Whipsnade Zoo is situated in the beautiful Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, and 10,000 animals call it home - many of them are endangered in the wild.
And the zoo had some amazing news to share with everyone earlier this month - a rare Southern white rhino calf was born to Fahari and Sissle in early October!
Welcome to the world, little one!
He weighed roughly just under 50kg and first time mum Fahari did very well - her gestation period was 16 months so she had quite a wait, bless her. Keepers have described how the calf is quite a character and actually stamps his feet when he's impatient for food. He joins his half brother Benja who was born in March. There are only about 17,500 of these particular rhinos left in the wild so you can see this is a really important birth.
In the wild, these rhinos are threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, since their horn is used for traditional medicine in Asia and for making dagger handles in the Middle East. The Zoological Society of London is working worldwide to stop the illegal wildlife trade and you can find out how here.
Earlier this year in July, there was an important addition to the family of reticulated giraffes, when mum Luna gave birth to a male calf. The calf is tall, standing at six feet already, and he could stand and walk and zoo staff monitored him carefully. It wasn't long before he was racing round the paddock with another reticulated giraffe, who'd been born a few weeks before the male.
The reticulated giraffe is endangered, so the new arrivals at Whipnsade are important
This means there are now six giraffe at Whipnsade - the species is endangered because of illegal hunting, habitat destruction and human-giraffe conflict.
Will the new baby Southern white rhino be seen by the public? This little rhino may not be just quite ready - check with the Whipsnade Zoo website! But there's lots going on, with Boo to the Zoo for Halloween - there are lots of activities taking place. Click on the meerkat to find out all about it! It runs from the 26th October to the 3rd November 2024.
Those fabulous people at Garden Wildlife Directhave some fly away fantastic offers on throughout the year, with everything you need for your garden birds and wildlife!
Garden Wildlife Direct has seed mixes for spring, summer, autumn and winter, with different brands including Peckish, Wildlife World, Gardeman and Garden Wildlife Direct's own brand.
They've got Premium Seed Mixes - support those feathered friends of yours! - and High Energy Mixes. These have a mix of nutrition and energy, and you can use them with feeders, bird tables and on the ground.
And they always have lots of lovely offers on, perfect when we are all trying to help wildlife and yet make our money go further. And the great news is that Garden Wildlife Direct have very regular offers to help you do just both those things!
And they've got a couple of great deals on this weekend until midnight, Sunday 27th October 2024!
There's all sorts of bird food, from seeds to sunflower hearts, suet balls to food for wildlife. They've got sunflower heart/seeds, Millet seeds, bird food bundles and starter kits for those of you who want to start feeding the birds in your garden.
They've got suet fat balls, suet blocks, suet coconut shells and suet pallets, plus a range of feeders for mealworms, ground feeders, sunflowers and seeds.
These Sunflower Heart Chips & Peanut Granules deliver the protein and carbohydrates needed year round, keeping the birds warm in winter and the colder, wet season. They also provide an additional energy booster and they are a fledgling mix.
If you haven't got a garden, you can still do your bit with a window feeder, and there are window sticker alertsto stop the birds flying into your window and injuring themselves or worse.
And of course you can get a full range of accessories such as bird tables, bird baths, nesting boxes, organments for your garden and things to store your bird goodies in.
If you have or want to encourage ducks, swans, hedgehogs, squirrels, chickcn and poultry, then they have food for those animals as well, plus bee houses and insect hotels.
* OFFER DETAILS: Does not include Borderstone products, gift cards and the already discounted Sunflower Hearts. If your discount isn’t available when you apply the code, please contact Garden Wildlife Direct prior to placing your order. Orders submitted without an offer code cannot be amended retrospectively. View full terms and conditions here.
Orders over £25 qualify for FREE standard delivery. Delivery charges apply to orders under £25 or 'out of areas' postcodes. Full delivery details here
If you're looking for an animal experience as a gift for an animal lover, or you want to treat yourself, take a look at gift experience company Into the Blue
They've got a number of animal experiences, with animals such as ferrets, tamarin monkeys, alpacas, meerkats, pigs, sheep, snakes and crocodiles, bees, horses and donkeys.
They have a number of experiences for horse lovers, including a couple near York (Skipwith) - you can have a Traditional Farm & Horse Experience or a Two Wheeler Horse Cart Driving Experience, for instance. They've also got Romantic Horse and Carriage Rides for Two there, or maybe you'd prefer aHorse Drawn Carriage Rides with Afternoon Tea?
There's great news from Into the Blue! They have a 20% off code for you! It's valid on experiences up to £250.00 and it's ongoing. The code is ITB20OFFOCT and it's valid to midnight on 31 October 2024.There's no minimum spend, although some products are excluded from this offer - but it's a great chance to enjoy some wonderful animal experiences!
How about a Carnivore Encounter in Shropshire? £75.00 Get up and close with 3 formidable carnivores Meet a Red Fox family and feed them, stroke and handle the Snakes, and meet the servals and stroke them too!
There's Sheep Trekking in Somerset from £25.00 Meet and greet the friendly sheep and give them snacks Lead a sheep on a stroll across fields and through woodland
Unfortunately, poor Boki has not been very well, and he's been the first bear in the UK to have an MRI scan (at Fitzpatrick Referrals). On Wednesday 9th October 2024, he'll have brain surgery with Romain Pizzi, a world leader in his field. We wish Boki and the team well, and thank the team and everyone for their care of Boki. Good luck! You can donate to support here.Find out more about it all here.
Notes from the earlier blog:
The Wildwood Trust is based in Kent (and Devon, but Boki is in Kent). The Kent site is home to over 200 native animals, past and present, with bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers among those living in the 40 acres there.
Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain’s most threatened wildlife, and it's taken part in many conservation initiatives, such as saving the water vole and using wild horses to help restore nature reserves. It's brought the Euroepan beaver back to Kent and brought the hazel dormouse & red squirrel back to areas where they have been made extinct.
And one of those living at the Wildwood Trust in Kent is Boki! He's a baby bear whose family sadly rejected him. He was hand-reared by the team at Port Lympne and now Boki has come home to Wildwood Kent, where he'll learn how to be a bear.
Wildwood report that Boki has settled in well, and for a limited time only, they have a Boki the bear experience, giving you the chance to get close up and personal! It is uncertain at the moment (April 2023) how long this experience with Boki the baby bear will continue - probably to September 2023 - partly because of course Boki won't be a baby bear forever but also because he is starting to meet the adult bears and so there may be times when the experience with Boki needs to be suspended for a while.
Please note Wildwood Kent's "Things you need to know before you book" before you book.
They create yummy, wholesome food for both cats and dogs - they believe our cherished family members deserve to eat proper food full of nourishing ingredients. They're on a mission to give pets a diet full of goodness, whilst treading lightly on the planet at the same time!
For dogs , they've got dry dog food, wet dog food, dental chews, treats, selection boxes and more. They've got diets for dogs with sensitive tummies, and sensitive skin, and special diets that are grain free, hypoallergenic, organic and vegetarian. You can order for puppies, adults and seniors. They've got recepies in beef, chicken, salmon, goose, herring, lamb, pheasant and pork so you've got lots of choice!
You can buy these Bedtime Biscuits on their own for £3.50 They have a bit of chamomile in them, known for its soothing properties!
And for our feline members of the family, there's wet food, dry food, treats (of course!), selection boxes and you can choose from special diets such as grain free and organic and hypoallergenic. You can also choose for kittens (under 1), adults (1 to 6) and seniors (7 plus). Recipies include beef, chicken, salmon, cod, trout, prawn, turkey, pork, lamb and duck. Miaow!!
They've also got helpful tips on caring for your dog and caring for your cat.
And did you know that Lily's Kitchen is giving £10,000 to each of their charity partners during the festive period, namely the Dogs Trust (Charity Numbers 1167663 & SC053144) and L.I.C.K. (Charity number: 1181426)!
It’s an easy way for you to get regular top ups of your pet’s food! And it means you spend less time shopping online – you set up your subscription and Lily’s Kitchen take care of the rest. (You can update, pause or cancel easily, too.) The Subscription Service gives you 5% off – and free delivery – on all future series. Lily’s Kitchen will make sure you get any promotion live on the site when you order. There’s more information on that with the FAQs on Lily’s Kitchen website.
The veterinary drama is based on the early career of veterinary surgeon, James Herriot, played by Nicholas Ralph. Herriot’s real name was Alf Wight but he used the pen name of James Herriot.
Callum Woodhouse will be back as Tristan Farnon, after time away serving in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. And we meet Helen (Rachel Shenton) and James’ baby, too! Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) becomes more and more reliant on Richard Carmody, who is played by James Anthony-Rose).
In Episode 1, To all our boys, vet James Herriot is grounded in the RAF and faces an uncertain future.
You can see the first four series on My5, and if you feel like going on a tour of the places featured in All Creatures Great and Small, take a look at Into the Blue – they have an all-day mini coach tour for £75.00! It sets off from York and you’ll tour filming locations around the Dales that were used in the Channel 5 and BBC series.
The Dales are just absolutely stunning!
Your driver guide will tell you about the show’s characters and the places featured, such as Skeldale House, the pubs used for the outside shots of the fictional Drover’s Arms – even the bus stop where James proposed to Helen!
There’s also a visit to the ‘World of James Herriot' – the 1940s house has been restored, so that it reflects life as it was when Alf Wight lived there and worked as a vet – and where he started to write his books!
You could also think about these ways to have a more personal calendar for 2025.
You could go for Getting Personal, where you could choose a calendar and personalise it so that the name of your dog or cat appears in a number of different photos throughout the year. The photos aren’t of your own cat or dog, but the name of your cat or dog appears in each photo, so adding a personal touch.
You can often choose the month the calendar starts, too, so you don’t have to wait for January and the new year! And not only that, you can often get them in different sizes and dimensions, such as desk calendars and wall calendars. There's lots of choice! With some of the calendars, you can upload your favourite photos of your pet to enjoy throughout the year!
You can also produce calendars from Printerpix, uploading your photos, and Snapfish, too.
National Marine Week takes place from the 27th July to 11th August 2024. There’s a LOT happening and you can find out all about what’s on by signing up to the Wildlife Trust’s updates as they organise it.
The first thing to do is to sign up for updates from the Wildlife Trust. You can sign up here.
Then find your local Wildlife Trust here or conservation charity if you don't live in the UK, to see how you can get involved, even if you live miles from the sea.There are 46 Trusts around the UK from Alderney in the Channel Islands to Scotland, Cornwall to Norfolk, and North West Wales to Kent.
On 22nd June 2024, the Restore Nature Now march in Central London was attended by an estimated 60,000 people and over 350 nature and wildlife organisations. A key message was that we all need to work together to help wildlife and our natural world. When I first put this blog about National Marine Week up, it was focusing on the Wildlife Trusts specifically. However, given the state of the natural world now and the urgency to take better care of it, I've updated and broadened its focus now to cover more charities. #RestoreNatureNow
Please get political and tell politicians that nature matters!
The Wildlife Trusts have lots of information about the General Election and how you can be a voice for our natural world and what you can do now it's over. We all need to shout loudly for nature! Nature has no voice, so it’s up to all of us to speak up. The Wildlife Trusts have information about what they think the Government's priorities should be and Polar Bears International (who have been researching sea ice and polar bears for decades) have help here on how to talk about climate change, and how you can get political.
10 ways to get involved in National Marine Week
(You don't need to wait until then!)
National Marine Week runs from 27th July to the 11th August. It lasts longer than a week, because of the differing tidal conditions around the UK. There are celebrations and events around the country, including a Marine Mammal BioBlitz in West Wales, a SeaFest celebration in Cumbria and a Locomation in the Ocean – that’s in Dorset.
This year, the theme of National Marine Week is 'Sea' the Connection and the week will be highlighting how - as an idland nation - we are all closely connected to the sea. A healthy marine environment matters and it needs to thrive. They have a map to show how people connect to the sea, whether it be through livelihoods, hobbies, memories, special experiences - you can add your own connection here!
Even if you don’t live on the coast, you can connect to the sea by finding out more about the effect pollution is having on them and the wildlife there. Reduce your plastic use and pick up litter too, so that less plastic and litter heads downstream to the sea - left on the ground, it could get picked up by a passing bird and dropped later into a river and then out to sea.
Record your shoreline sightings and help marine and wildlife charities build up a picture of our shorelines and seas. For example, you can help the Shark Trust learn more about sharks, skates and rays by taking part in their Basking Shark project, the Great Eggcase Hunt project, the Great Shark Snapshot (20th to 28th July 2024, anywhere in the world!) and the Angling Project. The Marine Conservation Society has a number of projects, too such as Seasearch for divers, the Big Seaweed Search, and the Big Microplastic Survey. And the Wildlife Trusts have their own Shoresearch and the Scottish Seabird Centre has kindly put a list together of citizen science projects. Find out how citizen science is saving our seas from the University of Portsmouth.
You can download this and print it off, or why not take a photo on your phone to use when you're out and about?
2. Do a beach clean
The Marine Conservation Society has lots of information about how to do this, and get involved. The next Great British Beach Clean is from 20th to 29th September 2024. Why not get your company involved in a Team Beach Clean as an away day and do something really meaningful?
Take part in the Big Nurdle Hunt. Nurdles are small plastic pellets which are melted down to make nearly all plastic products and the problem is that thousands of tonnes of them spill straight into the environment worldwide. Visit the website to find out and how you can go hunting for nurdles!
3. Support seagrass projects
Seagrass play a vital role in keeping oceans healthy and giving thousands of marine species a home, such as the seahorse, the manatee and the sea turtle. Project Seagrass, based in Wales, have a mission: A world in which seagrass meadows are thriving, abundant and well managed for people and planet. And there are a number of projects around the UK to help seagrass. The Marine Conservation Society has more information about seagrass itself and why it matters.
Find out about the Seahorse Trust and its Studland Bay project and also Save our Seahorses, the Irish branch of the Seahorse Trust. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is working to protect seagrass and you can sponsor a seagrass seed pod for £20 to help them. Find out more
4. Be a sea champion!
Find out what the Wildlife Trusts are doing to help our seas and our sea life. For instance, they campaign for parts of the seabed and the sea to be protected from damaging activities.
Go to the sea if it's close to you, or a river or canal; observe and connect to the natural world there and use your senses to really take in the natural world. If you are unable to leave home, take in videos from You Tube to explore the natural world with, from kayaking in Alderney, to meeting the dolphins of Wales. Rockpool species, sharks, turtles, seals – just drink in the marine videos.
There will be many events taking place organised by the Wildlife Trusts around the UK. Some of these will be on the coast on the seashore, some on wetlands, and some further away from the sea, but either way, there's plenty going on all over the UK with beach cleans, night time safaris, marine wildlife surveys, dolphin watches and more! And there are lots of events for families, too so that you can get the kids involved. Find an event here
Here's a question for you! How do you say "I love you" in puffin? Find out here!
6. Find out more about different species and marine life
The Wildlife Trusts’ website enable you to put the name of a species into a search box and you can learn all about it! This year the theme is “Sea the Connection", and it will be looking to highlight how - as an island nation - we're connected to the sea and why a healthy, thriving marine environment is really important and makes a difference.
This is a great opportunity to find out all about habitats – marine habitats, seagrass, biogenic reefs, deep-water corals, mud, sand and graves, kept beds and forests and rocky reefs. Float away to them here.
7. Support campaigns to improve the health of our oceans
The Marine Conservation Society has a number of different campaigns, such as banning disposable vapes and wet wipes. And they have campaigns to stop ocean threads and stop pollution. But there are also campaigns against balloon releases – who knows where they will end up? Find out about their campaigns here.
Take a look at Surfers Against Sewage, too. Water quality, plastic pollution, ocean recovery and the ocean and climate emergency are all challenges they are tackling. And find out about their Million Mile Clean – they want 100,000 people to take a 10 mile stretch and clean it up on the coast, canals, bridle paths, towns and cities!
8. Use less plastic
The Wildlife Trusts have lots of help to enable you to use less plastic in all sorts of ways, from the bathroom, to the kitchen and being out and about, and they also have info about those sneaky plastics you may not have thought of! Find out more
Don't forget that July is Plastic Free Month - a chance for you to reduce the amount of plastic in your life, so it's a good way to do something towards both National Marine Weke and Plastic Free Month at the same time.
9. Remember our Rivers!
Take a look at the I’s Save Britain’s Rivers campaign, challenging ALL parties to commit to sign up to a blueprint that will save our rivers. The article has a number of ways in which you can help our rivers.
Also, you could take a look at the Rivers Trust who are the umbrella body for the River Trust movement. Their 2023/2024 Impact Report shows that 20,000 volunteers got involved helping local rivers and they have ways in which you can get involved in the #VoteforRivers campaign. Vote for Rivers at the upcoming General Election
The Canal and Rivers Trust also has ways in which you can help care for our canal and rivers network to make it easy to #VolunteerByWater
10. Support wildlife and marine charities
Why not adopt an animal and give a Wildlife Trust your support? There are a number of animals to choose from – seahorse, dolphin, seal, otters, beavers and more! Funds raised from the adoption schemes goes towards helping local wildlife conservation work – managing nature reserves or creating new habitats. It all helps, plus adoptions make a great gift for nature lovers! And you could become a member of a Wildlife Trust. At the very least, you can help them spread the word about their campaigns, the threats facing marine and wildlife and the solutions to help them. Help them spread the word about their successes, their needs, what actions people can do to make a difference. Do more than dipping your toe into the water - get stuck in.
There’s a LOT happening with marine conservation worldwide, and many wonderful people working hard to make it happen, from scientists to indigenous peoples, volunteers, rescue centres taking in injured marine life, campaigners, activists… Have a think about ways in which you can play a role in marine conservation and the elections this year – in whatever country you’re in – are a great place to start standing up for our natural world. Worldwide, air, sky and sea need our voice, and so do the animals depending on it. We also depend on it being in a healthy state, so that we can be too.
You could also take a look at Seacology, whose mission is "to protect threatened island ecosystems all over the world. We do that by working directly with communities, helping them to preserve their cultures and improve their lives while saving precious island habitats." Visit their website here.
Green People have reef safe sunscreen for all the family! And the Marine Conservation Charity is one of their chosen charities to support! Find out more here.
Well, if you're looking for something a bit different to do this summer, you could take a look at an intriguing activity at London Zoo.
London Zoo have come up with Poo at the Zoo. Not Winnie the Pooh, this is all about poo, and who's done what.
London Zoo has a 'pooseum', and you can find out about the vital insights that can be gleaned from number two!
Challenge the whole family to poo-inspired giant games on the lawns, or join Poo at the Zoo author Steve Smallman for lead live storytelling sessions on certain dates over the summer.
The 'pooseum' is a 22 year labour of love for Tracey Lee, one of ZSL's zookeepers and a former artist. It began as two special specimens - when the last elephant and black rhino were re-homed from London Zoo - were added to canvas in a piece called 'The last poo at the Zoo'. Now, the collection has an incredible 100+ preserved specimens, with dung from a wide variety of animals including an endangered gorilla, a giant Galapagos tortoise and even a tiny poo from a caterpillar!
Every day, the zoo is running a Game of the Day and this will focus on animal feeding and digestion. With Poo Bingo, Poo or False or a matching and memory challenge, Who did this poo?, there's plenty to do.
And at certain times each day, kids can enjoy the stage adaptation of the bestselling book The Great Poo Mystery.
Not only that, there's also a self-led trail with challenges and clues to help young visitors track down a selection of animals including giant tortoises, lions, tigers and penguins.
If you can't get to London Zoo, you could always buy the book Poo in the Zoo for £6.99 from London Zoo's shop.
Plus, you can join the illustrator of the Poo in the Zoo book series, Ada Gray, for drawing classes on selected dates and times, and there are self-led drawing activities avialable at other times.
Poo at the Zoo is running from the 25th July to 1st September 2024, and should be a lot of fun! Find out more here.
Whilst you're at London Zoo, you may want to pop in and see the beautiful three Asiatic lion cubs. Boys Mali and Syanii and girl Shanti were born at London Zoo on 13 March 2024 to seven-year-old mum, Arya, and 14-year-old dad Bhanu. And they are just gorgeous!Take a look here!
The national charity the Dogs Trust has its National Dog Survey on at the moment, asking us dog lovers and owners what matters most to us.
The survey will help the Trust shape the services it provides to meet the needs of dogs and owners in the UK.
This survey has been done before; in 2021, more owners reported experiencing behaviour issues with their dog. As a result, the Dogs Trust created a Behaviour Support Line (free and nationwide) to stop more people having to give their dogs up because of their behaviour. And this has helped over 8,000 people.
In the survey two years later in 2023, nearly 20% of those responding were thinking of changing to cheaper pet food in the year ahead, whilst 30% said they were considering cutting down on training classes because of costs. So the Trust have now shared 1 million dog meals through their food bank partners AND they’ve offered discounted training classes for over 500 dogs.
The survey asks those with dogs about your relationship with your dog, what you do together and the highs and lows of owning a dog. It asks about your dog’s care and training and which support networks you can call on when you need help. In 2023, over 10,000 shared worries about walking their dogs – so this year’s survey asks more about what happens when you’re out and about with your dog.
Non-dog owners, there’s a way for you to help and get involved too! The Dogs’ Trust want to hear your views on dogs, and what welfare issues matter to you the most, an whether you might get a dog in the future.
This is a great way to help a charity work out what help is needed most. The survey is free to do and it takes about 15 minutes of your time, so please help! You must be aged 18 or over to do it, and you don't need to be a dog owner - just a dog lover is fine, too!
