Wildlife
Lichen and Butterfly wings
It hasn’t been a surprise lately that the ground around the old Sycamore tree has been littered with small branches and twigs, as the wind has been punishingly strong. The messy scattering of strewn pieces are gnarled, twisted and covered in lichen. I’ve collected them up and put them in the woodshed. At this […]
A Water Vole called Plop
My Water Vole sculpture was inspired by encouraging news from a number of Water Voles re-introduction programmes, where there is evidence of thriving colonies, and some waterways where this elusive mammal has gained a stronghold. Regular monitoring of these also suggests that the species remains vulnerable to further decline and extinctions. Long-term habitat loss, […]
The Serpentine Gallery
Whenever I think of the Serpentine Gallery – I think of the beautiful colours and patterning found in Serpentine stone, and the texture of it polished and the feel of it as it is carved. A gallery full of carved Serpentine sculpture. But actually the gallery is what used to be a Tea Room […]
Two for Joy
Recently, in exploring ideas about collecting, and whether this was a natural instinct in us – I thought about the Magpie and its reputation for collecting – or stealing – bright objects. Indeed, all of nature and all the animals for whom collecting is essential to survival. It is often seen in caches […]
Nature Table
On Sunday I set out for a walk – just locally. The forecast for the following few days was for terrible storms, torrential rain and gusting winds, and I thought I had better make the most of the fine afternoon. It is ages since I took to the pathways and lanes that circle the […]
Stone Ant
On occasion I have unintentionally disturbed an ant’s nest whilst gardening or moving stones – and felt guilt as I’ve watched the frantic carrying of the pristine white eggs by a mass of scurrying bodies. They have clever and successful social structures and organisation within their nests and it is incredible how quickly order is […]
Autumn Feeling
With the damp, misty starts and colours turning it is beginning to feel very Autumnal. It is a season I love. Today was warm, the rain was warm and the sheep in the next field stood sheltering, all still, but for chewing, and I caught their thick lanolin smell heavy in the air. I smelled […]
Stoat-ally Stone
It is always a lovely feeling to have new stone at the workshop, lots of promise of carving to come and those fresh quarried blocks just look beautiful! Yesterday I unloaded them all into a pile, awaiting sorting and putting on pallets. This morning when I came to the stack to begin the task, a […]