Window wildlife-watching

Nestled in the middle of an industrial estate, I’m always amazed by how much wildlife there is to see from the Cumbernauld Living Landscape office window.

As I type, I’m watching two male bullfinches potter about, their orange-pink bibs unmistakeable against the open green grass. I’ve seen flurries of visiting redwings, prancing young roe deer; and there’s always robins, starlings and blackbirds coming and going throughout the year. A couple of days ago there was bit of a commotion taking place on the roof above my head. A familiar sound, but I couldn’t quite place it…suddenly an oystercatcher appeared out of nowhere, being swiftly chased off by a less-than-impressed gull. It was a welcome distraction from emails and report-writing!

Research has consistently shown that spending time in our local greenspaces – exercising, breathing fresh air and connecting with nature— is hugely beneficial to our health and wellbeing. Cumbernauld Living Landscape is committed to helping as many people as possible access the nature around them, whether through our path improvement projects, inclusive events and volunteering or Wild Ways Well sessions. But what if getting outdoors simply isn’t an option for you?

With the likelihood that many more of us will be limited to the confines of our own homes over the coming weeks, I’ve been thinking more about how we can continue to benefit from the calming effects of nature, especially those of us without gardens. Perhaps window wildlife-watching might go some way, taking inspiration from one of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’: take notice. There’s no substitute for being outdoors, but perhaps if we can find time to stop what we’re doing, sit with a cup of tea and fully open up our senses, we might be surprised by what we’ll experience.

Male bullfinch, c. John Bridges