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Antarctic Krill

Environment, Sustainable Travel

The Pulse of the Planet: Why Your Choices in the Shopping Aisle Matter in Antarctica

How do you describe a place that feels like the very edge of the world? Antarctica is a vast, frozen wilderness – a land that has famously claimed the lives of explorers who dared to challenge its silence. But step off a Quark Expeditions vessel at Snow Hill, as I recently did, and you’ll realise that “barren” is the last word you’d use.

Watching the stoic Emperor penguins against the sheer white horizon, you realise this place isn’t just surviving, it is teeming with life. Yet, this fragile splendour is under siege. We often think of the threats to Antarctica as distant, monolithic forces – global warming, industrial overfishing and historical whaling – that only governments can solve.

But after walking among the colonies, the truth becomes clear: The fate of the ice isn’t just in the halls of parliament; it’s in your shopping basket.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

Antarctic Majesty Meets Eco-Pioneer: Why Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine Blew Me Away

When you set sail for the world’s most pristine and remote regions, like the majestic Antarctic Southern Ocean, the last thing you want to feel is that your journey is harming the environment you’ve traveled so far to see.

I recently returned from an incredible voyage on Quark Expeditions‘ new ship, the Ultramarine, and I have to tell you, I was floored. This isn’t just a vessel; it’s a floating testament to what sustainable expedition cruising can be. While the ship’s architecture is stunning, its commitment to the planet is what truly stole the show – well apart from getting us to Snow Hill and the emperor penguin colony that is!

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

From Cherry-Garrard’s Agony to the Ultramarine’s Comfort: My Antarctic Eve

I’ve just turned the final page, closed the cover, and let out a deep, shivery breath. The book? Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s The Worst Journey in the World. And the timing couldn’t be more profound.

Why? Because in just a few days, I am heading to Antarctica. I’ll be boarding the Quark Expeditions vessel, the state-of-the-art Ultramarine, and sailing into the notoriously icy Weddell Sea with one singular goal: to hopefully witness the majestic Emperor Penguins.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

From Ambassador to Trustee: An Unexpected Voyage

I’m incredibly excited – and frankly, a little speechless – to share with you all, I was invited to officially joined the Board of Trustees of the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) as of September 2025!

If you’ve followed my adventures here, you know how profoundly my first trip to South Georgia Island in November 2019, affected me. It was a place of astonishing beauty and humbling conservation success. I wrote about it in “How this all started,” my emotional reaction to Gold Harbour, and the need to “celebrate the return of the whales but not forget our past.” That voyage wasn’t just a holiday; it was a call to action.

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Environment

Krill-y Good News for the Antarctic Crew

I’ve got some genuinely fantastic news from the world of health retail.

Holland & Barrett, a big name on our UK high streets, has just announced they are phasing out all products containing krill and krill oil. I know, I know—it might sound like a minor ingredient switch, but trust me, this is a monumental win for the world’s wildest and most fragile ecosystem: the Antarctic.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

Beyond the Horizon: Our Grand Prix Win at the London Art Film Awards 🎬🏆

I’m writing this with a profound sense of gratitude as our short documentary, ‘Antarctica, A Life Changing Experience’, has just been honoured with the GRAND PRIX BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY award at the prestigious London Art Film Awards.

This is more than just another plaque on the wall; it is recognition of the film’s central purpose. The London Art Film Awards celebrates authentic, compelling storytelling that resonates deeply and to receive their highest documentary honour underscores the critical nature of our message.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

The Antarctic Code: How to Be a True Penguin Pal

My deep-seated love for penguins started years ago, and my trips to the Antarctic have only solidified my belief that we have a responsibility to protect these incredible creatures and their pristine home. It’s easy to book a trip with an “eco-friendly” tour operator, but being a responsible traveler goes much deeper. It’s about how you behave once you’re there.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

Penguins on the Edge – What the Latest Science Tells Us About Our Icy Friends (and What We Can Do!)

The planet’s magnificent, mysterious, and utterly vital blue heart is brimming with life, regulating climate, and providing immense beauty and wonder. Among its most iconic inhabitants, and top of my list, are penguins; creatures that symbolise the pristine wilderness of the polar regions and capture the imagination of many, not just me! A profound passion for the planet, its incredible wildlife, and particularly the spectacular island of South Georgia inspires my deep appreciation for these remarkable birds.

However, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of environmental challenges facing the planet, with news often painting a grim picture. Even these seemingly resilient creatures are now facing unprecedented threats.

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Environment, Sustainable Travel

The Cornerstone of the Southern Ocean Ecosystem

Celebrating Antarctic Krill on World Krill Day, 11th August

That’s a big reputation for a small shrimp-like crustacean to live up to.  But they are indeed giants in their ecological significance.

Serving as the primary food source for innumerable marine species, including whales, seals, penguins – especially Adelie and Chinstrap penguins – and fish, they are key in the Antarctic food chain.

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