Look up, look down, take time to look all around
Wildlife watching is a pleasure at any time of year. However, during autumn season there are sights, sounds and smells to be enjoyed all around us....
"I write as I see, feel, and experience the world around me—sharp, untamed, and always changing. Nature isn’t just a backdrop to life; it’s the pulse of life itself. The cool soil beneath our feet, the shift in the air before a storm, the quiet industry of insects in the undergrowth.
Growing up, nature was my playground. Birds weren’t just a backing track; they were neighbours, companions, constant presences. Hedgehogs caught my attention as they bustled noisily through the undergrowth, while butterflies and bees dazzled in their numbers, colours, and diversity. The land itself was alive. But over time, I saw something change. Nature was shrinking—the dawn chorus grew quieter, the wild corners disappeared, and the creatures that had once been ever-present began to retreat.
My writing isn’t about rekindling something lost; it’s about recognising what’s still here. I don’t write to teach—I write to share. Moments, memories, and thoughts from a lifetime of watching, listening, and being part of the natural world. I take the science, the folklore, the things remembered from childhood, and those only understood with age, and I set them down as they come to me.
From the soil to the sky, nature is always speaking. This is just my way of joining the conversation."
Wildlife watching is a pleasure at any time of year. However, during autumn season there are sights, sounds and smells to be enjoyed all around us....
I like the changing seasons. I love the UK for the distinct differences between the seasons and in particular the changeover period.
2014 has been a terrific year for gardeners with warm days and regular rain showers. My own garden has bloomed and I’ve not seen such abundant and ...
A British spring and a British winter can compete and confuse nature on a day-by-day basis. March can see sunshine and temperatures in the 20's, or...
During autumn many birds can disappear from our gardens. Summer migrants have long since left and many garden birds will still be shy while they mo...
I've always advocated responsible bird feeding, based on my own lifetime observations of generations of birds in my own gardens. I outline my perso...
This is one of the first 'blogs' I ever wrote. No such thing existed in the early years of the Internet or online shopping. I keep it for prosperit...