Rewild & Slow
Day 19: Adam Ó Hare
From a very early age and ever since I can remember, I have loved nature and found it captivating. Thinking about it, I’ve always loved sharing my passion and enthusiasm about wildlife and the natural world with others too — and that’s what I have actively been doing since 2008, via my videos and social media.
When I’ve needed to connect with nature, I’ve taken my self off for a walk up the Waseley Hills Country Park, for a couple of hours or more. I’ve travelled all over the UK, but it will always be my favourite green space to visit; luckily enough I grew up a short walk from there. There is also a local wetland reserve which is brilliant, I really need to visit it more, The Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve, often referred to as just Upton Warren — Bill Oddie OBE helped put it on the map.
On reflection, a lot of my jobs have luckily been next to green spaces; when I had a paper round I observed siskins in winter and mistle thrushes feeding their chicks in the middle of spring. In my first supermarket job, on my walk to work I used to see a green woodpecker in summer feeding on ants, some evenings I used to see badgers on my walk home, and one autumn I saw my first ever black cap in the bushes next to the store. For a summer I worked in the café at the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, and as well as its exotic species they had a breeding programme with red squirrels and a few Eurasian lynx. For over a year I worked in the catering department of a local hospital, close by to Manor Farm Park, which has a lake, a river running through it with some lovely wee waterfalls and grey wagtails (which are actually quite colourful, blue and yellow). In a recent winter the lake even had some common mergansers / goosanders taking up residence.
Encouraging others to foster a connection with the natural world is so important; I would love to one day have my own series on national TV. In the past I was commissioned to make monthly videos for Reader’s Digest magazine’s website (Wildlife Monthly), and my local BBC news programme have interviewed me and featured my footage. I’ve also co-presented and co-produced a TV series (The Wild Side) for a channel which broadcasted in Cambridge, with my friend Jamie Wyver. TV programmes are just one way to highlight the wonders of the natural world and share the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature. It certainly impacts my own wellbeing, improving my mood as well as relaxing me, or often energising me too, thus helping with my depression (I’ve been recommended Bird Therapy by Joe Harkness in relation to this). Seeing wildlife, the atmosphere of woodlands and getting fresh air and oxygen at its source is so good for you!
Nature needs to be cared for, especially now as we experience Climate Breakdown and HS2 / Habitat Loss. But there are ways we can all help. If you haven’t already, put some birdfeeders out, maybe put a small pond in and create a wildlife area in your garden (leave a corner / section to go wild) - if you live in a flat or apartment, you can have wildflowers in pots on your balcony and even get feeders which can be stuck to your windows. Then with breakfast or a cuppa, watch the wildlife which benefits from your efforts, it’ll be very rewarding! Make time to go for a walk in your local park or woodland, see what’s about. Sign up to your local RSPB or Wildlife Trust, then when possible visit your nearest reserve. I’d also really recommend you read Get Your Boots On by Alex White.
My seasonal guide to British wildlife may also be helpful for identifying and learning about our native species. You can find it here.