Snapshot of a Busy Year in the Life of the 4Bs WhatsApp Nature Group

As we approach the end of the year it's time to reflect on what we have achieved as a group. Perhaps the most noticeable thing is the growth in size and vitality of our group. The first member joined the group on 09 November 2023 and by the start of 2024 we had nearly 40 members. During 2024 we the group has grown to 106 members from across the 4Bs – Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham and Box Hill.

​In setting up the group our hope was that members would generously share their observations, experiences, questions and that is eactly what has happened with thousands of contributions over the year. This post gives a flavour of what was shared.

In January and February we shared observations and photos of our wild birds and by the time of the RSPB big garden birdwatch, we had spotted nearly 50 species. We also had an excellent Introduction to Bird Spotting talk given by Peter Almond. ​

---

We also tried to solve the conundrum of what animals were digging holes in our lawns – squirrels, rabbits, badgers and foxes all featured in this discussion and perhaps all are responsible. Sadly, no one saw the animal at work.
​In spring we shared our photos of snowdrops, wild garlic and bluebells. We also shared traditions from around the world that celebrated spring. For example, Sandeep shared a tradition in the country of his birth, he posted Kashmiris celebrate spring today by filling a plate with all that we depend on ( for sustenance) and what we seek in the year to come. The pen, coin and a symbol for God are the only things not directly connected with nature. The day is actually called Sonth Mubarak, which means ‘Celebration of Spring!’

Throughout the year hundreds of photographs have been shared of the wildlife we have encountered in our gardens or while on a walk – lots of birds, insects - especially butterflies and moths. bees and hornets, newts, deer, foxes, wildflowers, trees and fungi to name a few. I'm sure we all have our own favourites.

---

Simon Humphreys provided an opportunity to visit Fraser Down nature reserve, and Paul and Clare Ritchie invited members to visit their garden for wildlife. We also shared photos of the wild orchids we had found.

---

​In May, the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative team launched a Gardening for Biodiversity project. Many members of the group came to one of the 4 talks given by Paul Ritchie on what gardening for biodiversity might mean using his own garden to illustrate. 46 members of the group pledged to create a new habitat for wildlife in the garden for example – small ponds, bird feeders and shelters, wormery, log piles and insect shelters, wildflower strips and patches. Many participants shared photos of what they had created encouraging others to have a go at creating their own wildlife habitat. In this way we inspired each other to do more for nature.

---

In July and early August members of the Nature Group participated in the nationwide Big Butterfly Count. In spite of the many butterfly photographs shared there, was a sense that there were not so many butterflies as in previous years. A total of 176 counts were made in the 4Bs and 2766 butterflies observed including 28 species.

---

​In May and October we were treated to the rare but stunning site of the aurora. Rich and his Aurorawatch app let us know when to go outside and see them. For anyone interested, the northern lights are visible right now. We also witnessed an unusual number of moon bows supermoons and hunter moons.

---

​Members of the group also shared just causes that they cared about to find others who were willing to support. For example Lyndsey posted Hi! Can you help me support Indigenous Peoples fighting to protect the Amazon and the planet? More than 2,000 have been killed in recent years for standing up to ranchers, loggers and miners invading their land for profit! We want to get to 1 million [signatures] ahead of a key summit happening in just days!

The Nature Group became a community as members supported each other by answering questions that were posed, or shared their knowledge and appreciation for nature and for the people who did things to help wildlife flourish. In our first Nature Magazing published in November, we celebrated some of the things we had accomplished. 

Nature unites us all and its annual cycles of renewal, splendour and slumber helps us locate ourselves in the annual passage of time. At the scale of a life natures continuity helps us understand our own presence on this Earth and come to terms with our own mortality, knowing that we are as much a part of this continuity as every other living thing. By helping nature flourish we are contributing to this continuity in the face of the devastating impacts we are causing as a species. By helping nature flourish we are helping to create a future that is more sustainable than the one we are currently heading for.

In 2024, we learnt how to create a vibrant, caring and knowledgeable community for nature and we can look forward with optimism to building on this sound foundation in the year ahead.