Discovering Nature
with
Steve Homewood
Walks & Talks
I'm out and about in nature almost every day, as I live
right next to Lewes Railway Land Nature Reserve in Sussex UK
It's the perfect starting point for a walk along the river, through the woods or over the South Downs National Park.
There's easy access for all and it is full of surprises!
(Public liability insured, 1st aider certified, and DBS checked)
Scroll down to find out more...
One of my favourite subjects is teaching young and old some cool natural history tips and tricks.
Like how to hold a fox in view for a few seconds or more after it spots you and where it will reappear shortly after it trots off.
Please contact me if you would like to come out with me.
If you can't for some reason, why not book a virtual Walk & Talk.
Simply call me via video link from your phone or laptop,
'One to One' or as part of a group.
We can go out specifically to see something of interest to you,
To learn all about responsible and sustainable foraging, to improve your wellbeing and learn to reconnect with nature?
Walks & Talks don't need to be themed by the way,
why not simply join me for a stroll and a chat?
On most walks you will have laminated photo packs
of the years events to see what you can expect
through all the seasons.
Scroll down to see just some of my 'Calendar of Events'
Gift vouchers are available
and are valid for 12 months
My guided walks and illustrated slideshow talks became popular after I appeared
on the BBC TV program ' Springwatch' in 2016
having discovered and filmed an annual, previously unrecorded spectacle
of Thin lipped Mullet returning to the Sussex River Ouse.
After spawning at sea in the winter, they come here to heal their wounds and seaborn infections in the ice cold spring water of the Lewes Winterbourne stream.
The event is now known a 'A Murmuration of Mullet.'
Follow the link below to watch the video and take a look at my own spectacular underwater pictures on my Gallery page.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wwztx
To request a one to one, small group guided walk or an illustrated talk at your venue or function, perhaps a home visit and a laptop slideshow for the family,
on this or any of the other subjects listed below, then please email me on the CONTACT page.
*Scroll down for a slideshow of photos linked to the current Walks & Talks
and follow this link for a review of 'The Living Shoreline' talk to learn more:
https://thelivingcoast.org.uk/news/the-living-shoreline-in-pictures
Current illustrated Walks & talks.
-The Living Shoreline
Reconnect to Nature
Responsible Sustainable Foraging
Nature Photography - Top tips & secret tricks
-
After a very successful combination of all these subjects
at the Railway Land Trust Lewes Annual General Meeting
I have been asked to do repeats outside in the reserve
with the slideshow in individual laminated photo packs
as I have done for Newhaven & Seaford Festivals along the shore.
Salmon & Sea Trout
(The spawning story)
This will be a local to Lewes, Sussex slide show Talk
or as an online webinar available to a worldwide audience.
Follow me on Instagram for updates and
meanwhile have a peak at this pair of sea trout below,
filmed spawning on Christmas eve in Uckfield.
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Calendar of Events
There are way too many Natural History spectacles to list here but
I wanted to let you know or a few regular favourites so you might plan ahead.
March
Mullet should all be back from spawning and in the river for all to see.
Herons & Egrets nesting together in the trees on Egrets Way path.
Best month for fossil Hunting after winter rock falls
April
Fennel is sprouting and Mackerel pass Sussex close to the shore.
The Dance of the Red Admirals on Itford Hill.
Grass snakes emerge from hibernation
and the Cuckoos arrive with their hosts the Reed warblers.
May
There are all sorts to see and do in May but it's mainly Birds singing, migrants returning, eggs and chicks.
Dawn Chorus at it's best...and in the evenings too!
June
I like to take a few risks with my photography in June,
'The Art of Flight'
Is a slideshow talk I'm planning but feel free to book a walk with me, bring your camera or borrow one of mine if you like?
Duck
Whitethroat
July
A great month for Butterflies and I teach folk to find where they sleep in late afternoon to get cool close-ups and to return in the morning to catch them
in a different light.
At night there are glow worms not 100m from my home in July.
August
I'm lucky enough to know of a place where once a year I can take a few
Horse Mushrooms and I have decided to take just one person per year to see this spectacle and perhaps take a few home to eat.
They are arguably the tastiest of all mushrooms*.
*The photo in the middle shows Field Mushrooms by comparison.
September
This month's main attraction is an annual daily spectacle when millions of whitebait are herded close to shore and attacked by the migrating Mackerel. The food chain frenzy that follows is such a sight that in 2014
BBC Radio Sussex asked me to go live with roving reporter
Simon Jenkins to describe what was happen to the listeners.
October
With rising sea levels and increase in water temperature perhaps to blame, the annual spectacle along the Southern English coast was late this year but it was indeed spectacular and I was lucky enough to be there on the day when the wind turned and the waves revealed what was beneath them!
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The 'surfing' Mackerel above with the scattering Whitebait in a rolling wave was probably the the most exciting shot I got but there were many other fabulous sights that weren't able to be caught by camera so I do hope to take more folk out to see this spectacle next year. Do keep in touch.
The above are just some highlights of some months in the year,
more will be added as the year progresses, and for daily news as things unfold
please follow me on Instagram (@homewoodsteve) and revisit this site.