At the start of each month there’s one book that without fail I need to look at – An Illustrated Country Year by Celia Lewis. Each chapter is an anthology of nature topics for that month. It gives me ideas of what to look out for in the countryside when I go on walks or […]
On my bookshelf: An Illustrated Country Year Read More »
I spied the book The Plant Hunters by Carolyn Fry on a visit to Wakehurst, the country estate of the world renowned Kew botanical gardens. It was open on a table with an exhibit on the history of tulips and tulipomania. I couldn’t help myself as I had to order it as soon as I
There are some who don’t like Dungeness because this headland in Kent resembles a post-apocalyptic wasteland. There are those who are bewitched by the unusual pulchritude of its landscape. It is a place where the vast sky is dominant in the summer and the salty winds incessant in the winter. “Dungeness, Dungeness, your beauty is the best,
Derek Jarman’s Garden Read More »
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.
Mushroom Foray and Forage Read More »
My twins went on a bug hunt and found lots of little creatures. They were taking part in activities for kids in the woods at Wakehurst Place, the Royal Botanic Garden of Kew’s country estate in Sussex. My son was rather excited about a spider he caught among the leaves on the woodland floor. That’s when I
How to identify insects, snails and butterflies in the woods Read More »
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
Wildlife and a snowman in the woods Read More »
