Nigel you are a true inspiration. When you look at the modern day youth in comparison to the same age group of the 60s and 70s I feel truly saddened, and that is why the conservation work that you do and promote is really so important. We need to educate the younger generation. I am thankful for people like you and Chris Packham, and It would seem that things might be starting to move in the right direction. So please carry on with you adventures as I am learning about photography from you as well.
Thanks for your kind words Steve..I agree, i think the younger generation are the solution but I see a lot of positive noise from many of them and guys like Packham are doing an amazing job.
Very kind of you to say Dave...I've always done them largely as records for me (except the tutorial one) but they do take a lot of time and effort and TH-cam algorithms now mean the minimal income you get back is virtually non existent unless you constantly produce content and I've always only wanted to do vlogs that mean something to me and I can be proud of when looking back later so things like drone shots and choosing music and learning to edit better all take a lot more time than I suspected when I started. Obviously the more you produce you can get that workflow time down a lot but it's why you're seeing a lot of pro photography TH-camrs (amongst them some good friends of mine) having to do at least one a week, often two, to keep in step with the YT "money machine"..which is sad as quite a few guys I followed who made interesting unique videos but less often, have stopped now. To give you an idea, I've had well over 1.1million minutes of view time and made less than £250 !!! so whilst I love the process (and it was never about the money as I'm not a pro) the only incentive for me is to vlog on a subject I am passionate about..annoyingly I would have done one on my Bumblebee conservation project (see my IG account for some of the images) this year but I didn't feel I got enough good footage in the limited time I had. A few people have asked me to do more so I do appreciate the encouragement, Cheers
@@nigelmorley8092 I can see your points, last night I watched the 2 parter about Blue Bells etc and was glued to it, also loved the meadow conservation one. I am lucky to have meadows on my door step in Cornwall, which they are trying to build house on, it being an old Tin mining area, the test bores on the ground was not good for them to build on, but I'm sure it will happen one and destroy 5 meadows.
What a pleasure to watch. To be able to support wildlife on such a scale is fabulous. Uplifting video and so informative. I garden for wildlife in my suburban garden and the the rewards are great. Mainly insects and birds although we have the pleasure of a vixen and six cubs this summer. Saw a fleeting glimpse of two barn owls while on holiday this year which blew me away. To have them in a field that you’ve worked hard to improve for that purpose what an honour. Great work and fantastic photography. Thank you.
Thank you Tracy..I'm very jealous of your Foxes. Out in the country here they are very wary whereas when I lived in SW London they'd sit and watch me as I walked home from the Tube station !! Thanks for watching
Fantastically informative. Just starting working with a local barn owl... mix of field qualities / hunting grounds, but this has been so helpful to know where to consider placing/establishing a hide. Thanks Nigel
Thanks Joel.. much appreciated. You’re always very welcome to come and have a look. I’ll email your website with where I am in Kent in case you’re ever down this way
Thank you so such for a valuable information. For many years, after my emigration from Poland, I was delighted with beautiful lawns in England and Canada. Fortunately in 2008 Ontario ruled Cosmetic Pesticides Ban. In my tiny suburban backyard I have started to plant only native wild flowers. Thank you Nigiel for your conservation work and passing on your experience. Best greetings. P.S. Sadly, Barn Owls are extirpated in my area.
Fantastic project Nigel, really interesting to see the progression and to see the results in your barn owl videos. I had a go at creating a wildflower meadow within a large overgrown walled garden a few years ago. It has be a rewarding and educating experience. The meadow takes up the majority of the garden with herbaceous borders around the outside and a vegetable and fruit area at one side. Although it looks great it doesn't really work - the meadow is perfect for voles and mice which are not perfect for convenient rows of fresh young vegetables and fresh growth of herbaceous borders! I split the meadow into quadrants with a slightly different native seed mix in each. Yellow rattle definitely helped to control the grass and allowed the perennial meadow plants to establish better. The only problem is it does spread easily so might affect the areas where you want to maintain a dense sward. I also found that the oxeye daisy can become quite dominant as it tends to out compete other species so you don't need a high proportion in the initial seed mix. I look forward to seeing the development of your project in future videos.
Thanks Michael..interesting stuff and you're right , mice and vegetables rarely good companions ! Yes your're right re the rattle and the oxeye daisies but I have found the daisies always come up first (which is why the seed companies put them in so at least you're guaranteed something in the first year) but I have found that mine got progressively less dominant in the last 7-8 years as other plants took over in the main meadow..they are shooting up in the newer bit but hopefully again they will ease back as other things spread...it took the Yellow Rattle about 6-7 years before it even appeared..hopefully I got across in the video what you and I know that isn't a zero-maintenance job !
I miss your videos Nigel! as nice as it is seeing stuff on instagram, I miss the videos. I feel bad i didn't used to comment as much as I should. Come back!! also this video always leads to me searching for farmland haha
Thanks for your kind comments. sadly I don't think I'll be doing any more but I have considered doing more "cinematic/beauty of nature" type films but never say never !!
@@nigelmorley8092 I get you! I've pretty much stopped making anything but I've a 2 week in Shetland trip and week in Mull this year so I'll film something I guess. I'd happily watch cinematic edits from you! Hope you are keeping well.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, learned a lot! Made notes as I watched, so I can pass on the interesting facts to others. At the start of spring I had the pleasure of watching and photographing (not very well!) a barn owl in my local area. Back in the winter, in fields not far from where I saw the barn owl, a visiting short eared owl hunted, too. Both amazing to watch. Regarding wildflowers, I plan to get my hubby to make a small wild flower patch, such as you suggested.
Thanks very much...great news on your local Owls...great idea with the wildflower meadow, there are some great websites giving expansive details but my only one recommendation is, as I mentioned in the video, get your area free from all plant life, even if it means waiting a year to see what comes up so you can kill it off !!, before sowing your new wildflower seed....just means all grasses and thistles/weeds that you don't want have been got rid of...really pays off in the long run....good luck with it
Very interesting video Nigel,I set a flower meadow away last year over an acre of land it’s amazing how it has just seemed to have came up all of a sudden I’m looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
Great set of interesting videos Nigel about how to photograph Barn Owls / Short Eared Owls and also their habitat. I love to photograph wildlife, especially owls and I am visiting Kent for two weeks next month and was hoping you'd be able to give me some tips or info on where I could photograph some owls (the Barn Owl would be priority). Gary
Hello Gary..Barn Owls are pretty rare everywhere and mine are on private land but best places I can recommend are Elmley Nature Reserve near Sheppey and similarly up in north Kent near Harty Ferry but it's still a around dawn or dusk that you'll see them, maybe look on things like twitter for latest Kent bird sightings and that may give some clues but I spend way more time staring at empty fields than getting sightings
Love this video. Hope to see future updates on this project . Hopefully you can sell us days in your hide to help fund it or open up opportunities for us to volunteer when you need help. I’m in
Thank you Peter..its been a long term project and apart from the annual cutting and baling which has to be contracted out the main cost is just a lot of manual labour by me which is free !!
What a fascinating video. I try to do as much as I can in my own garden, but it just shows what you can do if you've got a bit more land to work with. One of the most interesting videos I've watched in a while , Nigel.
Nigel you are a true inspiration. When you look at the modern day youth in comparison to the same age group of the 60s and 70s I feel truly saddened, and that is why the conservation work that you do and promote is really so important. We need to educate the younger generation. I am thankful for people like you and Chris Packham, and It would seem that things might be starting to move in the right direction. So please carry on with you adventures as I am learning about photography from you as well.
Thanks for your kind words Steve..I agree, i think the younger generation are the solution but I see a lot of positive noise from many of them and guys like Packham are doing an amazing job.
Again good video Nigel... can’t wait for more mate.
I am based in Devon too.
I wish you would do more vlogs, they are always so inspirational, informative and an absolute pleasure to watch.
Very kind of you to say Dave...I've always done them largely as records for me (except the tutorial one) but they do take a lot of time and effort and TH-cam algorithms now mean the minimal income you get back is virtually non existent unless you constantly produce content and I've always only wanted to do vlogs that mean something to me and I can be proud of when looking back later so things like drone shots and choosing music and learning to edit better all take a lot more time than I suspected when I started. Obviously the more you produce you can get that workflow time down a lot but it's why you're seeing a lot of pro photography TH-camrs (amongst them some good friends of mine) having to do at least one a week, often two, to keep in step with the YT "money machine"..which is sad as quite a few guys I followed who made interesting unique videos but less often, have stopped now. To give you an idea, I've had well over 1.1million minutes of view time and made less than £250 !!! so whilst I love the process (and it was never about the money as I'm not a pro) the only incentive for me is to vlog on a subject I am passionate about..annoyingly I would have done one on my Bumblebee conservation project (see my IG account for some of the images) this year but I didn't feel I got enough good footage in the limited time I had. A few people have asked me to do more so I do appreciate the encouragement, Cheers
@@nigelmorley8092 I can see your points, last night I watched the 2 parter about Blue Bells etc and was glued to it, also loved the meadow conservation one. I am lucky to have meadows on my door step in Cornwall, which they are trying to build house on, it being an old Tin mining area, the test bores on the ground was not good for them to build on, but I'm sure it will happen one and destroy 5 meadows.
What a pleasure to watch. To be able to support wildlife on such a scale is fabulous. Uplifting video and so informative. I garden for wildlife in my suburban garden and the the rewards are great. Mainly insects and birds although we have the pleasure of a vixen and six cubs this summer. Saw a fleeting glimpse of two barn owls while on holiday this year which blew me away. To have them in a field that you’ve worked hard to improve for that purpose what an honour. Great work and fantastic photography. Thank you.
Thank you Tracy..I'm very jealous of your Foxes. Out in the country here they are very wary whereas when I lived in SW London they'd sit and watch me as I walked home from the Tube station !! Thanks for watching
Wonderful work Nigel. Very interesting. Should show this information in Schools. Keep up this great work!
Cheers Steve..I do a few small talks locally...it seems to me the next generation will probably do a better job than mine !
Fantastically informative. Just starting working with a local barn owl... mix of field qualities / hunting grounds, but this has been so helpful to know where to consider placing/establishing a hide. Thanks Nigel
Glad it helped Clive..good luck with the hide
Fantastic project Nigel - really enjoyed this video. Would love to come and see this project if I'm ever in the area :) Best wishes - Joel
Thanks Joel.. much appreciated. You’re always very welcome to come and have a look. I’ll email your website with where I am in Kent in case you’re ever down this way
God bless you! Great video, very informative! Keep posting
Hi Nigel, very interesting what you have done to restore the balance back in favour of our wildlife. Great work mate.
Thanks Chris..
Hope more people can do the same, really good video showing that we need to give back something. Top job Nigel :-)
Hola and Gracias Signor
Thank you so such for a valuable information. For many years, after my emigration from Poland, I was delighted with beautiful lawns in England and Canada. Fortunately in 2008 Ontario ruled Cosmetic Pesticides Ban. In my tiny suburban backyard I have started to plant only native wild flowers. Thank you Nigiel for your conservation work and passing on your experience. Best greetings.
P.S. Sadly, Barn Owls are extirpated in my area.
Thanks Maria, sure your wildflowers will make a big difference
Fantastic project Nigel, really interesting to see the progression and to see the results in your barn owl videos. I had a go at creating a wildflower meadow within a large overgrown walled garden a few years ago. It has be a rewarding and educating experience. The meadow takes up the majority of the garden with herbaceous borders around the outside and a vegetable and fruit area at one side. Although it looks great it doesn't really work - the meadow is perfect for voles and mice which are not perfect for convenient rows of fresh young vegetables and fresh growth of herbaceous borders!
I split the meadow into quadrants with a slightly different native seed mix in each. Yellow rattle definitely helped to control the grass and allowed the perennial meadow plants to establish better. The only problem is it does spread easily so might affect the areas where you want to maintain a dense sward. I also found that the oxeye daisy can become quite dominant as it tends to out compete other species so you don't need a high proportion in the initial seed mix.
I look forward to seeing the development of your project in future videos.
Thanks Michael..interesting stuff and you're right , mice and vegetables rarely good companions ! Yes your're right re the rattle and the oxeye daisies but I have found the daisies always come up first (which is why the seed companies put them in so at least you're guaranteed something in the first year) but I have found that mine got progressively less dominant in the last 7-8 years as other plants took over in the main meadow..they are shooting up in the newer bit but hopefully again they will ease back as other things spread...it took the Yellow Rattle about 6-7 years before it even appeared..hopefully I got across in the video what you and I know that isn't a zero-maintenance job !
Nigel, thanks for the info re locations 👍
Good stuff. I had a Barn Owl that would wait for me to finish cutting hay and would then sweep the meadow and dive on its prey.
Thanks John...must have been great to see...virtually no meadows left in my part of the world sadly.
I miss your videos Nigel! as nice as it is seeing stuff on instagram, I miss the videos. I feel bad i didn't used to comment as much as I should. Come back!! also this video always leads to me searching for farmland haha
Thanks for your kind comments. sadly I don't think I'll be doing any more but I have considered doing more "cinematic/beauty of nature" type films but never say never !!
@@nigelmorley8092 I get you! I've pretty much stopped making anything but I've a 2 week in Shetland trip and week in Mull this year so I'll film something I guess. I'd happily watch cinematic edits from you! Hope you are keeping well.
Wonderful Nigel, Great Project. Thank you for your video very informative.
Thanks Paul
Very inspirational Nigel.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, learned a lot! Made notes as I watched, so I can pass on the interesting facts to others. At the start of spring I had the pleasure of watching and photographing (not very well!) a barn owl in my local area. Back in the winter, in fields not far from where I saw the barn owl, a visiting short eared owl hunted, too. Both amazing to watch. Regarding wildflowers, I plan to get my hubby to make a small wild flower patch, such as you suggested.
Thanks very much...great news on your local Owls...great idea with the wildflower meadow, there are some great websites giving expansive details but my only one recommendation is, as I mentioned in the video, get your area free from all plant life, even if it means waiting a year to see what comes up so you can kill it off !!, before sowing your new wildflower seed....just means all grasses and thistles/weeds that you don't want have been got rid of...really pays off in the long run....good luck with it
@@nigelmorley8092 Thank you. Will look forward to (hopefully) enjoying all the flowers (and insects) in due course!
Great work Nigel! Must be hugely satisfying and interesting to do something like that. 👍
Thanks Julian..hard work but certainly rewarding and to get a few sightings of a Barn Owl recently was a nice bonus
Loved the insight and education, Thankyou muchly and by the way like all your adventures and photography.
Thanks for watching Vedran, much appreciated
Very interesting video Nigel,I set a flower meadow away last year over an acre of land it’s amazing how it has just seemed to have came up all of a sudden I’m looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
Fantastic 👍
Doing a project very similar on a plot of wild land that I have been given access to. Nature is great.
Hi Nigel, Great work. We know where your field is as we have seen the ladder leaning against the fence. Keeep up the good work.
Great set of interesting videos Nigel about how to photograph Barn Owls / Short Eared Owls and also their habitat. I love to photograph wildlife, especially owls and I am visiting Kent for two weeks next month and was hoping you'd be able to give me some tips or info on where I could photograph some owls (the Barn Owl would be priority).
Gary
Hello Gary..Barn Owls are pretty rare everywhere and mine are on private land but best places I can recommend are Elmley Nature Reserve near Sheppey and similarly up in north Kent near Harty Ferry but it's still a around dawn or dusk that you'll see them, maybe look on things like twitter for latest Kent bird sightings and that may give some clues but I spend way more time staring at empty fields than getting sightings
Great projekt. Thanks for doing this!!!
Love this video. Hope to see future updates on this project . Hopefully you can sell us days in your hide to help fund it or open up opportunities for us to volunteer when you need help. I’m in
Thank you Peter..its been a long term project and apart from the annual cutting and baling which has to be contracted out the main cost is just a lot of manual labour by me which is free !!
What a fascinating video. I try to do as much as I can in my own garden, but it just shows what you can do if you've got a bit more land to work with. One of the most interesting videos I've watched in a while , Nigel.
Thanks for watching and commenting Andrew...