Wildlife
I didn’t know spiders ate snails
Whilst taking refuge in the greenhouse during this morning’s hail-storm, I noticed this spider. It had snails caught in its web – I’ve never seen this before – do spiders eat snails? I can’t think why the snail would wander into a web – or perhaps it was ambushed and then secured by silk. I wonder […]
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Appleton Mill
This is the sight that met us when we arrived at Appleton Mill Farm – a felled Ash tree. It had been taken down as it was old, in places rotten, leaning into the road and in danger of falling. I had seen earlier in the month that the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust volunteer group were meeting […]
The Year in Books – May 2015
What a wonderful reading month I’ve had. Badgerlands by Patrick Barkham. This is a stunning book, difficult to put down and I didn’t want it to end – so immediately started reading again. It is full of vividly told experiences of, and encounters with Badgers or Badger related matters and has such a sensitive, balanced tone when […]
What inspires your sculpture?
This is a question I’m asked quite a lot. Most obviously it is from my interest and love of wildlife – sometimes it is just an expression of how I see the world. I do like to know my subject and invariably in researching it, I’m diverted to look up things I didn’t understand, which lead […]
A mate for Bamboo Bird
This is Bamboo Bird II – although perhaps the sculpture ought to be called sunshine bird. It has been glorious here and I’ve been working outside all week, today putting finishing touches and carving details into tail and beak. The sculpture is a partner for Bamboo Bird as promised – they’ve just met, and I’m […]
Bamboo Bird
During my struggle with Partridge I took time away from my carving to learn a bit more about the bird, its feeding, habitat, biology and history, thinking that this might help with the likeness. I came across the Kojukei (a name given from the sound the bird makes) – Bambusicola thoracica, Chinese Bamboo Partridge […]
A bit Eastery
My Easter bird – Stone Curlew with eggs. I find these birds really striking, almost primitive looking, with those piercing large eyes and large head. They are called stone curlews because they are found and nest in stony habitats and resemble curlews. They’re also called thick-knee. Those big, round, yellow eyes help the bird in its crepuscular or nocturnal […]
Hedgeside
My hedgerow is just beginning to come to life with little buds and fresh green shoots starting to show. I call it my hedge as it is the hedge which holds the gap where my gate hangs, marking the entrance to my workshop. Those who have been to my Open Studio will recognise it, but […]
A moorland sort of bird
To be more precise, a Partridge. I’ve agonised rather about actually giving this sculpture, carved in Yorkstone, the name Partridge – because it didn’t quite develop a partridgy enough look. Other birds kept creeping in during the carving, which I seemed unable to chase away. Sometimes carvings don’t always go as planned, sometimes the stone has a […]
Mottled Green Diver
Divers are a small family of large water birds with three species regularly seen in the UK – Black Throated, Red Throated and Great Northern Diver. The Mottled Green is rarer! All have long, slender bodies, moderately long necks and dagger-shaped bills, narrow wings and small legs (with long, lobed toes) set far back on […]