Environment

The world’s first civilizations, in 3500 BC, were often called riverine cultures. Mesopotamia, ‘the land between the rivers’ and those on the Nile typify these. Riverine [...]

The post arrived today, reminding me that bulb catalogue fever is a seasonal ailment. Impulse buying is not my weakness, except when it comes to plants. I look at the gleaming catalogue photos [...]

Chalk is familiar to us in the white cliffs of Dover. They are notable because chalk is relatively rare around the world and gives our island a unique appearance. The use of chalk from the [...]

I love the sea and its ever changing perspectives. For certain, hardly a day passes that I don’t look out and across the bay to The Needles. All that light, ozone and clear air; no wonder [...]

We should consider rewilding the River Avon. I would never have suggested this a few years ago but recent experience has changed my mind. Ann and I walked the Avon Valley Footpath recently and I [...]

When I began to write about Zuri in my forthcoming book, I was aware that my own childlessness would have to be faced. She had to have a child or feel wretched in the face of her society. A woman [...]

BBC Springwatch asked us to enter our gardens into Gardenwatch and we did so. It seemed an apt moment because a nest of long tailed tits had erupted into our garden. Yet, disappointment arose [...]

Lundy, what a joy it was to visit in May 2019. Isolation, romance, mystery and, sadly, even cruelty, are words that apply to the island. It makes me realise how much Britain has to offer. The [...]

The chief executive of Affinity Water was interviewed. She opened her mouth and a load of dribble fell out. It rather mimicked her company’s broken pipes spewing our precious water whilst [...]

You know that feeling when you want to visit but you never do. It’s ages since we went to the Isle of Wight so when friends on holiday there invited us over, it was an easy decision. The [...]