Inspired by Mark Hearld

And here is the finished work of art for the Mark Hearld display at Potteric Carr. I still need to add some interactive elements such as asking how many animals they can spot in the picture. It's too promote a competition to give away a signed copy of First Book of Nature.

Mark Hearld Display - Work in Progress

I'm working on a display board inspired by the work of Mark Hearld for the education centre/cafe at Potteric Carr.

Extra points for anyone who can spot the bittern!

Have a Hoot!

Here's a video from the wonderful Gavin Repton, who came along to film at Have a Hoot! an owl event at Potteric Carr this February half term:


It was a glorious sunny day and over 60 people turned up on the day! I feel very lucky that this is what I do for a living!

Spring Things

Tomorrow morning I'll be rising early to lead an early spring walk at Potteric Carr (although I don't think the weather is going to be very spring-like...). I've been researching lots of spring facts and here are some of resources I've come across. The Woodland Trust loads of fantastic spotter sheets on their nature detectives website, and I found one on first signs of spring and on blossoms and catkins.

Looking into different trees, I was trying to remember the name of the French liqueur made with the early leaves from blackthorn - and I found this article on the Guardian on how to make epine. I'll drop in the fact about the cyanide in the leaves giving the drink it's almond flavour!

The BBC's nature webpages have some good information on hibernation. I've come across this website on British Butterflies before and I find the calendar to search which species can be seen each month. Here's what you might see in March. Bat Conservation Trust have a good article on a year in the life of a bat.