Author: admin

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Foraging

My academic background is research on wildlife trade, and I work with distilleries and spas on botanicals selection and sourcing. I write about wild resources in articles for newspapers and magazines, as well as in my books, and show them to guests on journeys with National Geographic Expeditions,. I’ve been a speaker at events including at the Chelsea Physic Garden as part of The Chelsea Fringe, the Norwich Science Festival, and the Boutique Bar Show on wild foods, drinks, materials and medicines. I’m a member of the Association of Foragers, which has included serving a term as a committee member.

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Wildlife

Wildlife, and wild landscapes looked at through perspectives of wildlife you might see, consumer choices that have impact on wildlife and spaces it inhabits, topical issues, and a bit of armchair travel via films, podcasts, books and other means of experiencing distant places while still at home.

A column on wildlife encounters in Outdoor Swimmer

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New York Times Journeys Expert

The New York Times asked me to join their panel of experts for New York Times Journeys. If you want to explore spring blooming fields of flowers and more in Holland come on a tulip time journey by barge with me. You can read what I wrote about travelling around Holland looking at tulips in springtime in the article ‘Chasing Rembrandt’s tulips on two wheels‘. On the tour with the New York Times I will also be talking about and showing you plants used in foods and drinks that reflect Dutch culture and history.

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Outdoor Swimming Society

Assorted posts I’ve written for the Outdoor Swimming Society

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Featured In

Assorted articles in which I have been quoted:

On accessible swims

Night swimming

On the terroir of scent

Voodoo Lily (Dracunculus vulgaris) in
The Plants Issue of BrownBook Magazine

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Beverages, bubbles and brews

Because beverages are so very ethnobotanical…. I will be one of the scientists at the ‘Beverages, bubbles and brews’ pub quiz at Chelsea Physic Garden  in May, along with forensic botany expert Dr Mark Spencer,  chef Tom Kerridge, and garden experts from the garden.  Starting with a sunset walk around the garden guests will have four courses of food, drinks and questions.   Bookings are via Chelsea Physic Garden events

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Filming

A beautiful loch and fantastic location for filming swimming and foraging.  I spent a couple of days exploring this loch by swimming and looking at its waterside plants. Its waters are tinted dark by tannin making it a super mirror for the sky.  Tucked amongst trees and in the lee of the mountains it is also a little sheltered from winds. We wrapped up filming with a few foraged cocktails made with local gin.  It will appear as a little segment on lochs in a series on wildlife.