Category: Nature

Recent writings

Whether it's a brief view of a woodcock against the sunset, or a hundred years of conservation effort, writing up some stories from the field has been keeping me busy.

Continue reading →

The RSPB 50 years on

One day this week I reached a personal milestone, and the following day I reached another. On 31 January, after...

Continue reading →

On the road again

At last, the diary has started filling up with real live events and real live audiences. The variety of gigs I have booked this autumn is greater than ever.

Continue reading →

World Migratory Bird Day

Saturday 8 May is World Migratory Bird Day 2021. For many species, what seems like a perilous journey at the best of times has become a serious threat to their futures.

Continue reading →

How radical do we need to be?

Reflections on recent developments that point to some new thinking on nature.

Continue reading →

Lockdown dawn chorus

This morning (4 May) I went out into a drizzly dawn to listen to the defining sounds of the spring dawn - and to read my latest work in progress to the birds.

Continue reading →

New talks added

My talks page has been updated with details of events scheduled for this autumn and winter, and into spring next year.

Continue reading →

Sounds wonderful

From an insect whose courtship song suffuses the heathland soundscape, to a bird which has inspired more classical and romantic writing than any other, June looks like being a song-filled month.

Continue reading →

Dream of the Field Cricket

For an insect that spends almost all of its time underground, the field cricket has an elusive charisma, on account of its evocative 'song'. A unique event will celebrate this miniature sound-maker.

Continue reading →

Zi-Zi Taah Taah Taah

“Over there behind those trees is the most extensive area of scrap metal yards in Europe” said Steve Ely, poet

Continue reading →