
Spirals on the beach
A few weeks ago Carina and I were walking along the beach near Muasdale when we met up with a local aquaintance, who was delighted to tell us he’d seen a rock uncovered by the tide with spirals carved into

Spirals on the beach
A few weeks ago Carina and I were walking along the beach near Muasdale when we met up with a local aquaintance, who was delighted to tell us he’d seen a rock uncovered by the tide with spirals carved into

Rock Art: Ancient acts of bioregioning
Here is one of the many ancient rock carvings found around the Kintyre peninsula. Some archaeologists think that they are located at transition points between lowland and upland, perhaps as waymarkers at what were then regarded as liminal spaces (more

Rock Art: Ancient acts of bioregioning
Here is one of the many ancient rock carvings found around the Kintyre peninsula. Some archaeologists think that they are located at transition points between lowland and upland, perhaps as waymarkers at what were then regarded as liminal spaces (more

Seagrass meadows: mangroves of the north
In our northern latitudes we may not have mangroves, but we have seagrass instead to protect our coasts and provide a nursery for the likes of pipefish and sea horses (in England anyway). Back in the summer Action West Loch

Seagrass meadows: mangroves of the north
In our northern latitudes we may not have mangroves, but we have seagrass instead to protect our coasts and provide a nursery for the likes of pipefish and sea horses (in England anyway). Back in the summer Action West Loch

Grain revival
I have been much heartened by what our farming neighbours in West Kintyre have been up to. The Jones of South Muasdale farm have recently harvested crops of oats and barley. The Scottish climate is ideally suited to these grains.

Grain revival
I have been much heartened by what our farming neighbours in West Kintyre have been up to. The Jones of South Muasdale farm have recently harvested crops of oats and barley. The Scottish climate is ideally suited to these grains.

Nature-based solutions
At last we have a balanced ecological approach to Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) thanks to a new report by the British Ecological Society. Until now lobbyists and special interest groups have been jumping on the NbS bandwagon, claiming their business/industry will

Nature-based solutions
At last we have a balanced ecological approach to Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) thanks to a new report by the British Ecological Society. Until now lobbyists and special interest groups have been jumping on the NbS bandwagon, claiming their business/industry will

New Paradigm – part 3
The third dimension of a new paradigm for the landscapes of the north and west of Scotland is the return of people to the land. Areas like Argyll are currently depopulating, but the tide can turn for our small, scattered

New Paradigm – part 3
The third dimension of a new paradigm for the landscapes of the north and west of Scotland is the return of people to the land. Areas like Argyll are currently depopulating, but the tide can turn for our small, scattered

New Paradigm for West Scotland – Part 2
Fenton’s strategy for the uplands of West Scotland is a wilderness one: freeing up natural systems to evolve without interference. He is concerned about how sitka plantations here are freely seeding into open moorland, changing the natural ecology. He is

New Paradigm for West Scotland – Part 2
Fenton’s strategy for the uplands of West Scotland is a wilderness one: freeing up natural systems to evolve without interference. He is concerned about how sitka plantations here are freely seeding into open moorland, changing the natural ecology. He is

New Paradigm for West Scotland – 1
The next couple of posts are based on the work of James Fenton, an ecologist living in the Oban area who has worked in the Antarctic and the Falklands as well as the Scottish Highlands. In a paper called: “Towards

New Paradigm for West Scotland – 1
The next couple of posts are based on the work of James Fenton, an ecologist living in the Oban area who has worked in the Antarctic and the Falklands as well as the Scottish Highlands. In a paper called: “Towards

Which way bioregioning?
Recently I read a review by Mike Small about the exchange of letters between the pioneer urban and environmental planner Patrick Geddes, a Scot, and Lewis Mumford, his USA disciple, who went on to set up the Regional Planning Association.

Which way bioregioning?
Recently I read a review by Mike Small about the exchange of letters between the pioneer urban and environmental planner Patrick Geddes, a Scot, and Lewis Mumford, his USA disciple, who went on to set up the Regional Planning Association.

Wheel of Life – Part 3
How to Avoid Breakdown The Wheel of Life seems to turn inexorably, leading to collapse and breakdown, which allows new systems to emerge. But there is a way for a large, complex system to avoid breakdown, and this is where

Wheel of Life – Part 3
How to Avoid Breakdown The Wheel of Life seems to turn inexorably, leading to collapse and breakdown, which allows new systems to emerge. But there is a way for a large, complex system to avoid breakdown, and this is where