Bush Cricket
I loved having a magnifying glass as a child. I had one with a blue handle, with a false Parker pen clip …
I loved having a magnifying glass as a child. I had one with a blue handle, with a false Parker pen clip …
Since this Ladybird book was published we’ve been to the moon, we’ve entered the computer age, there’s been huge urbanisation, the human population has more than doubled and we’ve caused mass destruction of habitat and extinction of species. What’s happened to Swallows in that time?
There are many huge Parasol Mushrooms in this upland grassland. They are growing in a faerie ring over 60 metres wide and …
What has changed since this Ladybird book was published in the 1950s?
Farming is a tough business. I often describe farmers as ‘scratching a living from the land’. There’s the weather, uncertain prices, problems …
There’s a Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album at the top of this Blackthorn tree. It’s bright orange against the still-green leaves and the …
There’s a sparrow with a chocolate-coloured head peering at me. There’s a clue to its identity in that I’m at Tree Sparrow …
At school I was taught that ‘carding’ wool is when you take the raw wool and tease it to straighten all the …
I’m at Crime Lake. Apparently no crime was committed here, but having seen the six lanes of motorway built through beautiful countryside, …
The traditional English word in England for this time of year was fall, not autumn. Fall isn’t a modern American import at …
When I first heard that a duck could have an eclipse I thought that it was a joke. A total eclipse of …
I’m walking on Orley Common and there are parrots in the grass. No, not these kinds of parrots.
Forty years ago, before I was even a teenager, I started keeping detailed nature notebooks. A lined notepad and a blue biro, …
Grey seals are very distinctive. This one was hauled out at Broughton in Pierowall. They have that famous Roman nose: I first …
There are a million pairs of Collared Doves in the UK, which is remarkable because there weren’t any in the country in …
Looking down from the top of the valley we can see the medieval hill town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio below. It’s …
I’m looking over the beautiful green treetops and palm-tops in Parco Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli: There’s a flock of Long Tailed Tits …
I’m walking around Villa d’Este in Tivoli. It’s the Renaissance masterpiece where hundreds of fountains flow with ornate carvings, pools, ducts and …
I’m wandering around Tivoli with my camera. I’m in the Parco Villa Gregoriana. I expected there to be a fine house called …
I love the street cats of Italy, despite the number of wild birds they kill. Today I have a day off in …
On the high mountain plain above Calascio in Italy we stop for a picnic and I see a black, white and yellow …
The ability of life to survive in the harshest of climates is remarkable. We’re walking at 1,500m above sea level and winters …
The Earth is on a journey from biodiversity to monoculture; from rich tropical and temperate rainforests to grass with cattle and sheep …
Every place on Earth has its own palette. Some are collections of complimentary colours; others have contrast. Some are simple; others are …
I’m trying to have a relaxed breakfast but there’s too much to see. I want my Italian coffee and croissant but I …
We are walking in Abruzzo in Italy at a height of 1,500 metres above sea level. It’s invigorating: Amongst the grass are …
We’re spending a few days walking in Italy. We’re in Rocca Calascio, part of the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso. That means …
The L’Aquila region of Italy is named after Aquila which means eagle. It’s an area of breathtaking high peaks. “Do they have …
It’s time for breakfast in Italy which means more delicious food and breathtaking views are on the way. Sitting outside in October …