Creatures in Flight, by Day and at Night

The lovely sunny September days have not just been enjoyed by the beneficiaries and visitors who come to the farm each day, but also by the abundant flying creatures that call Caring For Life home. When we stroll around the the gardens with the beneficiaries on the Conservation project, the air is humming with the sound of buzzing insects such as honey bees, butterflies and hoverflies taking every opportunity to feed on the long flowering, nectar-rich planting.

Plants such as persicaria, monardas, echinacea and sedums were specifically chosen to provide more forage and larval foodplants for our beleaguered native pollinators and they have been successful in attracting many species. The large flat umbels of a single sedum specimen seems to pulsate with life as dozens of insects systematically move from tiny flower to tiny flower collecting nectar.

Common Darter Dragonfly

It is wonderful to be able to bring people who may be hurting, lonely or isolated within their home to such a beautiful and bountiful environment. For some it is their only experience of being close to nature.

Dragonflies are also enjoying these warm days and the beautiful bright orange-red form of the Common Darter can be seen acrobatically flying around the pond. If you are patient and hold out your hand they may even come and rest on your palm. You can take a closer look at this majestic insect whilst it uses your hand heat to warm up!

Beneficiaries on the conservation project are also really enjoying being involved in our expanded species monitoring work. In particular they love seeing what different species of butterfly or bumblebee they can spot and then checking they have identified it correctly in our new set of field guides.

Another exciting development on the project has been the use of a new moth trap. This has enabled us to start learning which of the 2,500 British moth species can be found on the farm. Attracted to light during the night, they are contained in the trap, examined and recorded the following morning before being released unharmed. Whilst we have only found common species so far we have been amazed at the beauty and intricacy of patterns of these otherwise unseen creatures.

We are very thankful to be surrounded by evidence of God’s amazing creation here at Crag House Farm and are privileged to be able to share it with many precious individuals who may never otherwise get to enjoy it.

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#CragHouseFarm #CaringForLife #CFL #Conservation #TherapeuticDaytimeActivities #Moths #Dragonfly #CommonDarter

Exploring the Valley

There can sometimes be really beautiful things right under our noses, but we don’t notice them! Or wonderful sounds all around us, but we fail to listen out for them. 

This week, the “summer special” activity on offer for people coming along to therapeutic activity projects here at Caring For Life on Thursdays, was an opportunity to explore the Farm in a little more detail, getting to know what is actually there!

The day included walking right along the valley, past the ponds, looking out for moorhen chicks, along by the beck, looking out for the dipper, and spotting bees, butterflies and dragonflies, using special binoculars purchased through a kind grant.

Everyone had the chance to spot different flowers and birds, and to learn to listen for specific bird songs.

Lunch was enjoyed outside and was a little “on the wild side”, with a salad containing herbs and flowers, to accompany hot dogs, cooked on a BBQ. Flower-themed cakes and biscuits went down well, with the chance for people to also try fresh mint or lemon balm tea. It was a bit of a taste test for folks who were not perhaps used to trying something different!

A "walk and talk" in the sensory garden area followed, along with pond dipping, in order to look at some of the tiniest creatures on the Farm. 

It was certainly an eye opener for everyone, a feast for all the senses, a chance to have a lot of fun and also to explore the incredible beauty of God’s creation.

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#CragHouseFarm #CaringForLife #Conservation #NatureScavengerHunt #DownTheValley #ExploringNature