Snowdrops to Bluebells

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When I arrived in Scotland mid March the Snowdrops were in full bloom in both cultivated gardens and wild woodland glades ~ I was due to return to Australia 6 weeks later so the chances of seeing the first of the bluebells would possibly have been a little  optimistic ~ But then Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic […]

Solway Firth Coastal Walk

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Due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull my stay in Scotland was extended 🙂 Making the most of the extra time, my sister and I did a coastal walk along the Solway Firth south of Dalbeatie between Sandyhills to Rockcliffe ~ There is something gorgeous about walking a trail that winds along a stone walled cliff’s edge […]

Trees

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I love trees, and because in Australia most of our trees are evergreens (primarily Eucalyptus) I get a real thrill at seeing the deciduous trees of Britain in their winter skeletal form And while this last tree is not deciduous… it seems appropriate the final photo should be a Scots Pine 😀

Some Scottish Wildlife

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Nothing can beat spotting local wildlife on their home turf ~ During the first few days of my stay in Scotland I spotted this Cock Pheasant doing an evening patrol around the garden… Before departing over the garden wall – Later, with spring in the air I was privy to his courting ritual! …puffing up […]

Sculpture Treasure Hunt at Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve

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Cairnsmore of Fleet is a National Nature Reserve covering just under 2,000 hectares of south-west Scotland. Made up of wild and open heather moorland, Cairnsmore itself is a large granite ‘hill’ (2331 feet/711 metres) that rises unforested from river valley to summit; yet as one enters the Reserve it is the rugged  ‘escarpment’ of the […]

Fungi, Moss and Lichen

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Just before I left Australia in March I wrote a post about the autumn fungi I spotted on one of my last walks there ~ I associate fungi with the end of summer so was interested to see this tree fungi here in the Scottish spring! Whilst most was hanging on the underside of the tree… […]

Water in the Wood of Cree

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The Wood of Cree outside of Newton Stewart in south-west Scotland is a beautiful stand of deciduous trees protected by the RSPB for the local wildlife ~ While the Forestry Commission in Scotland plant Spruce for timber production, Spruce trees support only 37 species, where oak trees support 284! Apart from the beautiful trees there are stunning […]