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We all love bringing a piece of our travels home with us, don’t we? That little trinket that instantly transports you back to a sun-drenched piazza or a bustling market. But as a seasoned traveller, I’ve started looking beyond the immediate charm of a souvenir and asking a more important question: what’s the real cost of this memento?
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Our recent Transition Streets session for Dove Park was all about biodiversity, and what better place to discuss it than in a neighbour’s truly magnificent garden! While many of us in Dove Park don’t have sprawling plots, this particular neighbour was fortunate enough to acquire some unused land at the back of their property, creating a wonderful blend of formal garden and a wilder, winding area filled with trees. They’ve even got a fantastic nature pond, built soon after they moved in, which has now beautifully softened with aquatic plants and is teeming with pond life and, importantly, provides a vital drink for thirsty bees. They also keep chickens, adding to the wonderfully rural and diverse feel of the place – if you remember an earlier post of mine, we donate our green vegetable trimmings to the chickens, which they love!
It was a perfect setting for our last official Transition Streets meeting, though a slight shame we finished too early for our bat detectors to pick up any of the Chorleywood pipistrelles we often see! Nevertheless, we had a fantastic and unusually large group this time, all keen to delve into how we can boost biodiversity in our own backyards.
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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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It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of environmental challenges facing our planet. The news often paints a grim picture, and for many, the path to making a difference can seem unclear, or even impossible. But what if we shifted our focus from the daunting global to the impactful local? What if we discovered that positive change is not only possible, but is already being quietly and passionately driven by individuals right in our own communities?
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It’s a strange sensation, isn’t it? The buzz of anticipation of an event like the “Whale of a Weekend” in Dundee. The flurry of last-minute details, even the inevitable microphone mishaps and unexpected presenter illnesses!, all culminating in an event where connections are made, stories are shared, and passions ignited. For me, the true magic of these gatherings lies in the opportunity to connect with people and, of course, to champion one of my absolute favourite causes: South Georgia Island and the vital work of the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT).
This past weekend felt like a perfect storm in the best possible way. Every element converged, seemingly by design, creating a powerful synergy. The programme brought together scientists, artists, and historians alongside former whalers, and what struck me most was how seamlessly they all referenced and reinforced each other’s contributions. It felt like a magnificent culmination of the last two decades of SGHT’s dedication.
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The Whalers’ Memory Bank Montage. Photo Credit: South Georgia Heritage Trust
Delving into a topic that, while perhaps a shade more serious than my usual musing, holds a profound resonance for anyone who cares about our shared history and the intricate tapestry of human experience. It’s about the extraordinary power of untold stories, and how they can profoundly shift our understanding of even the most challenging periods of our past.
We’re all heading for a “Whale of a Weekend” festival in Dundee – how brilliant is that name?! – and amidst all the excitement, the South Georgia Heritage Trust is unveiling something quite profound: The Whalers’ Memory Bank. This remarkable digital archive is a significant development, one that promises to illuminate a complex chapter in Scottish and global history and set to reveal the often-overlooked human narratives behind the whaling industry on South Georgia.
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You know how passionate I am about our planet, and particularly the incredible, often-unseen wonders beneath the waves. So this is truly uplifting news from the UK, because it seems we might just be on the cusp of a massive win for our precious marine protected areas!
For what feels like eons, we’ve been hearing about “Marine Protected Areas” (MPAs), often with a cynical little voice in the back of our heads whispering, “Protected from what, exactly, if destructive fishing is still allowed?” It’s been a bit like putting a ‘No Parking’ sign up, but then letting double-decker buses drive straight through your prize-winning petunias, hasn’t it?
But now, the UK government has announced proposals to ban the devastating practice of bottom trawling in 41 offshore MPAs. Could this be the game-changer our UK oceans need?
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Can you believe it’s almost here again? This Sunday, June 8th, marks World Oceans Day 2025, and it’s a date I always have circled in my calendar. Why? Well, it’s a day to pause, reflect, and truly appreciate the magnificent, mysterious, and utterly vital blue heart of our planet. From the tiniest plankton to the grandest of the whales, our oceans are brimming with life, regulating our climate, and providing us with so much beauty and wonder.
And that’s what got me thinking. Heading to Dundee end of June, and learning more about the whale research that’s been taking place in and around the remote sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, is a perfect way to celebrate our oceans. From meeting the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists and hearing directly from the team about their ‘Hungry Humpbacks’ research and experiences, to meeting the principal curator of the Natural History Museum AND meeting artist Michael Visocchi, actually seeing the Key Table of the Whale Memorial that will head to South Georgia… these opportunities don’t happen often!
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Guess what’s on my radar for June? Mark your calendars because the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) is bringing a truly unmissable festival to Dundee, Scotland, from June 26th to 29th, 2025! Get ready for the “Whale of a Weekend” – and trust me, it’s going to be epic.
You know how passionate I am about our planet, its incredible wildlife, and particularly the spectacular island of South Georgia – this event ticks all the boxes. It won’t be just a fun day out but a deep dive into the fascinating, and sometimes heartbreaking history of South Georgia, polar exploration and science and a beacon of hope for wildlife conservation.
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Last week, I had the immense privilege of attending the bi-annual James Caird Society dinner, at Dulwich College, an event that always promises a deep dive into the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. This year, however, felt particularly special, leaving me filled with inspiration and a renewed sense of awe for those who braved the frozen continent.
The air bubbled with anticipation as members gathered around the James Caird, many of whom have their own incredible stories connected to polar exploration. The evening’s speaker in the Great Hall at Dulwich, was Bob Headland, a renowned writer and polar historian whom I had had the pleasure of sitting next to at the previous dinner. His address was, as expected, a masterclass in storytelling, ‘Non-existent Islands & Rocks of the Southern Ocean’, bringing to life incredible marine tales of endurance and resilience that define the era of Shackleton, Scott, and their contemporaries.
Read moreFrom vanishing species to polluted landscapes, the signs are all around us. Read "Nature in Decline" to understand the gravity of the situation & discover how we can work together for a healthier planet. #EarthCare #Biodiversity #transitionstreets #nature
Nature in Decline: Why Our Gardens Matter More Than Ever
Our recent Transition Streets session for Dove Park was all about biodiversity, and what better place to discuss it...
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The secret lives of penguins are more complex than you think! 🐧 Dive into the world of these incredible birds and discover the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world in my latest article
#Penguins #Wildlife #Conservation
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 prov...
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Uncover the hidden connections between history, science & art in my new post, "The Perfect Storm." It's a fascinating read that will change the way you see the world. #HistoryOfScience #ArtHistory #whales @HistoryHit
The Perfect Storm: When History, Science, and Art Align
It's a strange sensation, isn't it? The buzz of anticipation of an event like the "Whale of a Weekend" in Du...
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