There’s a forest of mosses out on the bog.
There’s a forest of mosses out on the bog
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.
“the muckle forester” swings his axe
When trees growing in or near bogs get too big for their roots to anchor them in the peat the wind- “the muckle forester”- fells them with his blows. This one in the lagg fen of Bankhead Moss has finally been axed.
Moss, mossier, mossiest
Moss, mossier, mossiest.
preserving memories
The peat bog at Bankhead Moss preserves traces of the past from pollens to footprints…a bit like memory chips in printers fly tipped at nature reserve car parks. @FifeCouncil @ScotWildlife
Pale moss evening
Pale moss evening.
Spring blooms on the moor
Spring blooms on the moor.
Iona’s mother was from Mull. Rather than building a stack outside they stored their peat in a shed. The shed was once her grandmother’s house. A wall of cut slabs was built across one end then creels of peat emptied behind it, like this.
Iona’s mother was from Mull. Rather than building a stack outside they stored their peat in a shed. The shed was once her grandmother’s house. A wall of cut slabs was built across one end then creels of peat emptied behind it, like this.
Equinox, Flanders Moss
Equinox, Flanders Moss.
…Isle of Lewis bus shelter.
…Isle of Lewis bus shelter.
Slabs of cut peat drying on the moor, three leaning against each other and one on top.
Slabs of cut peat drying on the moor, three leaning against each other and one on top.
Robin A Crawford 