SEAN'S WILDLIFE BLOG

Sean McMenemy Wildlife

"I write as I see, feel, and experience the world around me—sharp, untamed, and always changing. Nature isn’t just a backdrop to life; it’s the pulse of life itself. The cool soil beneath our feet, the shift in the air before a storm, the quiet industry of insects in the undergrowth.

Growing up, nature was my playground. Birds weren’t just a backing track; they were neighbours, companions, constant presences. Hedgehogs caught my attention as they bustled noisily through the undergrowth, while butterflies and bees dazzled in their numbers, colours, and diversity. The land itself was alive. But over time, I saw something change. Nature was shrinking—the dawn chorus grew quieter, the wild corners disappeared, and the creatures that had once been ever-present began to retreat.

My writing isn’t about rekindling something lost; it’s about recognising what’s still here. I don’t write to teach—I write to share. Moments, memories, and thoughts from a lifetime of watching, listening, and being part of the natural world. I take the science, the folklore, the things remembered from childhood, and those only understood with age, and I set them down as they come to me.

From the soil to the sky, nature is always speaking. This is just my way of joining the conversation."

  • Goldfinches eating niger seed in a garden

    A flash of Gold

    I remember when the sight of a goldfinch was a moment to cherish. Rarely if ever seen in the garden, they would only ever visit during February, an...

    bySean McMenemy
  • How to prepare a wildlife friendly garden for autumn

    Making a Garden Wildlife Friendly in Autumn

    I love our four seasons, the distinct qualities of each, and the transitions between. For me, autumn is awesome. As the sun weakens and days shorte...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Rd squirrel gnawing deer antlers

    Deer Antlers for Wildlife Health

    Have you ever noticed how rich and fertile plants grow following the death of an animal? Wherever a carcass is left, the following season will see ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Coal tit carrying a big juicy caterpillar to its nest

    Count on Me

    It’s been an interesting spring. We’ve had rain like I remember as a child, interspersed with hot and humid intervals. Nights have often been chill...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Brimstone butterfly on a dandelion flower

    What Does Naturing Mean?

    Spring is such a wonderful season. Full of promise and opportunity as the sun warms, days lengthen and plants bloom. It’s inspiring for humans, ani...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Leafcutter bee carrying leaf

    Six Signs of Spring

    A totally arbitrary number, as the signs of spring are so multitudinous. Just stand outside and open your senses to nature. Everything is vibrating...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Fieldfares eating rowan berries

    The Fridge is Bare…

    The old proverb goes… ‘As the days grow longer, so they become colder’ just when natural food is at an all year low. We’ve moved past the winter so...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Brrr, I'm Off to Feed the Birds

    Brrr, I'm Off to Feed the Birds

    It’s windy, wet and to be honest, grim out there! I’m not feeling inspired as I watch the last few leaves being ripped from the oak’s grasp, as gal...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Farm track with wildflowers

    Nature is Dynamic, Don’t Hold it Back

    I’ve just about finished planting my spring bulbs and it’s the most digging I’ve done for years. I prefer adding compost and mulch and leaving the ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Beautiful tree in autumn colours

    I’m Grounded, Are You?

    My family have a tradition of growing trees from seeds. Every year while out walking, we carefully collect sprouting nuts and seeds and plant them ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Wren singing

    Down to Earth

    I’m sitting on my patio blowing steam off a hot mug of tea. It’s going to be a hot one when the sun rises above the treetops, but for now I’m just ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Blackbird hopping over lawn

    Hip, Hop, Hippie to Hop

    “I said-a hip, hop, the hippie, to the hip hip hop-a you don’t stop, say up jump the boogie, to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat.” A magnificent ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Fledgling robin moulting

    Flying Solo

    As the sun climbs higher in the sky and we enjoy the longer days and shorter nights, a calmness embraces the land, replacing the frantic pace of sp...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Jay drinking from a pond

    My, My, It’s Dry

    We wouldn’t be British if we didn’t complain about the weather would we? “It’s too cold, it’s too hot, it’s too wet, it’s too dry”. Most of the tim...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Thrush with worm on lawn

    A Lawn Unto Itself

    I’m sat on my lawn running my fingers through the neatly trimmed grass. The sun’s warm but I can feel how much cooler the grass is to my touch. As ...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Peregrine Falcon Nest

    What’s the Rush?

    Fast food, fast fashion, and fast cars. Long hours, short lunches, and little sleep. Places to be, appointments to keep and decisions to be made. I...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Blue tits feeding in blossom springtime

    All in it Together

    I love that feeling of the sun warming my back while I potter in the garden in the early days of spring. It inspires me to start planning new proje...

    bySean McMenemy
  • How to find Bird Nests in the UK

    It’s Bleak & Frosty. What an Opportunity!

    “I need some air.” That moment when a walk becomes an imperative, not an option. It tends to happen more in winter, perhaps the limited daylight ho...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Dragonfly eyes close up macro

    See it From my Point of View

    When it comes to wildlife, curiosity can be as rewarding as knowledge, because some things are simply imponderable. For example, how do butterflies...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Cast Unto the Earth!

    Cast Unto the Earth!

    Earthworms, do you ever think about them? We know birds eat them, they live underground, they’re a bit slimy and you often find them on pavements a...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Flutter of butterflies on mineral bank

    A World of Unintended Consequences

    They say the flap of a butterfly’s wings in the Amazon, may cause a tornado in Texas. Chaos theory says everything connects, we are not alone in th...

    bySean McMenemy
  • Child gardening with butterfly

    Gardening with Wildlife

    Once upon a time, sheds up and down the land were packed to the rafters with chemicals set to control every facet in our gardens. Decades later, th...

    bySean McMenemy