A few weeks ago I went on a village walk around where I live. It was arranged by the Parish Council, which my Dad, Chris Craig, is an elected member. It was the same day as the Tedx Talk that I did and was great because it took my mind off the talk. I always find that walks in nature are a good way of de-stressing.
Today I went on the same walk around our village with both my Mum and Dad. It was a different route to the ones we normally take and so lovely to do. When I did the walk before, it was with Dad leading the walk and was for families with young children but Mum didn't come as she had vertigo. What I had noticed about this was that there were quite a few really old trees along the way. These are some of the ones that we are lucky enough to still have in our village, which is in the Chew Valley, south of Bristol. Dad had stopped and told us all how to work out how old trees are, which all the little kids really loved. He has been doing Forest School at the local primary school for almost 5 years, so all the children know and love him. Whenever they see him, they run over, shouting "Mr Craig, Mr Craig!" and then tell him about the birds or nature they have seen recently. It is so great to see. Although I hate to say it, he is a pretty cool Dad, although never have dreads or a ponytail again.
Mum was recovering from being unwell for a month so was a bit unfit and huffing and puffing, which was quite funny for Dad and me to watch, so she's on a fitness programme for Indonesia this summer!
Trees are really important to our landscape, culture and heritage. I don't understand why local authorities do not prioritise protecting trees. We have ancient woodland and orchards in our village that Bath and North East Somerset Council are not interested in protecting even though we live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). If you feel that trees should be protected, please sign the Tree Charter, which I am a Champion for.
Mum was recovering from being unwell for a month so was a bit unfit and huffing and puffing, which was quite funny for Dad and me to watch, so she's on a fitness programme for Indonesia this summer!
Trees are really important to our landscape, culture and heritage. I don't understand why local authorities do not prioritise protecting trees. We have ancient woodland and orchards in our village that Bath and North East Somerset Council are not interested in protecting even though we live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). If you feel that trees should be protected, please sign the Tree Charter, which I am a Champion for.
The best birds of the walk were 4 Linnet which is scarce here, as well as these amazing trees. A nap is always good.
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring trees in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring trees in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring trees in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring trees in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig enjoying a stream in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring a tree and derelict building in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring a tree and derelict building in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring the peace in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
 |
| Young Birder Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig admiring the peace in the Chew Valley Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
About the Author
 | |
|
Mya-Rose Craig is a 14-year-old young British Bangladeshi birder, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, activist, writer and speaker. She is based near Bristol and writes the successful Birdgirl Blog, with posts about birding and conservation from around the world. She loved seeing Mountain Gorillas in East Africa and Penguins in Antarctica over Christmas 2015, her 7th continent.
Mya-Rose was a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador along with Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Shaun the Sheep! See the full list of Bristol Ambassadors. She has also been listed with the singer-songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. She is an Ambassador for World Shorebirds Day, See It Her Way and a Charter Champion for The Charter for Woods, Trees and People. She organised a conference, Race Equality in Nature, in June 2016 aiming to increase the ethnic diversity in nature. She has also set up Black2Nature with the aim of working with organisations to increase the access to nature of BAME people. Please connect with her on LinkedIn (Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig) so that she can invite you to join the Race Equality in Nature LinkedIn Group and be part of the change. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter.
Mya-Rose was a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador along with Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Shaun the Sheep! See the full list of Bristol Ambassadors. She has also been listed with the singer-songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. She is an Ambassador for World Shorebirds Day, See It Her Way and a Charter Champion for The Charter for Woods, Trees and People. She organised a conference, Race Equality in Nature, in June 2016 aiming to increase the ethnic diversity in nature. She has also set up Black2Nature with the aim of working with organisations to increase the access to nature of BAME people. Please connect with her on LinkedIn (Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig) so that she can invite you to join the Race Equality in Nature LinkedIn Group and be part of the change. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter.
