British trees , Wildlife & Nature The power of the elder June 21, 2019 2450 Views 14 Comments A guardian of half-forgotten places, the elder's magic is both old and dark...
British trees , Wildlife & Nature Sycamore: colonist or custodian? October 06, 2017 3690 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 3175 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 1658 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 1322 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 2141 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 5097 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 5463 Views 30 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 1999 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 1057 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 5076 Views 22 Comments For their valuable source of food and their versatile building material, hazel trees have been prized since the dawn of …
Wildlife & Nature For the love of mistletoe November 30, 2014 1622 Views 0 Comment What lies behind our long-standing affection for mistletoe's pure white berries?
Wildlife & Nature The plants of Dollar Glen September 15, 2014 972 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 1522 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 1041 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 2184 Views 0 Comment The beach below Tantallon Castle is full of fascinating rocks… and this has to be one of my best finds …
