My eight-year-old daughter no longer wanted her doll’s house but refused to give it away. She then came up with the brilliant idea that it would be perfect as a bug hotel with a new basement flat for hedgehogs. Even for a doll’s house bug hotel ‘location, location, location’ is important. We needed somewhere that the […]
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Elderflowers, elderflowers everywhere! The perfumed scent of elderflowers has been following me in the early mornings signalling the start of the summer season. In the woods and along the hedgerows by our house the tiny clusters of flowers have finally been opening up. I watched and waited for them in May but they’re finally flowering
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In 2000 the London Wetland Centre was opened and became a wildlife oasis in the middle of London’s suburbia. Wetlands are the primary source of drinking water for people and wildlife.” The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) The 42 hectare site was turned into wetlands and gardens which are now home to birds, bats, frogs and
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Last weekend we were at a barbecue at friends here in West Sussex. I had a rhododendron feast. Part of their garden was planted a hundred years ago and contains voluptuous mature shrubs covered with every hue of rhododendron flowers. In ancient woodlands these non native invasive plants are considered the Beast. But in a garden they
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Finally my children went on a rock pooling adventure. It was one of those beach activities they had never done so I needed to teach them how to be rock pool explorers. I took them to National Trust’s Birling Gap in East Sussex which is known for its rock pools at low tide. We lived two years
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In early spring when my usual route into the woodlands became too muddy, I headed to another part of the woods where there’s a pine plantation. The path leading up to it is lined with coppice trees whose branches bend over it so you feel like you’re in a tunnel heading to Narnia. Badger and deer trails crisscross
