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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Hello everyone! A while ago (yes, in 2024!) I mentioned I wanted to embark on a blog series, a little journey dedicated to the ‘Champion Species’ of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. And here I am, finally starting! Let me give you a quick recap. Back in 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to…
Outside has definitely begun to take on that early summer ‘glow’ that I adore. The late afternoon sun seems to just pour over everything, bathing the garden in this magical, golden light. It’s a radiance surely intensified by the long, dry spell we’ve been experiencing here. I honestly can’t recall the last significant rain shower,…