Once again we venture gallantly off the beaten-track and take a divergence down a story route. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…
Once upon a time, quite recently actually, in a land not very far away at all, there lived a Mole. Mole
Hot on the heels of the Food 4 Thought project, the next food and countryside resource I am producing will look at the world beneath the waves. Think Deep will investigate how people’s food choices influence how our seas and oceans are managed – or mismanaged,
Way back in the misty runes of time, when things were slightly out of focus and sepia tones dominated, an enthusiastic young ranger began a short series of articles for the local paper. These articles were intended to provide ideas and details of things
In a couple of day’s time you might be facing the ever-thorny issue of what to do for Mothering Sunday. What’s more, if like me you’ve spent the majority of the previous day enjoying a jam-packed super Saturday of six nations rugby, then you may be a
Darn, I slipped up. While I attempted to cover myself with stand-in columns and auxiliary articles, I managed to allow one little week to slip past beneath my radar. So, apologies for the gap in broadcast last week – let normal service continue.
This weekend sees the return of the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink. While this may not be the most snappy of titles, it is the most fantastic event and one I really enjoy being involved in. Let me give you a little introduction to this year’s
It is a misconception that all ‘serious’ science is carried out by people in white coats, Bunsen burner in hand, wearing Farah slacks and creating dangerous levels of static electricity whenever they walk over synthetic carpets. While this stereotype
For as long as I can remember my passion has been the living world. I remained fiercely, even obstinately loyal to natural history and nothing else as what made me tick. As a stroppy teenager (although I was never ‘stroppy’ per-se) I scoffed at
Are you sure? Because yesterday I found that that we are all sitting on top of a hot spot; sounds terrifying!
But do not fear, this hot spot is nothing but a positive thing, and something we should all be extremely heartened, if not very proud
"I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco."
Sherlock Holmes, in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
This week I’m talking detection,
Ok, so I know the theme of this column is normally heavily biased towards countryside, wildlife and recreation, but this week I am going to start on something of a tangent.This is because I haven't seen much of the East Devon countryside over
There are landmark occasions in one’s life, which should not go unmentioned. For an actor, perhaps its treading the boards with a bastion of the RSC; a sportsman would possibly cite playing alongside a world class superstar. I had such a brush with greatness
A few of you who live in or around the town of Exmouth may be wondering why I have not issued a missive in this weekly column concerning the tragic death of a local elderly statesman of the natural world.
Perhaps I was being a little slow on
Making the start of something is always the hardest part. Inertia, it tends to get in the way. Whether it’s the first paragraph of this column or a guided walk, the difficult bit is always the beginning, once that’s out of the way things tend to flow.
If there’s one group of birds that are misrepresented, misidentified and misappreciated more than any other, it would have to be gulls. The town centre “seagull” is widely chided and seen as an unwelcome addition to the local wildlife scene. But there’s