17/06/2026
I live in a beautiful Cotswold village, it’s close to the Cotswold Edge & a far cry from the immaculate polished version close to Oxfordshire. After 14 years of living here I really have met my tribe. I’ve always been a little bit of a hermit, enjoying studying nature behind my garden door not really engaging with the community (always thought I was on my own loving nature so much!). It’s always erratic in the summer & I go quiet in the winter so my lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to being able to join in that much. Anyhow, a while back now I joined our local Biodiversity Group, a few individuals who care about the declining species in our valley, just like me, more so infact. Their dedication & physical actions are so inspiring, they have been so active in helping & educating others despite a great deal of backlash (which unfortunately there is). I’m truly grateful to have found a place where I can have conversations with folk who’s faces light up when we discuss the swallows who returned or the bats we’ve seen & all the wildflowers that finally people are happy to leave be & not cut too soon. Here are a few photos of a night recently when we met to see what moths we could find in the churchyard meadow. We did a bat walk too & although there were only a few, they were there & dipping & diving at the mosquitoes we were attracting around us!
