Blink, and just like that I’m back at University after spending the past 4 months back in my hometown of Manchester.

It’s been a great summer, but I have to say, I’m pretty chuffed to be back in Scotland.

Read more: Autumn has come…..

This year at Uni

I’m now in my 2nd year of my environmental sciences degree and subjects include biogeography, field & practical skills, the biosphere and statistical techniques – baffling stuff – especially for my mum – but it does bring out the geek in me. I’ve also signed up to loads of society groups – drama, video production, earth & environment, film appreciation and of course, gardening. I also start this year as President of the Wildlife Conservation Society, I have no idea how to run a society group, but I know a lot about the subject!

I’m not in halls this year, I’ll miss living on campus, but there’s benefits to living in the city centre too.

Boomerang back to the start of summer and RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Back in May, no sooner had I got off the train in Manchester, I was back on it heading down to London for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and it was I N C R E D I B L E! Started off bumping into RHS ex-boss Sue Biggs, before heading off to look at the show gardens and boy they were good! The amount of bees along Main Avenue just went to show how all the gardens considered sustainability and biodiversity. As well as this the water features on most of the gardens were so eye catching that you had to stand and stare to also take in the intricate planting. It was a treat to be invited on to Ann-Marie Powell’s garden and bump onto Alan Titchmarsh again.

And of course Chelsea is about hooking up with some familiar faces like my RHS buddy, Alana, Adam Frost, Chris Packham, Drag Queen Gardener, Adam White and Matt from Hampshire Carnivorous.

The highlight of the day once again had to be Ishihara Kazuyuki’s Sanctuary Garden, for me it’s literally a slice of heaven! Blending family life & nature, there was the signature acers, moss, irises and calming water, alongside a few quirky surprises!

Our Garden

Meanwhile back in our home garden, the Viburnum Kilimanjaro Sunrise was seriously showing off this year! I potted up some French Tarragon, a top tier herb in my opinion. Bunged 2 small plants in a pot, with some hort grit and planted one up in the top garden, kept it in a sunny, but sheltered spot, and soon we were picking the leaves regularly for cooking, it’s proper lush.

The blackbirds scoffed the majority of our blueberries, kindly leaving us just 5 and lots of purple poo! So before they got their beaks on our blackcurrants, we picked some and made cordial. Utter carnage in the kitchen, but wow the taste, it was WELL FIT! Had some young-helpers dig for ‘tater treasure too!

Garden Wildlife

One late evening in June we had some nymph action ! Dad and I were sat in the garden, trying to cool down, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this beast emerging out of the pond. It hooked itself on to a stem, securing its position, ready for transformation, which we thought would be the next day, but imagine our surprise when we went to check it out in the morning and it had gone! Further research led us down the path of it being a female southern hawker. The story actually begins 2 years ago, when my dad saw a huge dragonfly ovipositing (laying eggs) in the corner of the pond. Then this winter dad was doing some pond maintenance and pulled out a dead frog, with 2 huge dragonfly larvae attached; which he quickly put back in the pond (the larvae, not the dead frog!). I can’t begin to tell you how chuffed we were, especially as it came back nearly every day. We did shifts with the camera, trying to get a shot, but blimey they bomb through the garden at such a speed that we never came close!

Just near our house, I found a dead mole on my dog walk, so I did what any normal person would do, I put it in a poo bag, brought it home & buried it in my garden. One day I’ll dig it up and have a nosey at its skeleton. Those paws, that nose, proper cute, my grandma would disagree!

Campaign & Ambassador Stuff

Back in May I shared a page with the Gardening Godfather, Alan Titchmarsh in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Souvenir Brochure. We wrote about our favourite gardening memories and offer our thoughts & opinions on the future of gardening. What an honour eh, I’ve got to say, I was well chuffed !

It was a privilege to be on a panel with naturalist & bird guy, Jack Baddams, young wildlife ambassador Henry & naturalist writer, Mya Bambrick at Global Birdfair back in July. Hosted by wildlife author, Ajay Tegala we talked about our experiences growing up with nature and the benefits of social media.

Late July I volunteered at RHS Tatton Flower Show with my job at The Leap. They had done a garden in The Long Borders Area with The Staffordshire Puppet Tree: It’s a Family Affair by Sarah Watson.

In August over at Carsington Water there were powerful messages from inspiring folk at Action for Wildlife Day. Organised by Hen Harrier Action, it was such a great vibe too, top job.

Job

As soon as I returned I got busy earning. Returned to my number one job, Heyrod Food & Floral, with my 2 favs, Lesley & Lauren, where I spent most of my time laughing and eating samosas!

I also bagged a seasonal garden maintenance job at The Leap Social Enterprise with the Greenscape Team, where we got out and about in the community working on social housing & private gardens. Got lots of experience, with stuff I’ve never done before, including using commercial/electrical equipment! Plenty of breaking rocks in the hot sun and turning concrete jungles into community green spaces.

Mid-summer we started a new project, bringing Dads & kids together on a community allotment to help them bond through gardening and nature. It was proper heartening to see the kids get stuck in and get all giddy finding snails and caterpillars. I also helped with an earth-themed week of activities for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme. And helped to co-ordinate a work programme too. So it’s fair to say I’ve had plenty of gardening experience with folk this summer, it’s been a fab experience, great vibe and I’ve loved it.

Cairngorms

After all this hard graft, I was very much in need of some R&R, so me and my mate, Ben took off for a wild camping adventure in The Cairngorms. First stop was RSPB Loch Garten, where we headed down the trail and pitched up on Loch Mallachie. There, we were treated to 2 calling Red Throated Divers and some of the best views of swifts we’ve ever had. Was a slightly less nice kip though, as we unfortunately camped on a rooty slope!

We headed up to the Alpine Garden, where the gardener, Carol pointed out a small group of weasel kits in the boulders, so CUTE! After a short stop at the highest level phone box in the UK, we headed through the fog up the mountain, constantly scanning for Ptarmigan and ring ouzel but no joy. But then, as we ascended up a ridge near Cairngorm, the cloud broke to reveal a phenomenal cloud inversion filling the gullies and ridge of the mountains and pooling in the valley of Glenmore.

And now to the wildlife, after recovering from the awe stricken shock of the cloud inversion, we headed up to the summit of Cairngorm. At 1200m, we walked over to a tor overlooking Loch Avon, and the rest of the Cairngorm mountains and a brilliant spot by Ben showed a small herd of the famous free roaming reindeer walking below us. It’s safe to say I was ECSTATIC!!!! I’m sure you’ll agree, what a place to see em! We then headed round the rest of the summit to spot a gorgeous male snow bunting singing its heart out, before flying past us over its rocky kingdom. The walk back down found us another reindeer before chatting to Carol at the Alpine Garden, who told us that all 150 reindeer in the herd have names! We drove back down off the mountain happy birders to our next wild camping spot on Loch an Eilleen with the mountain we climbed silhouetted in the sunset and a small group of teenage ducklings keeping us company for the night, as well as red squirrel, woodcock and osprey.

It was a magical adventure, wrapped up with a wild swim. Much to our surprise the famous Scottish midge weren’t too bad. The Cairngorms, they’re good for the soul !

That wraps up summer

There’s lots of things to look forward to here at uni in the next couple of months, with field trips, gardening sessions, wildlife activities and plays. For updates, check in on my Instagram, Facebook & X pages as I post there more regularly. Have a great autumn and keep in touch, George