Itinerant Palaeoecologist

01/10/2020

It’s been a while since I’ve taken work on the road. Even in the rain it’s good to be out and about in van!
This afternoon’s location is Bowscale Moss. Apparently it’s an area where peat cutting has taken place in the past. And like many boggy areas it has been extensively drained, but it still seems to be home to a range of birds, including a Merlin. I’m not sure if I’m watching him, or he’s watching me...

16/09/2019

Sad to leave my little French ‘office’ behind. Especially with the wonderful hospitality from Cath and John, and all the beautiful food. Blog post will follow in due course...

07/09/2019

After the inspiring conference and catching-up with friends, my next stop in Reg continues the water theme. A wonderfully watery view of Chesil Beach from tonight’s camping spot, which is the perfect backdrop for both writing and sorting my accounts this afternoon.

05/09/2019

Peat is ingrained in life on Islay. It’s hard to escape it. But its past, present and future are by no means simple and without contention. Here are a few photos and thoughts from when I was there with Reg a couple of weeks ago.

A core through peat that has built up over thousands of years locking in carbon as it accumulates, “Scotland’s peat bogs contain three-quarters of all the carbon locked up inorganic matter in Briti…

22/08/2019

Whoever knew the goo at the base of the dock was what you need to soothe nettle stings! A very wet, but absolutely fascinating late afternoon was spent Gruinart Reserve with 's forager, rummaging around in the verges learning about plants.

20/08/2019

Afternoon off to go and visit the excavations at Dunyvaig Castle just across the bay from ! The sun had drawn lots of other visitors out too; a great afternoon. Thanks for my wonderful tour John!

19/08/2019

New blog post: The place with no pollen: Isle of Jura, Scotland
(I would love for someone to prove me wrong please!)

Never make assumptions. You’d think that I might have learnt that by now. I (rather naively) thought that some sort of pollen analysis had been undertaken pretty much everywhere, but I have succeed…

18/08/2019

Today’s office is a beach on Jura. The weather is definitely making it more appealing to be inside rather than outside. First time working off the battery rather than the mains 🤞

15/08/2019

Just this.

15/08/2019

Office #1 today

14/08/2019

And we’re off! Last lot of samples turned up at the 11th hour (or closer to the 12th), could have done without that drama, but now we’re all set...

14/08/2019

Hmmm. Pillow making appears to be a messy business, but once they’re all sewn-up and disguised as cushions you’d never know!