Hello there. I hope everything is well with you. I am still very much in the world between, awaiting two family funerals and feeling in that liminal, in-between place. My mind has been drifting through past memories and thinking about cherished people and places. Thankfully, nature remains a constant solace to me, especially at this…
Week 27: Jun 30 – Jul 6, 2025: The Champion Species Badges Take Flight!
This week is a special one. For months, I’ve been quietly immersed in an endeavour that feels incredibly close to my heart, and today, I’m overjoyed to finally share it with you. The Forest of Bowland Champion Species pin badges are officially here! Seeing the full collection of fourteen badges, all nestled in their colourful…
Week 25 & 26: June 16 to 29: Nature’s Gentle Embrace in Times of Loss
Well hello there. You may have noticed things have been a little quiet around here on the journal front. This week’s post is a double bill, covering the past fortnight, and it comes with a bit of a heavy heart. In the span of just eight days, I’ve had to say goodbye to both my…
Week 24: June 9 to June 15: Sweet Scents, Sturdy Blooms, and Shiny Badges
Hello hello! Can you believe we’re already in Week 24 of 2025??! The year just seems to be zipping by, much like a bumblebee buzzing from a sweet pea to… well, another sweet pea! Outside is an absolute hive of activity, right up to my back door – which currently is a riot of colour…
Champion Species Three: Discovering the Black Grouse of Bowland
Hello hello! Welcome to my blog series dedicated to the ‘Champion Species’ of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. After previously exploring the iconic Hen Harrier and the evocative Eurasian Curlew, this week I’m turning my artistic eye to a truly magnificent and somewhat mysterious resident: the Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). To be completely honest,…
Week 23: H2O, Finches, and a Fungi Frenzy!
Well, the rain just kept on, well, raining. It feels like April and May were holding out on the wet stuff, only for June to finally declutter itself of all that H2O. The shape of the week, combined with the general downpour, kept me busy indoors. Not that it was a wasted effort! I had…
Champion Species Two: Painting the Soulful Curlew of Bowland
Hello again! Welcome back to my blog series, where I delve into the ‘Champion Species’ of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape through an artist’s eyes. After my deep dive into the elusive Hen Harrier, this week, my easel and I are turning our attention to another truly iconic resident of this breathtaking region: the…
Week 22: May 26 – June 1, 2025 – Springwatch, Live Nests, and Painting Reflections
Well, hello hello! This week truly kicked off with that zesty, almost giddy New Moon in Gemini energy. And honestly, it’s been a week that demanded a bit of that adaptable spirit, because the skies have been putting on quite the performance. We’re talking less “gentle drizzle” and more “sideways rain” with an extra sprinkling…
Champion species May update: Lancashire life feature
I’m incredibly excited to share some happy news. Last month, I had the absolute pleasure of being interviewed by Laura Wells for the June edition of Lancashire Life magazine. It’s been a whirlwind of a few weeks, and I’m thrilled to see the feature now out in print! The article dives into a project incredibly…
Week 21: May 19 – May 25, 2025: Nesting Notes & Dancing in the Rain
Hello hello! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself squinting up at the sky in the last few weeks, wondering if the clouds simply forgot where you live. Here in Lancashire, it’s been what felt like an eternity without a proper drop of rain – just endless stretches of warm, sunny, and decidedly…