British trees , Wildlife & Nature Sycamore: colonist or custodian? October 06, 2017 2858 Views 27 Comments Often seen as an intruder in old woodlands, the sycamore still deserves a second glance for its beauty - and …
Wildlife & Nature Ballachuan hazel wood May 11, 2016 2064 Views 23 Comments I've never walked through a woodland quite like this one: the ancient hazel wood of Ballachuan on the island …
Wildlife & Nature Marsh marigold: the yellow plant of Beltane April 29, 2016 1191 Views 12 Comments Lighting up wetlands and boggy places, kingcup flowers are dazzling in their brilliance
Reviews Book review: ‘The Rainforests of Britain and Ireland’ by Clifton Bain April 21, 2016 869 Views 4 Comments You might remember that, back in the summer of last year, I wrote about the oak woods of Taynish in …
Wildlife & Nature Lesser celandine: greeting the sun March 15, 2016 1506 Views 8 Comments Star-like flowers of pure yellow welcome the first spring sunshine
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The fragrance of juniper November 29, 2015 3390 Views 19 Comments Since the end of the last Ice Age, juniper has been colonising open areas of land and offering shelter to …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The spirit of the alder August 23, 2015 3286 Views 28 Comments Lover of riverbanks and boggy places, the alder forms a close bond between earth and water. No wonder …
Wildlife & Nature The dog rose August 15, 2015 1242 Views 20 Comments Evoking long summer days and warm sunshine, these glorious blooms will soon be turning into bright red hips
Reviews A new treasure: ‘Trees and How They Grow’ by G Clarke Nuttall May 25, 2015 638 Views 14 Comments At a show last weekend I picked up this gorgeous old book from a second-hand book stall. Written by Gertrude Clarke Nuttall, …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature A wand of hazel February 20, 2015 3057 Views 20 Comments For their valuable source of food and their versatile building material, hazel trees have been prized since the dawn of …
Uncategorized The best of 2014 December 30, 2014 644 Views 0 Comment As the year draws to a close, I'm taking a look back at some of my favourite places and posts …
Wildlife & Nature For the love of mistletoe November 30, 2014 987 Views 0 Comment Fascinating in so many ways, the white berries of mistletoe have a long connection with Christmas. But the truth …
Wildlife & Nature The plants of Dollar Glen September 15, 2014 622 Views 9 Comments Following my feature on the Trees of Dollar Glen, I'm taking a look at its lovely array of wild plants …
Wildlife & Nature In a nutshell: the oystercatcher September 12, 2014 828 Views 4 Comments A lovely strand of folklore is attached to this much-loved shore bird
Wildlife & Nature The trees of Dollar Glen August 25, 2014 648 Views 0 Comment At Dollar Glen in Clackmannanshire, a steep-sided gorge contains an emerald world where the trees bend their mossy branches to …
Geology A surprise find on Seacliff beach August 13, 2014 1461 Views 0 Comment The beach below Tantallon Castle is full of fascinating rocks… and this has to be one of my best finds …
