Archive for highlands

Beginning an ‘eco’ build… by felling a tree

May 4, 2021 Architecture, Ben Damph, Ben Damph Estate, Ben Damph House, Climate Change, Construction, Douglas fir, eco build, environment, Forestry, highlands, highlands, Larch, nature, new build, scotland, SIPs, timber, Torridon, trees, Uncategorized, wester ross, wildlife, wood 2 comments

It seems a strange way to begin the story of a new ‘eco house’, with the tale of felling a tree. But in terms of construction, building out of wood is one of the best things you can do for storing and absorbing carbon, and I did hug this tree first… Read more

My year planting trees

January 28, 2019 Ben Damph, Ben Damph Estate, environment, highlands, nature, nature writing, Rewilding, rhododendrons, scotland, Torridon, trees, Trees for Life, Uncategorized, wester ross, wildlife Comments Off on My year planting trees
Aspen planted in 1.8m tubes by Loch Torridon.

Aspen planted in 1.8m tubes by Loch Torridon.

Over the past year I have been involved in a project to plant 3,500 native trees on Ben Damph Estate in the Highlands of Scotland. It was a part of a Forestry Commission Scotland grant to improve woodland in an area previously infested with rhododendron ponticum. This blog is an attempt to exchange knowledge on the challenges of planting in a landscape shared with red deer and rhoddies, and a little bit of philosophy about the joys of planting trees…
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The pine martens make a meal of it, until the badger comes along

May 1, 2017 aigas, animals, badger, beaver, countryside, environment, highlands, nature, nature writing, photography, pine marten, Rewilding, scotland, Uncategorized, wildlife Comments Off on The pine martens make a meal of it, until the badger comes along

A pine marten looking for danger - and peanuts.

A pine marten looking for danger – and peanuts.

A few weeks ago I spent a very enjoyable evening in the hide at Aigas Field Centre, where BBC Springwatch is filmed, watching a pine marten happily munching peanuts – until a badger came along…  Read more

Photo stalking the red deer stags on Ben Damh

October 11, 2016 animals, Books, Country sports, countryside, deer, environment, ethical carnivore, field sports, Game of Thrones, highlands, Meat, nature, nature writing, Outlander, photography, scotland, stalking, Uncategorized, venison, wildlife 4 comments

This 8-pointer stag is in the height of the rut, roaring to demonstrate his willingness to fight for the chance to mate with the hinds.

This 8-pointer stag is in the height of the rut, roaring to demonstrate his willingness to fight for the chance to mate with the hinds.

If you have already read chapter 14 of The Ethical Carnivore, you will understand this is a little bit of a postscript… Read more

Hitting the target – but not how you think – with the BBC & Scottish Field

May 15, 2015 animal ethics, animal rights, animals, arbroath, bbc, cookery, Country sports, deer, eating, environment, ethics, Farming, field sports, Food, game, highlands, Meat, nature, roe deer, scotland, scottish field, shooting, television, trees, vegan, vegetarian, venison One comment

My rifle skills are improving but does that mean I'll make a clean shot?

My rifle skills are improving but does that mean I’ll make a clean shot?

My year spent only eating animals I have killed myself has featured on the BBC and in Scottish Field, leading to some expected ribbing about ‘glamorous’ photos with guns and some unexpected conclusions about the nature of shooting. Read more

Grouse shooting: The vainglorious 12th

August 25, 2014 animal ethics, animal rights, Country sports, eating, environment, ethics, Food, Grouse, highlands, nature, Rewilding, shooting, trees, vegan, vegetarian, wildlife 6 comments

A walked-up grouse shoot beneath the wind turbines

A walked-up grouse shoot beneath the wind turbines

Since I have pledged to only eat animals I have killed myself, I decide to go grouse shooting on the Glorious 12th and start off the project with a bang. It doesn’t quite go to plan…

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Late spring in the Highlands: Blooming rhododendrons

June 15, 2014 environment, gardening, highlands, nature, Rewilding, rhododendrons, trees, wildlife One comment

Rhododendrons frame the Torridon hills

Rhododendron blooms frame the Torridon hills in June.

The rhododendrons are in bloom across the Highlands and I must admit they look beautiful – but they look better in a bonfire. Read more

A winter in the Highlands: Or how I learnt to love waterproofs and hate rhododendrons

April 22, 2014 gardening, highlands, nature, Rewilding, rhododendrons, wildlife Comments Off on A winter in the Highlands: Or how I learnt to love waterproofs and hate rhododendrons

Stunning views out to Ben Alligin now the rhododendrons are cleared.

Stunning views out to Ben Alligin now the rhododendrons are cleared.

Apologies if I have been a wee bit quiet on the blogging front. Rather embarrassingly for an environmental journalist, I have been involved in a major deforestation project. Read more