Head-foot, ink-jet brainy suckers – The Cephalopods of the British Isles Many people don’t have a clue what a cephalopod is. Even if their Greek and Latin is good the translation to ‘head-foot’ isn’t writhing with firm answers. But almost all people know what octopus and squid are and most have at least heard of […]
Seahorse Conservation In the early 1990s I helped found the Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Advisory Group for what was then the Zoo Federation of Britain and Ireland (now BIAZA). I also designed the logo. Among our first project species were seahorses. Not only were they in dire need of conservation attention and awareness, they are
We really are conservationists Every product we send out is accompanied by a card thanking the buyer for supporting ‘our conservation projects’. What does this mean? Can artists, fashion brands or stationary suppliers actually help threatened species, or is it ‘Greenwash’? A lot of businesses offset their damage to Earth’s environment by supporting charities, planting
The whale is the most astonishing animal the world has ever known. It does not merely inspire superlatives – it is a living superlative. Jacques Cousteau, 1986 Meeting a Minke Whale In late December 2015 a Minke Whale washed ashore at Ynyslas where the River Dyfi meets the sea. Information came filtering in through social
Whale Encounters Big and small Read More »
Stormy weather lures me outside I do love the summer but I really, really love the winter storms. Finding something as exotic as a columbus crab is a rare treat. Beachcombing in the dark with the wind howling and the waves crashing is exhilarating enough. But the chances of finding something increase it. The excitement
Castaways and the Columbus Crab Read More »
Preserving Our Biosphere – A Tribute to Edward O Wilson I had the new experience yesterday evening of reading a book by someone I thought was alive that same morning but had found, during the day, that they’d died. Reading on, it was unsettling, upsetting, and made their urgent plea all the more urgent. As
Signs of Spring As the juggernaut of Christmas goes rumbling past, many people start talking about signs of spring. Now, you may not agree with me about this but I say HOLD-ON…. STOP FOR A MOMENT. Let’s take some time to appreciate winter. Whilst I live with the seasons and love the spring time, I like to
Winter Wonderland Read More »
A celebration of Deer at Christmas time In Britain Red (Cervus elaphus) – With tall spiky antlers, Britain’s largest native wild mammal. Adults never spotty. Fallow (Dama dama) – With broad flattened antlers, introduced to Britain by the Roman’s or Normans. True wild fallow deer are rare in their native Turkey. Often spotty with a black and white M on their bottoms.Â
The 12 Deer of Christmas Read More »
‘Christian’ Plants that reconnect us with our pagan ancestors A celebration of festive evergreens. To most people reading this, it’s the run up to Christmas, a time of merriment and celebration. Along with dutiful communications, fear of offence and panic shopping. Here in north west Europe, religions have tied in with early seasonal traditions. We
Festive Evergreens Read More »
A winter’s tale – the last true penguin? December 1852, sailing home for Christmas, a highly respected ornithologist spotted what he believed to be a penguin off the coast of Newfoundland. The lone bird is widely believed to be the last sighting of the last true penguin. Was it or wasn’t it? Was it a
The last true penguin Read More »
