-
The fire of the ash
The ash is a beguiling tree, elegant in all seasons, and mother to a host of legends
-
Ballachuan hazel wood
I've never walked through a woodland quite like this one: the ancient hazel wood of Ballachuan on the island of Seil
-
Book review: ‘The Rainforests of Britain and Ireland’ by Clifton Bain
You might remember that, back in the summer of last year, I wrote about the oak woods of Taynish in Knapdale. These are one of the last remnants of Britain’s temperate rainforests, having flourished in the mild, moisture-laden climate of the west coast for around 7,000 years. It’s an enchanting, invigorating place: in spring, as you walk in dappled shadow beneath the freshly-emerging canopy of leaves, you feel as if you’re breathing the same air as Argyll’s ancient ancestors. I was therefore delighted to come across a new book entitled ‘The Rainforests of Britain and Ireland – A Traveller’s Guide’. Written by Clifton Bain and published by Sandstone Press, it…