There are three reasons why we at Greener Padbury were so overjoyed by the discovery of Black Hairstreak larvae in the Millennium Woods. Firstly, this is a first for the Millennium Woods! There has been no evidence of Black Hairstreaks here previously. Secondly, the elusive Black Hairstreak is on the GB Red List - which means it is endangered and is a protected species. It was in steady decline throughout the twentieth century, and since 2002, the species’ UK distribution has

Go Wild in the Woods is back for the summer holiday! Julie is running two sessions on Friday 24th July. Morning - 10.30-12.00AM: Go Wild for the fluttering, buzzing and crawling creatures Budding entomologists will love this session, linked to the national 'Big butterfly count' and their insect friends. During the session participants will learn about and try to spot butterflies, and other insects fluttering, crawling and buzzing in the woods, meadow and beneath your feet. T

We're getting some wonderful feedback from our new wildlife camera lending library. Spotted so far in Padbury gardens: not just magpies and jackdaws but foxes, frogs, deer and frolicking rabbits. If you'd like to discover more about your garden and the wildlife that lives there or likes to drop in, why not borrow one of our cameras. They are super easy to use and produce wonderfully clear images. We have two to lend - one that operates on WiFi and the other an SD card; all te

The Millennium Woods were the coolest place to be this week! Go Wilders joined Julie and enjoyed making wildflower seed balls and beautiful hapa zome art. Go Wild will be back in the summer holidays: put Friday 24th July in your diary! Watch this space for session details and how to book your space.

Booking is now open for our new programme of Muddy Toddlers forest school playgroup for children aged 18 months to 4 years. Thanks to St Mary’s church and the allotment manager, our forest school enjoys a wonderful location at the Padbury allotment site which offers a real ‘mini’ woodland experience. And thanks to the Co-op Local Community Fund, we are able to continue running these as FREE sessions. We have space for up to 10 families to join us for nature-based activity ses

Larvae (caterpillars) of the Black Hairstreak butterfly have recently been discovered in the Millennium Woods. The Black Hairstreak is one of Britain's rarest butterflies and it is found in only about 50 sites that lie in an arc corresponding to the deep clay soil running from Oxford to Peterborough. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the species in Padbury. Butterflies of the Black Hairstreak are very difficult to spot. They are on the wing for only a few weeks

Go Wild in the Woods is back for the May half term - and there are just a few spaces left... Bag yours now! Julie is running two sessions on Wednesday 27th May. Each session will reveal fascinating 'flower facts' and introduce the importance of pollinators. Participants will develop 'nature detective' skills with a focus on flower ID and pollinator spotting, using all senses to take in the woods at this wonderful time of year. They will also make something to take home. This

Go Wild in the Woods is back for the May half term! Julie is running two sessions on Wednesday 27th May. Each session will reveal fascinating 'flower facts' and introduce the importance of pollinators. Participants will develop 'nature detective' skills with a focus on flower ID and pollinator spotting, using all senses to take in the woods at this wonderful time of year. They will also make something to take home. This session will run in the morning and be repeated in the

No Mow May is upon us! If like many of us you struggle with the idea of an unkempt, overgrown lawn, may we suggest ‘intentional framing’ – i.e. mowing a border around the long grass patch, or cutting a path through it. Psychologically, it makes all the difference! It reminds you, as you look out of the window and think of your to do list, that neatly bordered patch of grass is intentionally long. It says to your visitor, “these people are not slovenly or lazy gardeners – that

It's a chance to reflect on what a beautiful rural spot we're fortunate to live in - and what we can do to protect the natural world around us. It's also a time to remember that there is 'no Planet B'. The natural world, and consequently all those who share the planet, are under increasing strain. It's not something we can ignore, or leave to others, or wait for a solves-all tech solution. As the Earth Day organisers say, 'Environmental progress is built through everyday acti

Needle in a haystack? Not if you’ve got the right torch! Birds aren’t the only flying creatures we’re keen to see in the woods. The blackthorn stand at the meadow end of the woods is perfect for Brown Hairstreak butterflies – it is where they lay their eggs. Thanks to a game-changing new technique in conservation, it’s so much easier to detect their presence. Rather than hoping to see a tiny white egg on the underside of a leaf in winter, or spot a dark butterfly up a tree in

Join us for a dusk or dawn walk around the Millennium Woods this weekend - and hear the birdsong in all its glory. We'll be meeting at the playground on Main Street at: 8pm on Saturday 25th April 5.30am on Sunday 26th April It would be most helpful to know numbers in advance, so please do let us know via the buttons below. We hope to see you there!

The Millennium Woods has a beautiful new bench on which you can rest awhile and take in the nature around you. In this same clearing, we have planted the Mother's Day woodland plants (thank you for your support) which we hope will bloom and multiply for years to come, and provide food for the woods' insect population. The bench was funded by a grant we have recently received from the Heart of Bucks to help us improve biodiversity in the village and to increase accessibility f

...and find out who is living in your garden! If you've wondered who is visiting your pond, or what is making your dog go crazy in the evening, or who dug that hole, then setting up a wildlife camera may provide you with the answers! Perhaps you 've been inspired by David Attenborough's new series*, Secret Garden, which argues that you don't have to travel to the Serengeti to find remarkable nature stories. Thanks to a grant from Heart of Bucks, Greener Padbury Group are laun

On the weekend of 25/26 April, please join us for a walk when the wood's feathered residents are at their most vocal: dusk and dawn. On Saturday evening we will meet at 8pm by the Main Street play area. We will be walking again the following morning, meeting at the same place at 5.30am . Ahead of the walk, you might like to get tuned in to what you could hear. You can download an app (we highly recommend the Merlin app) to recognise calls - or visit the RSPB website ahead of

Go Wild in the Woods is back for the Easter holidays - but it's already nearly fully booked! There are just a couple of spaces left in the afternoon session (details below). Book now if you don't want to miss out! Julie is running two sessions on Wednesday 1st April. In the morning (10.30-12), have lots of Egg-cellent Easter Fun with a trail around the woods, and some conservation and nature protection activities along the way. Also, make a natural decoration to take home. U

Booking is now open for our new programme of Muddy Toddlers forest school playgroup for children aged 18 months to 4 years. Thanks to St Mary’s church and the allotment manager, our forest school enjoys a wonderful location at the Padbury allotment site which offers a real ‘mini’ woodland experience. And thanks to the Co-op Local Community Fund, we are able to continue running these as FREE sessions. We have space for up to 10 families to join us for nature-based activity ses

On the weekend of 25/26 April, please join us for a walk when the wood's feathered residents are at their most vocal: dusk and dawn. On Saturday evening we will meet at 8pm by the Main Street play area. We will be walking again the following morning, meeting at the same place at 5.30am . Ahead of the walk, you might like to get tuned in to what you could hear. You can download an app (we highly recommend the Merlin app) to recognise calls - or visit the RSPB website ahead of

Go Wild in the Woods is back for the Easter holidays! Julie is running two sessions on Wednesday 1st April. In the morning (10.30-12), have lots of Egg-cellent Easter Fun with a trail around the woods, and some conservation and nature protection activities along the way. Also, make a natural decoration to take home. Under 8's need to be accompanied; advisory age: pre-school to 12 years. In the afternoon (1.30-3) there will be a Food and Fire session at the allotment. Using b