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wildlife Conservation

Environment

The High Stakes of Mapping Antarctica’s Hidden World

Deep beneath the vast, white expanse of Antarctica lies a world few will ever see – a landscape of jagged mountain ranges, deep-cut canyons, and ancient valleys. For decades, scientists have been working to “peel back” the ice to understand what lies beneath. Recently, a monumental milestone was reached with the release of Bedmap3, the most detailed map of the Antarctic continent to date.

I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by Dr. Peter Fretwell where he shared some of the results of this groundbreaking work. Listening to the sheer scale of the data collected by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and their international partners, it’s clear that this research is far more than a cartographic achievement. It is a vital tool for understanding our planet’s future. What I love about this type of research is it’s all about facts with little hype and conjecture!

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February 1, 2026
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Environment, Sustainable Travel

Reflections on 2025. Fragility, Resilience and the Lessons of the South

As the final days of 2025 drew to a close, I found myself looking back on a year that has been as challenging as it has been illuminating. Through the lens of this blog, we have explored everything from the quiet biodiversity of our own gardens in Dove Park to the staggering, icy majesty of the Antarctic Southern Ocean.

While the tone of environmental news can often tilt toward the “doom and gloom,” my journey this year – both through research and my own travels – has reinforced a singular truth: sustainability is not a static goal, but a series of deliberate, conscious choices.

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January 5, 2026
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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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December 17, 2025
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Environment

My Penguin Necklace Story: From Antarctica to Jewellery with Elouise Makes

My husband is a wonderful man. Before our ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands — a journey three years in the making — he surprised me with a beautiful gold penguin necklace. It wasn’t just any necklace, but a piece from Elouise Makes, a jeweller who focuses on sustainability and traditional craftsmanship in every aspect of her jewellery making. With the penguin made from reclaimed and repurposed gold, I have been wearing it almost daily ever since!

Little did I know, this single gift would be the start of a very special relationship with the artist behind the brand, Rosie Deegan. Today, I want to share both my journey with Rosie and her incredible process, which is all about a slower, more sustainable way of creating.

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October 1, 2025
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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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August 20, 2025
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Environment

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 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. Their chickens, add a 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!

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July 30, 2025
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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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July 20, 2025
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Environment

Sustainable Three Rivers: Nurturing Community & Challenging History

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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July 13, 2025
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Environment

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 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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July 4, 2025
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Environment

From Scotland to South Georgia: The Untold Stories That Reshape our History

The Whalers’ Memory Bank is launched

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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June 24, 2025
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