Gifts from the Islay peatlands.
Author: robinacrawford
Robin Crawford is an author and illustrator, with a particular interest in the culture and natural heritage of Scotland. His first book, ‘Into the Peatlands: A Journey Through the Moorland Year’, was published in 2018 and longlisted for the Highland Book Prize. ‘Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers’ (2020) is a treasury of Scottish Words. His third book ‘The Sound of Many Waters, A Jjourney along the River Tay’ is published in June 2023 by Birlinn. He lives in Auchtermuchty, in Fife.
In the half land/half water of the peatlands this week’s winter/spring weather can be fatal to the amphibians who inhabit both worlds
In the half land/half water of the peatlands this week’s winter/spring weather can be fatal to the amphibians who inhabit both worlds.
Despite their goose-stepping they didn’t sink into the bog
Despite their goose-stepping they didn’t sink into the bog.
Forest plough
After the First World War forest ploughs like this one turned peat bogs into plantations.
If I hadn’t been able to pull myself out…
If I hadn’t been able to pull myself out…
Today I passed the Allan Ramsay Inn, Carlops
Today I passed the Allan Ramsay Inn, Carlops. This is from his 1725 pastoral play/opera ‘The Gentle Shepherd’-
“At a snug thack house, before the door a green; Hens in the midden, ducks in dubs are seen. On this side stands a barn, on that a byre; A peat-stack joins, an’ forms the rural square. The house is Glaud’s; – there you may see him lean, An’ to his divot-seat invite his frien’.”
#bogboy
on my way to visit @BorthwickDave No idea why he calls me #bogboy
Commercial peat cutting, Carnwath, Lanarkshire.
Commercial peat cutting, Carnwath, Lanarkshire.
Moss killer!
Moss Killer!
…there are masses of mosses in the forest.
…there are masses of mosses in the forest.
Robin A Crawford 