Guest blog by Stacey Baldwin, Community and Volunteer Officer for RSPB Cymru's Giving Nature a Home in CardiffSummer is finally here in Cardiff, bringing with it a mixed bag off sunshine and heavy downpours. But the rain does mean one thing - our rivers are sparkling, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing and the butterflies are fluttering here, there and everywhere over the meadows at Forest Farm.
Forest Farm Country Park in Whitchurch, Cardiff, is teeming with life: on my last visit alone I spotted a friendly caterpillar munching happily upside down on a leaf, overturned a log to find squiggly wiggly worms contentedly curled in the shade, and even got to rescue a small baby frog who had strayed a little bit too far from its pond.
Forest Farm Images: Martyn Poynor
It’s the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon, and with the City of Cardiff Council’s Park Rangers on hand it’s also the perfect place to learn a little more about our wonderful wildlife. I now know that the red campion and white campion are actually the same flower; I know that a bittern has been seen making its home at Forest Farm in recent years; and I know our hard working Rangers are the reason we have so many green spaces to enjoy here in our city of Cardiff.
But what I and the Rangers don’t know is what types of butterflies are flying around and making their home in Forest Farm!
Here on our doorstep there are hundreds of butterflies, in the air, in the trees, in the grass and on the flowers. Cardiff Council Rangers want your help to work out exactly which butterflies are living in this very special nature reserve and how we can help to look after them.A red admiral at rest - Andy Hay (rspb-images)So mums, dads, children, grandparents, now’s the time to pack up a picnic, put on your sun cream and head out into the sunshine to find some butterflies.
Do your little ones love to jump and chase the butterflies as they flutter past them in the air? Does your love having fun in the great outdoors? Are your family wondering what to do this summer holiday?
Come on down to Forest Farm on 30 July and lend us a hand. Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff will be hunting through the grass searching for our red admirals, cabbage whites, brimstones and meadow browns. And don’t worry about being an expert as the team will be on hand throughout the day to offer some handy hints and tips.
We’re teaming up with the Big Butterfly Count this July to make our butterflies count. Everyone can help: so whether you 5 years old or 55 years old, help us find our butterflies and have fun in the wild – you’re also welcome to celebrate our butterfly counting with some face painting when we’re done!
Join us at 11am, Saturday 30 July at Forest Farm. Bring your picnic and join us for lunch Free parking is available on site, but we’ll also be close to Radyr train station, and the Whitchurch Library Cardiff Bus stop.
For more information contact: stacey.baldwin@rspb.org.uk