Autumn for me is a season of plenty when trees and hedgerows display the fullness of summer’s energy with an eye-catching colour explosion of berries and fruits. It’s a foraging treasure trove that reflects the health of nature and maybe, … Continued
Throughout my life nature has been my inspiration and guide, and has constantly delighted and filled me with child-like wonder and curiosity about the natural world. Ever-changing, the turning wheel of nature’s calendar always helps to draw my attention to … Continued
A bird’s nest is a marvel to behold. If you’ve been lucky, you might have found an old nest on the ground that’s been blown out of a tree after winter storms. I find it fascinating that this once hidden … Continued
The festive countdown is not complete until I’ve decorated and hung an evergreen wreath from the front door. I love the winter ritual of cutting and gathering fir branches and sprays of holly and ivy, and the pungent citrus smell … Continued
I love the comforting seasonal rhythms of the New Forest. The annual pony drifts are in full gallop and pannage pigs are busy snuffling out this year’s crop of fallen acorns amongst an autumn carpet of tumbling leaves. But it … Continued
A warm and still summer’s evening during the last hours of daylight is my favourite time to take a stroll. I’m lucky and can step straight out onto the New Forest’s heathlands to enjoy the day’s warmth radiating from the … Continued
The unmistakable display of bright yellow flowers cloaking gorse bushes in swathes of warm ochre and bright lemon yellow is truly stunning and one of my springtime favourite sights. April and May are the best times to see the New … Continued
With a new year stretching ahead of us, we naturally begin to think about and reflect upon past experiences and the future – new intentions, fresh to-do lists, a blank journal. An innate need for renewal and new beginnings. So … Continued
Autumn is an important and busy feeding time for many animals to build up their body reserves in readiness for the approaching winter; to prepare for hibernation or for gathering and burying food caches for leaner times ahead. Although many … Continued
During July and August, I’m always keen for any opportunity to explore my favourite part of the New Forest – its valley mires and streams. The sound of gently gurgling brooks, the pungent aroma of bog myrtle and the flashing … Continued