Thank you, Joel! Please keep sharing all the moments of your trip that you managed to put on video. It’s therapeutic to see the wild life that seems to be still thriving in certain places. And that poly field… it’s majestic.
Thank YOU :) I am so glad that you are enjoying the series, I am well aware that these few videos are not the "usual" ones I post but I just wanted to be able to share all this with like-minded people and your comment is very encouraging - another video scheduled for tonight actually :) Best wishes, and thanks again - Joel
You're my kind of people then! I love France too... you'll probably guess this by the end of the episodes ;) Thanks so much for your support - best wishes, Joel
It certainly felt that way - I really hope that one day you can come to stay with us here, and then we can all go over to France and I can show you these areas, particularly when the house is finished of course! I really want to share it all with you. Best wishes - Joel
Hello! Just catching up with everyone while I'm on a break, but I am so glad you enjoyed this - I'm fully aware it's not like one of the usual videos, but I figured that if people were interested in helping nature in their own green spaces they'd also be interested in the natural world, and a few videos showing nature very similar to what we have (or had!) here :) I cannot wait to share one particular town that has given nature more than a helping hand, it's truly a show-case town where the residents and local government are very keen to keep nature in mind with everything they do. I hope you and yours are well, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Oh I definitely appreciate videos of just exploring the nature. Especially since I can't get out of the house a lot myself due to my health, I really enjoy watching videos of nature instead. I'm looking forward to seeing the video of that town! Sounds amazing! Best wishes to you too!
Brilliant Joel thanks for sharing lovely to see the wildflower meadows at the service stations over there. Loving the butterflies bees amd wall lizards and did I see a black cricket there too ? Amazing thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸🦋🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼🌹🐝
Hey! Thank you :) To be honest I wasn't sure at all what that creature was, or how far away I should stay from it! ;) But if you think it's a black cricket that's good enough for me! Can't wait to bring you the other videos as I know you'll enjoy them too - particularly the town that has given much thought to wildlife and nature, from the local government to the local people, they're all aware of how they can help nature and the benefits it brings to their residents. Hopefully a video that will encourage our own local councils to think deeper about how helping nature can also save on finances! Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton brilliant can’t wait yes the crickets are BLACK CRICKETS (FIELD CRICKETS) Black crickets or Gryllus Bimaculatis are native to southern Europe.
Another brilliant video Joel and a great follow up from part one. The beautiful scene in france showing the wildlife & wildflowers meadows & places you stayed was breathtaking thanks .
Hi David, I really hope that one day soon I can share the house with other like-minded people and it can be a stop-off place for people wanting to make the same journey through France, I hope you know already that when it's habitable you will have an open invitation to stay with us - it's a wonderful place for respite from the hustle and bustle we're used to. Can't wait to bring you the film of the large town that for a few years has been planning everything around nature and wildlife and EVERYONE in the town does their part - will be uploading that soon, after the Pyrenees. I hope to do a few interviews in France with those making a difference and making a show-case to share with our local councils etc to encourage them to do the same :) See you soon, best wishes - Joel
Hi Joel so much appreciated with your invitation. Not to sure if you know I live in the most green space borough in London Royal Borough of Greenwich but they seem to do so little bit wildlife etc. Looking forward to up coming videos.
Thanks, enjoyed. Living in the south west and loving it. Trying to help all the living creatures, birds and insects that are already here stay stable and thrive by adding to their habitats and food sources, is a total pleasure. Over the last 50 years the way of farming has not been beneficial to wildlife, but fortunetly there are lots of unworkable hillsides, where the wild junipers and orchids and all sort of treasures thrive. Also yes, pockets of small copses left. As awareness grows , which I think is slowly happening, we can together bring back a better balance. Thanks for your work and education.
I get the biggest kick out of you Joel! Every time you catch something out of the corner of your eye, you stop talking and have to look or listen at whatever you saw or heard.... Hmmm! kinda reminds me of myself, lol! All your birds were new to me, so thank you for showing their photos. Thank you for taking us with you!
And I get the biggest kick knowing that these videos are enjoyable Linda, I really appreciate your encouragement and support. A few more videos to come, all based around France and I hope that these encourage more people to think about the wildlife we have (or had) around us and how we can help more, can't wait to share the rest of the films with you all. Hope you are doing well, best wishes - Joel
Nice trip thank you, we spent many happy hours in la Rochdale when our kids were smaller. It was not too far from Aigre when we used to live there We loved the two automotive museums side by side in la Rochdale best of all .... and of course the aquarium!
I didn't realise you'd been in France so long Deborah, I can see why though! I only had one afternoon/evening in La Rochelle but I was so impressed by the countryside surrounding the town and of course the beautiful setting in the harbour. Hoping to return one day :) Best wishes, Joel
Hey Joel! Lovely to see all the overgrown and left alone places! The meadow, poppy field and a lizard! Looks amazing. Almost like Britain many years ago! Best wishes.
It certainly does - so many scenes that reflected all those old paintings of the British countryside many years ago, that we're all aware of. I hope to do some interviews with people out in France who are making a huge difference, the motorway wildlife bridges for a start, and then there's the town I'm yet to share with you all where they ALL consider nature first, including the local government. There are some wonderful examples of how we could improve so many areas here! Hope you and yours are doing well - best wishes as always, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton A government that puts nature first?! Sadly lacking in GB but hopefully they will start to listen and change their ways. All ok here two new granddaughters so lots of joy. Hope yours all well.
I'm so glad about that Tracy! I was a little concerned that people would think "hang on, this isn't showing me how to help nature in my own garden...." but I hope that sharing wildlife areas and nature similar to our own (or how it should be!) would be of interest - there are so many more garden makeovers and pond videos to upload but I really wanted to share how the French "do it" and relay how they make it happen :) More on France to come! Best wishes, and thank you, Joel
A wonderful video Joel! So nice to see a video that covers wildlife rather than the normal human wildlife we see on traveling through France videos, it looks like you stumbled on the French Opium producers field on your way down! Stay safe! Chris B.
Thank you Chris, this was the same journey where we came to see you, and I'm still pretty envious of the environment you have around you and all the wildlife that you cater for. I hope to do it again real soon. French Opium producers - hahah! Hope you're both well - Joel
You really must! We're all aware of St Tropez and the likes, but there are so many other towns just as beautiful (and way less expensive!). There is so much nature surrounding it and of course the wonderful harbour is just great for relaxing and taking time out - hopefully the other videos to come will also showcase some other great towns too, can't wait to share them all with you. Best wishes - Joel
So glad you enjoyed this William - just catching up with everyone and I have a few more videos of my journey to share with you all - one in particular about a town I visited due to their efforts in ensuring their town is completely nature friendly, an example to many. Keep warm :) Best wishes, Joel
They'll be with you before you know it Narnendil, definite signs of spring here - more videos to come to keep you "warm" on the inside until you have the real thing. Best wishes, Joel
So glad to hear this George - one day I hope to be able to host you from the house :) In the meantime though, once you've seen the other videos in this series (coming soon!) and you want to know how we did the journey/where we stayed etc then just drop us a line :) Best wishes, Joel
Beautiful Joel, always exciting seeing species that you’ve not seen before. Makes me wonder if the uk was once like this, and what we need to do to reverse the decline in our wildlife
Couldn't agree more Keith - I knew about the efforts and successes in the little village where the house is of course but seeing the larger areas and the consistency for wildlife was pretty amazing, the wildlife bridges and tunnels, another town that considers wildlife in everything they do (another video to come shortly) - I really hope that I can interview some of these people when I have more time, just to make showcases to share with our own councils to demonstrate how much "easier" it is to work with nature, leave areas alone and of course save money... So many areas were exactly like the old paintings of British countryside scenes from over 100 years ago...- can't wait to bring you the other videos. Best wishes, as always - Joel
That was beautiful Joel. Brings home just what we have lost here in the UK. I love the bridges how difficult would those be to build? Not very I assume. What an amazing array of wildlife. I look forward to part three.
My exact thoughts Tracey, a lot of France reminded me of old paintings of the British countryside - the famous Hay Wain by Constable particularly came to mind. When I came back from France I researched these wildlife bridges and tunnels - Vinci are the company responsible and this is an excerpt from the article I found: "Vinci has built and manages two-thirds of French motorways and is responsible for 4,400km of road, which often slices through woodland and countryside. Since 2010, Vinci says it has become France’s biggest spender on ecological structures, putting €177million into creating 200, including 20 new-style bridges and 110 tunnels or écoducs" - if you wanted to read more here is the link: www.connexionfrance.com/article/Mag/Nature/French-motorway-operator-s-177m-euro-efforts-to-protect-animals-crossing-their-roads I do plan on contacting Sophie Sallane and interviewing her hopefully, just so we can show examples to our own companies that manage the motorways :) Looking forward to also sharing film of a town that has given itself "back to nature" and everything they do incorporates and includes wildlife/nature. Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you Joel. I believe HS2 is making an effort and building one such tunnel. That should help the recovery's of all the wildlife it's effecting. 🤦🏼♀️
Thank you David, I really appreciate your generosity and this helps towards bringing more videos and films to everyone, so I am very grateful. Best wishes - Joel
La Rochelle is now on my bucketlist! Have you ever been to St Malo? Also a very special city.It's surprising sometimes which birds are new to you . I always asumed England and The Netherlands would more or less have the same birds. Guess not. The summer turtle dove I haven't seen yet, I have heard them though. The ' ordinary ' turtle dove ' visit my garden regularly. They always seem to wait for the wheels of my car to nearly crush them and then fly away just in time! 👋
So glad you're enjoying this series - I've not done St Malo yet but it's on my list, a list that has approximately 100 cities on it now! 🤣I assumed the same I must admit, but I think our "island" determines a lot, that and the fact we've lost so much habitat needed for these birds. I must come to see your place as it sounds wonderful, imagining that many turtle doves that you have to avoid them! 😆 Here's one for you... I'd 100% recommend this place if you get a chance, I'll let you know the hotel I stayed in too so you can have this same view when you wake up: ruclips.net/user/shortsy06gwg8yfeg?si=toej_TsNxIFGFeDv
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes, I could totally enjoy that. Whenever I hear seagulls , there is a longing for the coast inside of me. This beautiful world has sooo much to offer, wish more people would open their eyes and appreciate it ( and act accordingly )!
@@ronroelevink7097 If you get to the end of the France series, you'll see Cap Gris-Nez etc before we headed for the eurotunnel - you'd love it there too, aside from it being really windy and me literally having to hide behind some rocks to film (!) it was a perfect day and the beach absolutely spotless! I really do look forward to the day we can embark on a few road trips and share all these :) Tonight though, I'm ruffling some feathers here in the UK, about mowing.... hoping to get the video up for 7pm UK time - filmed yesterday when my mood wasn't so good! 🤣
About those roadtrips: would love that! I will surely watch some videos this weekend. I did a roadtrip today to, driving back home . Glad I made it but man, it is exhausting! No time really to enjoy it. Tomorrow I'll have a look at my garden too. Much greener than a week ago for sure. But first I'll get some sleep 😵
One significant factor in maintaining/retaining these extensive wild areas in rural France is that the majority of inhabitants are enthusiastic hunters, so their first priority is to preserve habitat to increase the animals they hunt, this leads to far more useful habitat for all species, so we see small wooded areas in fields that in UK would be bulldozed out of existence for the sake of efficient land use UK farmers are very efficient, but you see very few hedgerows and small coppices, the French farmer would rather keep the small wood in his field as it increases habitat for Wild Boar and Deer, so all other species benefit from this and thrive, for now we are seeing many species thriving, Cattle Egrets are in large numbers this year, and birds of prey have increased. Stay safe! Chris B.
I wouldn't say it's the majority who are enthusiastic hunters. It's a small percentage and getting smaller every year (partly due to the habit hunters have in France of shooting hikers or their own friends by accident). And the downside, for example, where I live, is that for four months of the year, on Sundays, you can't go for a walk in the forest unless you want to risk getting shot. The chill-out day of the week, and you have to stay in town. It's all a tradeoff I guess.
@@kevinbleakley5069 You must live in a very disorganised area, around here everything is very strictly controlled, and results in a productive environment for all, areas are used in rotation, so you know exactly where shooters are, and the bonus is we get all the venison and wild boar we can eat, stay safe! Chris B.
Yes, me too Joe - was a little taken aback at seeing that but when speaking with the owner, she had just taken over the property after moving down from Paris, the fake grass was used around the pool area as the grass was suffering with the constant wet and footfall when the hotel was "full" in summer - I'm hoping I've convinced her to think about alternatives. Beautiful place though, not sure how the previous owner was able to give it up after all the restoration, I'd have found that pretty difficult! Hope 2023 has been kind to you and yours - best wishes, Joel
If you want turtle doves, come to my town! Basically it's the opposite of once in ten years, I would use the word "infested" (about one hour south of Paris, small town surrounded by forest). We have absolutely fantastic bird life here, but those fucking turtle doves and their fucking one-tune cooing across the town from dawn to dusk, honestly it almost turns me into a hunter. And I'm a vegetarian!
My exact thoughts George when I was driving towards them, and in my thoughts for days after. I really want to interview the motorway organisation that it is responsible for these, I know they have achieved great results. I want to find out how easy it is, let alone the clear benefit to wildlife that they have proven. Best wishes - Joel
Thank you, Joel! Please keep sharing all the moments of your trip that you managed to put on video. It’s therapeutic to see the wild life that seems to be still thriving in certain places. And that poly field… it’s majestic.
Thank YOU :) I am so glad that you are enjoying the series, I am well aware that these few videos are not the "usual" ones I post but I just wanted to be able to share all this with like-minded people and your comment is very encouraging - another video scheduled for tonight actually :) Best wishes, and thanks again - Joel
Great video . . .loved it . . . binge watching the rest . . . we love France . . . and wildlife.
You're my kind of people then! I love France too... you'll probably guess this by the end of the episodes ;) Thanks so much for your support - best wishes, Joel
What a treat! Those bird songs remind me more of sounds from a tropical rainforest.
It certainly felt that way - I really hope that one day you can come to stay with us here, and then we can all go over to France and I can show you these areas, particularly when the house is finished of course! I really want to share it all with you. Best wishes - Joel
Wonderful to see all the flowers and wild life you found! France truly is beautiful!
Hello! Just catching up with everyone while I'm on a break, but I am so glad you enjoyed this - I'm fully aware it's not like one of the usual videos, but I figured that if people were interested in helping nature in their own green spaces they'd also be interested in the natural world, and a few videos showing nature very similar to what we have (or had!) here :) I cannot wait to share one particular town that has given nature more than a helping hand, it's truly a show-case town where the residents and local government are very keen to keep nature in mind with everything they do. I hope you and yours are well, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Oh I definitely appreciate videos of just exploring the nature. Especially since I can't get out of the house a lot myself due to my health, I really enjoy watching videos of nature instead.
I'm looking forward to seeing the video of that town! Sounds amazing! Best wishes to you too!
Brilliant Joel thanks for sharing lovely to see the wildflower meadows at the service stations over there. Loving the butterflies bees amd wall lizards and did I see a black cricket there too ? Amazing thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸🦋🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼🌹🐝
Hey! Thank you :) To be honest I wasn't sure at all what that creature was, or how far away I should stay from it! ;) But if you think it's a black cricket that's good enough for me! Can't wait to bring you the other videos as I know you'll enjoy them too - particularly the town that has given much thought to wildlife and nature, from the local government to the local people, they're all aware of how they can help nature and the benefits it brings to their residents. Hopefully a video that will encourage our own local councils to think deeper about how helping nature can also save on finances! Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton brilliant can’t wait yes the crickets are
BLACK CRICKETS (FIELD CRICKETS)
Black crickets or Gryllus Bimaculatis are native to southern Europe.
❤ The beautiful 😍 scenery 🐞 🦋. Wildlife just fantastic
Another brilliant video Joel and a great follow up from part one.
The beautiful scene in france showing the wildlife & wildflowers meadows & places you stayed was breathtaking thanks .
Hi David, I really hope that one day soon I can share the house with other like-minded people and it can be a stop-off place for people wanting to make the same journey through France, I hope you know already that when it's habitable you will have an open invitation to stay with us - it's a wonderful place for respite from the hustle and bustle we're used to. Can't wait to bring you the film of the large town that for a few years has been planning everything around nature and wildlife and EVERYONE in the town does their part - will be uploading that soon, after the Pyrenees. I hope to do a few interviews in France with those making a difference and making a show-case to share with our local councils etc to encourage them to do the same :) See you soon, best wishes - Joel
Hi Joel so much appreciated with your invitation.
Not to sure if you know I live in the most green space borough in London Royal Borough of Greenwich but they seem to do so little bit wildlife etc.
Looking forward to up coming videos.
Thanks, enjoyed. Living in the south west and loving it. Trying to help all the living creatures, birds and insects that are already here stay stable and thrive by adding to their habitats and food sources, is a total pleasure. Over the last 50 years the way of farming has not been beneficial to wildlife, but fortunetly there are lots of unworkable hillsides, where the wild junipers and orchids and all sort of treasures thrive. Also yes, pockets of small copses left. As awareness grows , which I think is slowly happening, we can together bring back a better balance. Thanks for your work and education.
I get the biggest kick out of you Joel! Every time you catch something out of the corner of your eye, you stop talking and have to look or listen at whatever you saw or heard.... Hmmm! kinda reminds me of myself, lol! All your birds were new to me, so thank you for showing their photos. Thank you for taking us with you!
And I get the biggest kick knowing that these videos are enjoyable Linda, I really appreciate your encouragement and support. A few more videos to come, all based around France and I hope that these encourage more people to think about the wildlife we have (or had) around us and how we can help more, can't wait to share the rest of the films with you all. Hope you are doing well, best wishes - Joel
Nice trip thank you, we spent many happy hours in la Rochdale when our kids were smaller. It was not too far from Aigre when we used to live there
We loved the two automotive museums side by side in la Rochdale best of all .... and of course the aquarium!
I didn't realise you'd been in France so long Deborah, I can see why though! I only had one afternoon/evening in La Rochelle but I was so impressed by the countryside surrounding the town and of course the beautiful setting in the harbour. Hoping to return one day :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton came here in 2004!
@@deborahflello2316 You lucky girl... I wish I had!
Hey Joel! Lovely to see all the overgrown and left alone places! The meadow, poppy field and a lizard! Looks amazing. Almost like Britain many years ago! Best wishes.
It certainly does - so many scenes that reflected all those old paintings of the British countryside many years ago, that we're all aware of. I hope to do some interviews with people out in France who are making a huge difference, the motorway wildlife bridges for a start, and then there's the town I'm yet to share with you all where they ALL consider nature first, including the local government. There are some wonderful examples of how we could improve so many areas here! Hope you and yours are doing well - best wishes as always, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton A government that puts nature first?! Sadly lacking in GB but hopefully they will start to listen and change their ways. All ok here two new granddaughters so lots of joy. Hope yours all well.
Loving these videos
I'm so glad about that Tracy! I was a little concerned that people would think "hang on, this isn't showing me how to help nature in my own garden...." but I hope that sharing wildlife areas and nature similar to our own (or how it should be!) would be of interest - there are so many more garden makeovers and pond videos to upload but I really wanted to share how the French "do it" and relay how they make it happen :) More on France to come! Best wishes, and thank you, Joel
A wonderful video Joel! So nice to see a video that covers wildlife rather than the normal human wildlife we see on traveling through France videos, it looks like you stumbled on the French Opium producers field on your way down! Stay safe! Chris B.
Thank you Chris, this was the same journey where we came to see you, and I'm still pretty envious of the environment you have around you and all the wildlife that you cater for. I hope to do it again real soon. French Opium producers - hahah! Hope you're both well - Joel
Beautiful. Never been to La Rochelle, but now it's on my list on beautiful places to visit. 🙂
You really must! We're all aware of St Tropez and the likes, but there are so many other towns just as beautiful (and way less expensive!). There is so much nature surrounding it and of course the wonderful harbour is just great for relaxing and taking time out - hopefully the other videos to come will also showcase some other great towns too, can't wait to share them all with you. Best wishes - Joel
Super - thank you so much for a bit of summer as the snow falls outside my window
Same here! With all the snow outside, I just can't wait for the flowers and butterflies to come back! But it's getting lighter day by day now! :)
So glad you enjoyed this William - just catching up with everyone and I have a few more videos of my journey to share with you all - one in particular about a town I visited due to their efforts in ensuring their town is completely nature friendly, an example to many. Keep warm :) Best wishes, Joel
They'll be with you before you know it Narnendil, definite signs of spring here - more videos to come to keep you "warm" on the inside until you have the real thing. Best wishes, Joel
Definitely will go to Western France. The places and wildlife you’ve shown us is amazing Joel 👏🏻
So glad to hear this George - one day I hope to be able to host you from the house :) In the meantime though, once you've seen the other videos in this series (coming soon!) and you want to know how we did the journey/where we stayed etc then just drop us a line :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshtoncan’t wait buddy 🤞🏻
Such a beautiful video Joel. Enjoyed sharing this journey. Looking forward to seeing what’s to come 😊
Lovely shots, thank you.
Beautiful Joel, always exciting seeing species that you’ve not seen before. Makes me wonder if the uk was once like this, and what we need to do to reverse the decline in our wildlife
Couldn't agree more Keith - I knew about the efforts and successes in the little village where the house is of course but seeing the larger areas and the consistency for wildlife was pretty amazing, the wildlife bridges and tunnels, another town that considers wildlife in everything they do (another video to come shortly) - I really hope that I can interview some of these people when I have more time, just to make showcases to share with our own councils to demonstrate how much "easier" it is to work with nature, leave areas alone and of course save money... So many areas were exactly like the old paintings of British countryside scenes from over 100 years ago...- can't wait to bring you the other videos. Best wishes, as always - Joel
That was beautiful Joel. Brings home just what we have lost here in the UK. I love the bridges how difficult would those be to build? Not very I assume. What an amazing array of wildlife. I look forward to part three.
My exact thoughts Tracey, a lot of France reminded me of old paintings of the British countryside - the famous Hay Wain by Constable particularly came to mind. When I came back from France I researched these wildlife bridges and tunnels - Vinci are the company responsible and this is an excerpt from the article I found: "Vinci has built and manages two-thirds of French motorways and is responsible for 4,400km of road, which often slices through woodland and countryside. Since 2010, Vinci says it has become France’s biggest spender on ecological structures, putting €177million into creating 200, including 20 new-style bridges and 110 tunnels or écoducs" - if you wanted to read more here is the link:
www.connexionfrance.com/article/Mag/Nature/French-motorway-operator-s-177m-euro-efforts-to-protect-animals-crossing-their-roads
I do plan on contacting Sophie Sallane and interviewing her hopefully, just so we can show examples to our own companies that manage the motorways :) Looking forward to also sharing film of a town that has given itself "back to nature" and everything they do incorporates and includes wildlife/nature. Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you Joel. I believe HS2 is making an effort and building one such tunnel. That should help the recovery's of all the wildlife it's effecting. 🤦🏼♀️
Thanks
Thank you David, I really appreciate your generosity and this helps towards bringing more videos and films to everyone, so I am very grateful. Best wishes - Joel
Joel you are welcome I will try to do a monthly donation for all hard work you & your team do.
La Rochelle is now on my bucketlist! Have you ever been to St Malo? Also a very special city.It's surprising sometimes which birds are new to you . I always asumed England and The Netherlands would more or less have the same birds. Guess not. The summer turtle dove I haven't seen yet, I have heard them though. The ' ordinary ' turtle dove ' visit my garden regularly. They always seem to wait for the wheels of my car to nearly crush them and then fly away just in time!
👋
So glad you're enjoying this series - I've not done St Malo yet but it's on my list, a list that has approximately 100 cities on it now! 🤣I assumed the same I must admit, but I think our "island" determines a lot, that and the fact we've lost so much habitat needed for these birds. I must come to see your place as it sounds wonderful, imagining that many turtle doves that you have to avoid them! 😆 Here's one for you... I'd 100% recommend this place if you get a chance, I'll let you know the hotel I stayed in too so you can have this same view when you wake up:
ruclips.net/user/shortsy06gwg8yfeg?si=toej_TsNxIFGFeDv
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes, I could totally enjoy that. Whenever I hear seagulls , there is a longing for the coast inside of me.
This beautiful world has sooo much to offer, wish more people would open their eyes and appreciate it ( and act accordingly )!
@@ronroelevink7097 If you get to the end of the France series, you'll see Cap Gris-Nez etc before we headed for the eurotunnel - you'd love it there too, aside from it being really windy and me literally having to hide behind some rocks to film (!) it was a perfect day and the beach absolutely spotless! I really do look forward to the day we can embark on a few road trips and share all these :) Tonight though, I'm ruffling some feathers here in the UK, about mowing.... hoping to get the video up for 7pm UK time - filmed yesterday when my mood wasn't so good! 🤣
About those roadtrips: would love that! I will surely watch some videos this weekend. I did a roadtrip today to, driving back home . Glad I made it but man, it is exhausting! No time really to enjoy it. Tomorrow I'll have a look at my garden too. Much greener than a week ago for sure. But first I'll get some sleep 😵
One significant factor in maintaining/retaining these extensive wild areas in rural France is that the majority of inhabitants are enthusiastic hunters, so their first priority is to preserve habitat to increase the animals they hunt, this leads to far more useful habitat for all species, so we see small wooded areas in fields that in UK would be bulldozed out of existence for the sake of efficient land use UK farmers are very efficient, but you see very few hedgerows and small coppices, the French farmer would rather keep the small wood in his field as it increases habitat for Wild Boar and Deer, so all other species benefit from this and thrive, for now we are seeing many species thriving, Cattle Egrets are in large numbers this year, and birds of prey have increased. Stay safe! Chris B.
I wouldn't say it's the majority who are enthusiastic hunters. It's a small percentage and getting smaller every year (partly due to the habit hunters have in France of shooting hikers or their own friends by accident). And the downside, for example, where I live, is that for four months of the year, on Sundays, you can't go for a walk in the forest unless you want to risk getting shot. The chill-out day of the week, and you have to stay in town. It's all a tradeoff I guess.
@@kevinbleakley5069 You must live in a very disorganised area, around here everything is very strictly controlled, and results in a productive environment for all, areas are used in rotation, so you know exactly where shooters are, and the bonus is we get all the venison and wild boar we can eat, stay safe! Chris B.
Love it! However the fake grass in the back garden 😬😬😬🤦♂🤦♂🤦♂
Yes, me too Joe - was a little taken aback at seeing that but when speaking with the owner, she had just taken over the property after moving down from Paris, the fake grass was used around the pool area as the grass was suffering with the constant wet and footfall when the hotel was "full" in summer - I'm hoping I've convinced her to think about alternatives. Beautiful place though, not sure how the previous owner was able to give it up after all the restoration, I'd have found that pretty difficult! Hope 2023 has been kind to you and yours - best wishes, Joel
If you want turtle doves, come to my town! Basically it's the opposite of once in ten years, I would use the word "infested" (about one hour south of Paris, small town surrounded by forest). We have absolutely fantastic bird life here, but those fucking turtle doves and their fucking one-tune cooing across the town from dawn to dusk, honestly it almost turns me into a hunter. And I'm a vegetarian!
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Still jealous!
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton lol
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Ok so I'm fairly sure I've mixed up turtle dove and collared dove. It's the latter whose call drives me mad!
Why don’t we have bridges here in the UK so that animals can pass through safely 😢
My exact thoughts George when I was driving towards them, and in my thoughts for days after. I really want to interview the motorway organisation that it is responsible for these, I know they have achieved great results. I want to find out how easy it is, let alone the clear benefit to wildlife that they have proven. Best wishes - Joel