This photograph was taken last weekend in wild bluebell woods in Wiltshire. It was one of those magical and memorable evenings. Memorable because of the atmosphere and the light. There were frequent bursts of the sort of bright piercing sunlight that appears like a surprise from behind the clouds and delights you each time, lighting [...]
Please stick with me, this post is a little longer than usual. (May I suggest a nice cup of tea as you read?) I strongly recommend the new Channel 4 TV features within the evening news program, Green and Pleasant Land. There have been a number of films to date which are examining and looking at [...]
It is the 1st of May. Did you know that today is May Day. And it is my pleasure to talk about and encourage the celebration of this wonderful English day. A day which has its roots deeply embedded in country legend,folklore and English history. The celebration of May Day as a festival goes back to pre-Christian times. A time when people believed [...]
Taking my children to school yesterday I saw the first bluebells of the season in flower in the woods. Ah my heart soared instantly! There is something special about the bluebell which brings smiles to faces and a sort of sigh, to people’s voices and a dreamy eyed look to their faces. There are certain [...]
I was hugely excited to be speaking as an inspirational speaker at the Wire (women in rural enterprise) national conference yesterday at Harper Adams University in Shropshire. For those who may not be familiar with Wire, it is a organisation set up to help support and encourage women in rural areas of the UK to create, [...]
Last week I had a great experience as I was invited to join BBC Radio Wiltshire for two different interviews during English Tourism Week. For the first I traveled to the South West of the county near Tisbury (a beautiful corner) to join Alan, the owner of a country pub I’ve worked with for ten [...]
Our fabulous new rural walking holiday for spring 2013, A Bluebell Trail, has certainly been hitting the headlines recently! A week or so ago, the travel editor of the Mail on Sunday recommended the new break to readers, and yesterday the Guardian included it in their top ten breaks to enjoy in the UK. If [...]
Did you watch BBC Countryfile last night? It was a special episode to celebrate the program’s 25th anniversary and was guest edited by Prince Charles. It’s available to those anywhere in the world via BBC I-player if you missed it. The program has done a fantastic job in raising awareness of rural issues in both [...]
I was out walking in the woods at the weekend when I heard a really awful shrill cry. Thinking it may have been an injured bird I went to walk on. The next set of screams I heard can only be described as blood curdling. I thought it was a dog, injured and in pain [...]
Last Sunday arrived clear and bright.The sun was out. The day just had the sense of promise about it. Certainly one of the best days we’ve had for a while. I was back in South Wiltshire’s Chalke valley with David to walk with Nigel and Nicki (Foot Trails Trail guides). Even as we drove along [...]
