Barry at Wistmans Wood

A recent visit to Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor. This ancient wood of stunted and twisted lichen and moss covered Oak trees many of which are reputed to be 400 years old, stands beside the beautiful West Dart river. Close to this are the remains of one of the largest Bronze age settlements on Dartmmor, so a captivating place to visit.

A walk on Dartmoor

We had a lovely day out on Dartmoor recently making the most of this dry weather. In the morning we went to Wistmans Wood the after a superb meal sitting out in the pretty beer garden of the Elephant's Nest at Horndon we drove to the car park at Lanehead near there and walked up onto the moor past Nattor Down to see Hare Tor and then discovered this fabulous view sitting perched above Tavy Cleave, I am sure this is one of the most stunning views on the moor even if the camera does do do it justice.

Brimstone Butterfly

Suddenly there are loads of butterflies in the garden, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admiral's, Commas, Fritillaries and several beautiful Brimstones enjoying the runner bean flowers.
Good news about the Sparrow Hawk, he was well enough to be released back to near where we found him and the next evening I saw two Sparrow Hawks flying together, so I hope this is "Harry" reunited with his mate!

Harry the Sparrow Hawk

A few days ago as we were driving home we spotted this poor male Sparrow Hawk lying upside down in the road with a dead dove, we saw it was still alive so stopped and picked it up, it was soaking wet and too injured to leave, its dinner the dove was quite dead and we think they must have been hit by a car. Luckily there was a vet on duty and he looked it over for us and kept it there for the night and as it seems to have nothing broken he rang a wonderful couple Celia and Nigel who care for injured birds and they now have "Harry" as he has been called in their sanctuary where we visited him and I took this photo. You can see one wing is hanging down a little but hopefully he will soon be well enough to be released.

Green Woman

I am really struggling to paint in this heat, I am working on a commission of a Green Woman and am painting summer wildflowers around her. Wild Roses, Honeysuckle and Bindweed which as fast as I pick them and bring them into my studio start to drop their petals!

Wildflowers in Cornwall

I took this picture recently of the wonderful wildflower meadows down in West Pentire, Cornwall.

Me amongst the poppies

On our way up to Surrey last weekend we passed some glorious fields of poppies and rape in Wiltshire and just had to stop and explore some.....it reminded me a little of Provence!