One of the benefits of this Covid lockdown is the necessity to stay close to home. In so doing, I have had the opportunity to frequent myself with the hidden gems on my doorstep. During my daily walks I have discovered new footpaths and new habitats, and not only discovered their whereabouts but also what …
Month: April 2020
“There is a plant that shall be mine, tis the little celandine”
I recall William Wordsworth as banks of these bright yellow stars mark the transition from Winter to Spring. Most people think that his favourite flowers were daffodils, but in actual fact, they were the celandines of which he wrote so fondly. Lesser celandines are part of the buttercup family (ranunculus ficaria), and are renowned for …
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The Gypsy’s Drove: a ghost yard of travellers past
I have always sought adventures; the chance to experience something new or unusual; a ‘gypsy’ nomad, in search of novelty. But now that life has gone from global to local, the challenge, for all of us, is to discover novelty much closer to home. It is not as hard as I first expected. Today’s ‘adventure’ …
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The lucky sedge warbler
A dull thud broke into the morning stillness. “A sparrow has just hit my window, Mum”. I stop what I am doing and step outside. It doesn’t augur well, many a small life has ended this way. I approach a bundle of feathers, still alive with eyes that are sharp and blazing. I stare back …
The irony of nature’s cure
Time to start writing again Well my dear followers, it has been a while since my last post but what a great opportunity I have now that I have given up working at the university to start writing again. I hope you enjoy these posts and that you manage to keep safe and well at …