The best time to plant allium bulbs is early autumn, so this week is a great time to place an order. They prefer well-drained soil in full sun, so if you have heavier soil, it's a good idea to use a handful of grit under each bulb to improve drainage. If you're planting for pollinators, make … Continue reading Only Connect! Summer Special – Five pollinator-friendly alliums to order right now
It's amazing to think that the paperback of Land Beneath the Waves is already available on pre-order and I'm chuffed that it has been selected for the upcoming Waterstones pre-order promotion, which runs until Friday evening. Pre-orders are really important to show retailers how much interest there is in a book ahead of publication, so being chosen … Continue reading Waterstones Paperback Pre-Order Offer
Super excited that Publication Day for Land Beneath the Waves is only just over a week away. I'm so looking forward to talking about my book at events across the UK over the next couple of months. Do come along to listen, chat and get your book signed if you're nearby, or book onto one … Continue reading Land Beneath the Waves Book Tour
Kate Cooper did an amazing job on my book cover and we've had so many lovely comments about it. So we've decided to launch a competition to win a beautiful print of the cover art, open to everyone based in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) who pre-orders a copy of Land Beneath the Waves. All you need to do … Continue reading Win Land Beneath the Waves Cover Art
In my Guardian country diary today, I come across a most unexpected bird on the River Hiz and wonder if spring will bring a flotilla of Brewer's Ducklings... (Thanks to John Ashburner for the photo of the Brewer's Duck above). https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/06/country-diary-gadding-about-on-the-river https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iagdrlxwgkq6y4cglbfii5tz/post/3lf2mumsnfs2d
My latest Only Connect! Nature Newsletter Tree Special & Book Giveaway is out! Subscribe to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Dr Amy-Jane Beer's fab book A Tree A Day: subscribepage.io/w8XD8O The newsletter includes book reviews of 'Of the trees and the birds' by Ian Parsons and Treewilding by Jake M. … Continue reading Book Giveaway & Tree Newsletter
In my country diary today, I'm celebrating a bird and a project spreading sunshine and hope in Central #Bedfordshire this winter... Country diary: A handful of summer on a frosty day | Birds | The Guardian https://bsky.app/profile/nicwilson.bsky.social/post/3ldkszn6tm22o
If you're stuck for Christmas gift ideas for nature-loving friends and family, here's my Top Ten Tree Gifts. They're eco-friendly and 'stuff' resistant. And with ideas for ages three to 103, lots of last minute online purchases, and all gifts supporting independent shops and charities, they're easy and ethical presents too. Ideas 3-10 can be … Continue reading 10 Top Tree-mendous Christmas Presents for Nature Lovers
I've been exploring a fantastical fungal world in Bedfordshire in today's Guardian country diary... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/13/country-diary-a-fungi-foray-where-even-the-familiar-grows-strange?CMP=share_btn_url
October's newsletter – focused on birds – came out today with reviews of some superb bird books, an interview with 'birds as pollinators' guru, Professor Jeff Ollerton, a first sneak preview of my upcoming memoir Land Beneath the Waves, advice on which peat-free nurseries sell bird-friendly plants to add to the garden, my guide to … Continue reading Only Connect! Birds, Flowers and Books