Category Archives: Ecology
Ferry Wood
I have been merrily posting about Ferry Wood but it may not be clear to readers where it is! It is off the B8024 on the Ardpatrick Estate in South Knapdale, Argyll, on Scotland’s west coast, at the mouth of
Ferry Wood
I have been merrily posting about Ferry Wood but it may not be clear to readers where it is! It is off the B8024 on the Ardpatrick Estate in South Knapdale, Argyll, on Scotland’s west coast, at the mouth of
To graze or not to graze
Scotland’s bioregions all face the same dilemma: to graze or not to graze. Having taken stewardship of Ferry Wood, Carina and I are acutely aware of this issue that affects the whole of the landscape; woodlands in particular. Most of
To graze or not to graze
Scotland’s bioregions all face the same dilemma: to graze or not to graze. Having taken stewardship of Ferry Wood, Carina and I are acutely aware of this issue that affects the whole of the landscape; woodlands in particular. Most of
Rhododendron clearance and biochar production
Carina and I are developing a concept for a social enterprise: combining clearance of Rhododendron ponticum (using the lever and mulch method) with biochar production. To this end we are buying a kin-tiki kiln from a smith in Northumberland. The
Rhododendron clearance and biochar production
Carina and I are developing a concept for a social enterprise: combining clearance of Rhododendron ponticum (using the lever and mulch method) with biochar production. To this end we are buying a kin-tiki kiln from a smith in Northumberland. The
Ferry Wood – Celtic rainforest fragment
Thanks to Ben Mitchell (seen here in a sea of garlic) for taking amazing images of the flora, fungi and slime moulds to be found in Ferry Wood. Also thanks to Stan, Ndurie and Carl for compiling plant lists for
Ferry Wood – Celtic rainforest fragment
Thanks to Ben Mitchell (seen here in a sea of garlic) for taking amazing images of the flora, fungi and slime moulds to be found in Ferry Wood. Also thanks to Stan, Ndurie and Carl for compiling plant lists for
Ferry Wood – December sunset and fallen leaves
Yesterday Carina, Capucine and I were in the wood pulling rhododendron seedlings. It was barely 4pm and the sun was down, but we could still see. Nearly all the oak leaves are now lying on the woodland floor, making an
Ferry Wood – December sunset and fallen leaves
Yesterday Carina, Capucine and I were in the wood pulling rhododendron seedlings. It was barely 4pm and the sun was down, but we could still see. Nearly all the oak leaves are now lying on the woodland floor, making an
Bee-yond the Beeline Walk
Meg has recently walked from Edinburgh to her home in Lanarkshire highlighting the lack of floral diversity in our countryside. This post (posted by paulscribbles) explains how Meg encountered a desert in terms of wildflowers (the only floral highlight was
Bee-yond the Beeline Walk
Meg has recently walked from Edinburgh to her home in Lanarkshire highlighting the lack of floral diversity in our countryside. This post (posted by paulscribbles) explains how Meg encountered a desert in terms of wildflowers (the only floral highlight was
Sound of Gigha
Visual artists (Julia Love Griffiths and Ann Thomas) and myself as a writer have come together to create a coastal meditation on a tiny area of West Scotland’s seaboard. We have used a variety of media including paintings and line
Sound of Gigha
Visual artists (Julia Love Griffiths and Ann Thomas) and myself as a writer have come together to create a coastal meditation on a tiny area of West Scotland’s seaboard. We have used a variety of media including paintings and line
Caledonian pinewoods
Recently I was in the Tyndrum area and made a pilgrimage to one of the Caledonian pinewoods immortalised in Steven and Carlisle’s famous book. The two men, academics at Aberdeen University, identified in the 1950’s the threat to Scotland’s remaining
Caledonian pinewoods
Recently I was in the Tyndrum area and made a pilgrimage to one of the Caledonian pinewoods immortalised in Steven and Carlisle’s famous book. The two men, academics at Aberdeen University, identified in the 1950’s the threat to Scotland’s remaining
Laying a hedge
I’ve just finished laying a hedge in the garden of Daisy Cottage, Tarbert. I think it may have been around 30 years old. Over the years it had received some pruning but in a haphazard way, largely to keep it
Laying a hedge
I’ve just finished laying a hedge in the garden of Daisy Cottage, Tarbert. I think it may have been around 30 years old. Over the years it had received some pruning but in a haphazard way, largely to keep it
Community gardening: urban bioregioning
Before moving to Argyll I lived and worked in Newcastle. Recently I was at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Scotswood Community Garden which I started up back in 1995 and helped develop during its formative first five years. Community
Community gardening: urban bioregioning
Before moving to Argyll I lived and worked in Newcastle. Recently I was at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Scotswood Community Garden which I started up back in 1995 and helped develop during its formative first five years. Community
bioregioning 