International Day of Forests at Watergate Forest Park

I don't like to post back-to-back photo-heavy posts and rarely do. However, it just so happens I've had a few back-to-back adventures recently and little time to write about anything else! I say adventures but of course, they are just short walks and there have only been so many because of specific days, namely The First Day of Spring at Nose's Point, Seaham and today's post from two days later on the 21st of March, World Forest Day.

Sadly there aren't any proper forests close enough for me to go to without having someone at home to look after Baker (we don't leave him alone at home for more than a few hours) and so I had to make do with the nearest 'forest' which turned out to be Watergate Forest Park. 
From Gateshead Council's website here is a little info on the park - 'Watergate Forest Park is located on the site of the former Watergate Colliery. Following reclamation work in the 1990s the site has been transformed and now provides a haven for wildlife and a great recreational site for visitors. A series of trails and paths take you through woodland, around the lake and through wildflower meadows. The site opened in 2000. With its wetlands, woodlands, wildflower meadows and recreational routes, including those for people with disabilities, this is one of Gateshead's Premier sites. The park also includes the Woodlands at Washingwell and Bucks Hill.'

It was an overcast day but a nice time with the birds as always. I've been here once before but don't know if I will go again as it is very popular with dog walkers and for some reason when some people see you with a camera, they purposely set their dogs onto the birds to scare them off. That kind of ruined my day a little as I was worried about the birds. 

It was still nice to be amongst the trees on International Day of Forests though! To read more about the special day, visit International Day of Forests | United Nations. Go hug a tree!

The First Day of Spring at Nose's Point, Seaham

Okay so technically it was what I was led to believe was the first day of Spring, however thanks to the lead year I was one day off. You have no idea how much that annoyed me when I realized haha!

Either way, these are photos from Mr H and I's 'First Day of Spring'! We stumbled upon this place when test-driving a new car of all things and after I had a look online I wanted to go and explore.

There are a heck load of photos despite my saying before we headed out that day that we would focus on getting a quick couple of miles in rather than me taking photos...so again I'll leave this as a photo-only post. 

I hope you've also had the opportunity to get outside and say hello to Spring this past week. The bees are buzzing, the flowers are blooming and the woods are alive with the aroma of wild garlic (which Mr H harvested some of and made pesto with!).