog on my Wordpress account.

If you have turned up here - Thank you for looking.

2018 has started well with being awarded runner up in BBC Wildlife Magazine's blogger of the year award 2017

If you like what I blog about, please take a look at

Appleton Wildlife diary

Update

I spent a couple of weeks over the summer holidays in South Africa.

I've written a few blog posts over on Wordpress.

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/cape-town-south-africa/

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/whale-watching-in-hermanus/

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/teniqua-treetops-knysna/

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/09/01/kariega-safari/

30 Days Wild

I am taking part in 30 Days Wild again.

Come and have a look at what I've been up to in the first week

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/look-under-a-stone-or-log-day-7/

State of Nature in Oxfordshire 2017

A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to be asked to do a presentation at the Launch Event of The State of Nature in Oxfordshire 2017.
We decided that rather than doing a presentation on the day that I would make a film in advance, that way I could put in some film clips of wildlife that I had taken on my local patch to show people how wonderful Oxfordshire’s wildlife is and also I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to take the afternoon off school.

You can see the film on my Wordpress website

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/state-of-nature-in-oxfordshire-2017/

The launch took place on 21st March at Blenheim Palace, with the first speaker being Professor David MacDonald, Director of WildCRU. Professor MacDonald spoke about how research in to wildlife is only the beginning, it is the partnerships between the researchers, landowners, farmers, volunteers and conservation management that will make a positive outcome for nature.

It was interesting to hear that a lot of Oxfordshire’s countryside is farmland and we have little actual ‘wild’ spaces.
The next speaker was Graham Scholey, technical adviser for the Environment agency. Then followed the film I had made for the event. Big thanks to my sister for filming me.The next two speakers were Martin Layer, the Planning and Estates Manager for Smiths Bletchington and Dr Judy Webb. Both spoke about nature reserves that I knew little or nothing about. Which made me think that if someone like me who regularly visits local nature reserves and seeks out wildlife hadn’t heard of these reserves then how do we promote nature reserves to the general public.

Perhaps that is an idea for future blogs – to visit all the nature reserves in Oxfordshire and blog about them.
Emma Marsh, regional directer for the RSPB, spoke last and summed up the general gist of the report.
The report not only outlines the loses and the gains in Oxfordshire’s biodiversity but also a call to action plan that involves the following key points

• Urgently create larger and more connected high quality habitats
• Find financially viable ways to help farmers manage land to benefit nature.
• Improve practical support for communities
• Ensure better planning for blue and green infrastructure
• Put sustainable development that invests in nature at the heart of local decision-making
• Increase access to green space and volunteering
• Develop more collaborations within our strong and diverse sector
• Continue to improve the methodology for monitoring the state of nature.

The few points that I picked up on during the event was that Nature, Politics and Money are all interlinked, fragmentation is a huge problem and sadly, like other conferences I have been to, the under 25’s are under represented.
It was a real privilege to be involved in the launch and my final words from the film are:

I would like to see much more education on nature in schools. How can we care about something we know nothing about and therefore have no connection to?

I would like to see all MP’s of every party pledge for the Environment and overall no matter whether you are an individual or head of a multi million pound company, an MP or a planning officer I would like to ask you to have a little more consideration for nature.
We only get one chance at this; hopefully it is not too late to change the State of Nature to a positive.

You can read the full report at http://www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/stateofnature/

Review of 2016

It has been a brilliant year with loads of wildlife and a few new species for me.
Water voles, Fin whales and a blue shark are a few of them

I've written a blog on some of the things I got up to in 2016

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/review-of-2016/

Please have a look and follow if you want to see what I get up to 2017.

Happy new Year

Alex.

Merry Christmas to those who still turn up at this blog.

It's been a very busy and mad 2016. 

Check out what I've been up to at

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/


Merry Christmas and Wild New Year

Alex


Twitter        @Appletonwild

Facebook    Appleton Wildlife Diary

Instagram   Appletonwild

picture of 'Cookie' 
Designed by Aidan for Oxfordshire Badger group.

Thank you

Thank you very much if you have arrived at this blog using a search engine or just came here by chance.

I have moved my blog over to

www.appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com

Please come and have a look.

I have been very busy over the past couple of months with badger cubs and appearing on Springwatch Unsprung.

Quick update

Thank you so much for arriving at this blog.

I'll give you a quick update.

I moved my blog to

www.appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com

in October 2015.

Since then I have posted about Badgers, Barn owls, Sparrowhawks, a day at the Wildlife Crime Conference, the Big garden Bird watch, hares and lots of trail camera clips.
Please visit my new blog

Thank you

Alex

Taken by Oxford Mail

Merry Christmas and Wild New Year

If you have turned up at this site, thank you, but I now have a new blog site.

https://appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com/


Please come and have a look and follow if you like it

Merry Christmas and Wild New Year

Alex


Twitter        @Appletonwild

Facebook    Appleton Wildlife Diary

Instagram   Appletonwild

New blog now on Wordpress

I have started a new blog on Wordpress.

I will be keeping this one as it has all my old posts but blogging on Wordpress from now on.

It is still not quite finished but please go and have a look, and follow if you like it.

www.appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com

Thanks

Alex

Spider and the fly

Just as I was walking past our conservatory, a fly flew straight in front of me and landed in a cobweb, it started to struggle, going round and round trying it's hardest to get away.

The Spider ran down the web from where she was hiding out under the window,  she began to spin insanely round and round with the fly while wrapping the bottom half of the fly up in a few pieces of web.

Once the spider had secured the fly, it looked like she was feeding from the flies abdominal segment while the fly was thrashing it's legs about wildly.

After a bit the fly stopped moving so I ran inside to get a piece of white paper to put behind the window to make the photos clearer.

Richard Comont very kindly identified these as a house fly and a Zygiella x-notata (Missing Sector Orb Spider)

Spinning

It was both fascinating and disgusting at the same time!

Wrapped up

The spider then left the fly and went back to hiding under the window frame.
In this photo you can see the missing sectors in the web therefore the name Missing Sector Orb weaver spider.

I went to see Steve Backshall do a talk last night and one of the topics he was talking about was arachnophobia, he said in defense of spiders you have to think about how many flies there would be if there were no spiders

Evening falls on my local patch

Just after the sun set we took the dogs across the field for their last walk of the day.
As all the Rooks settled into the Rookery and the Greylag geese flew overhead back to Farmoor reservior, a Litttle Owl started to call out of the darkness.
The little owl's call became clearer when I wandered around the bend in the field, leading me to believe the owl was on the fence post in the field of cows.
Once the Little owl fell silent the only sounds left were our wellies squelching through the mud made by todays earlier rain, the dogs rustling through the grass and cars driving up and down a nearby road.

As the season changes and the temperature is dropping, it feels like I need to start wear gloves and a hat.

I'm never sure whether I like the pylons across the valley. They are an interesting and familar sight to me but I often find them annoying when I'm trying to take photos of birds and the wire keep getting in the way.

Lookout on the Rookery

In the distance the blue green glow of the landing lights at RAF Brize Norton mark how far I can see and tiny pinpricks of light show odd houses between the field I'm standing in and the town of Witney.

When heading home bats were swooping around a single oak tree trying to catch moths and the last of the insects, twisting and turning then disappearing back behind the oak tree.

Secret life of our allotment

Looking at all of the trails, tracks and signs I had an idea that we were getting a few different animals up on our allotment.

Yesterday I left the trail camera up at the allotment for 24 hours to see what happened.

First of all came a Green Woodpecker.

 Next, most of the activity was between 7pm and 9pm where a Hare came through one end of the allotment and hopped towards the other end, then lots of clips of rats and rabbits. It's a good job this part of the allotment only has fruit trees in it.

The rat is trying to carry away an apple.

This rabbit is doing a great impression of a Meerkat

We have definitely got a badger track through our allotment, I can see where the badger comes in from the brambles, walks through our allotment and out in to one of the unattended allotments opposite ours.
It was fantastic to actually get the badger on the trail camera. The first one came through around 2.30am, then another or the same one again at 5.30am.

Sunday autumnal walk

Today we had a family walk with the dogs from Bablockhyth along the Bridle way all the way to Cumnor which is a four mile walk there and back.

Bablockhyth was once the site of a ferry across to Northmoor first mentioned around 1212, it remained in use until the 1960's.

 I had plenty of time to slowly walk and take some shots of autumn, birds and the scenery.

As soon as we started to walk there was plenty of movement from the hedgerow all around, where lots of small birds were hopping about, including Robins, Chaffinches, Great tits, Blue tits, Tree creepers and Long tailed tits, all competing to be the loudest.

The Dunnock who sat at the top of the branch, singing and looking around won the competition

Flocks of birds were gathering in the ploughed fields near to where the path is, it's a bit difficult to tell what type of birds they are.

Along the footpath, the chattering of the Starlings and the loud shout of the Jays accompanied us.

 Greater spotted woodpeckers, pheasants, geese, different types of fungi and what looks like a well, hidden away, made it an interesting walk.

Once I got home I did some research on the well. It is called a Physic well, a Holy well or Sacred spring. It is around 5 feet deep and it has a reputation for 'being good for eye troubles' other than that there isn't much written about it.