When my children were 5 we first started bird watching. There was an empty bird feeder in the tree outside our back deck and out of a whim I bought some bird feed one day to fill it up. Soon I had two very excited twins pointing at the red, blue and multi-coloured birds landing […]
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I don’t know why but I was both excited and wary by the children’s book The Zodiac Legacy so I had to read it first. Maybe because I’ve lived, studied and worked in Mainland China and Hong Kong so I was curious how the characters’ superpowers originated from the 12 animals represented in the Chinese Zodiac. Well, I
I remember the scramble at school on who managed to get the milk first. The best part was the creamy top in the bottle. I was at boarding school in Dorset where fresh local milk was delivered daily. In London the milk float used to deliver bottles every day at our home. Over 30 years
When a friend invited me on a walk with a mushroom foraging expert, I eagerly tagged along. In the autumn she likes to search for edible mushrooms on her land to make culinary delights in the kitchen. She wisely prefers to have a knowledgeable guide with her to make sure she doesn’t accidentally pick any poisonous fungi.
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In the late 19th century there were around 3.5 to 4.5 million working horses in Britain. In farm fields, forests, cities and even along canals, these large majestic animals toiled, transported and helped us. And now? Now many of the breeds of working horses are considered ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The
Sometimes at night we hear the cry of the fox, but last week one made its appearance in the broad daylight. First of all I saw something move around in the undergrowth but it was rather camouflaged. Then out came the red fox and walked up a dirt lane near our garden. My daughter was home with
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This week my posts will all be about my garden. We live right in the middle of the West Sussex countryside. Our house is on a hill overlooking a valley with fields surrounded by woodlands. Our garden is perfect for wild ones, whether my children, flowers or animals. So I had to celebrate my garden with a
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I used to be a Londoner, but what I adore about settling in the countryside is that I can just put on my wellies and take a walk on the wild side. Like yesterday morning’s encounters with wildlife in our garden or near where I live in Sussex. The sun was out so I decided to
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When I found out that it’s estimated one in five British cows never see daylight, I took my children to watch dairy cows being milked. That is, dairy cows who DO see the light of day. Who graze outdoors during the grazing season. Who mingle together in fields and eat grass outdoors when the sun
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There’s something magical about exploring the woods with children after a snowfall. What if I suggested looking for wildlife and building a snowman in the woods at the same time? And if you’re wondering about this combination, I’ll explain what inspired this idea for an adventure. First of all you need woods covered in snow. Next
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