British Wildlife Artist Writer Illustrator

Honey Bees, Buzzing and Flowers. The honey bees have returned to the garden with the arrival of a few sunny and bright Spring days. The garden is turning over a range of (mainly) yellow and white flowers and blossoms which, over the next few weeks, will be joined by apple pink blossoms and sedum flowers. There is never a shortage of bees in the garden; they seem to be attracted by the sedum and catkins mostly; the sedum stays in bloom for quite a long time and, although perhaps not the most fashionable plant generally, it has become a firm favourite in this garden on account of its obvious attraction to wildlife - butterflies, bees, other insects, snails and spiders! Small wrens and bluetits often duck into the safety of this hardy plant. The Kent cobnut and pussy willow catkins are equally attractive to the wild garden bees and, overall, the garden is starting to get that familiar buzzing sound again. Honey Bee and Primroses, Coloured Pencils. This coloured pencil drawi...

Bumblebee and Garden Flowers Early sightings of bumblebees usually mark the arrival of warmer days to follow. The bumblebee comes out of hibernation in Spring and, on cold days, when it might be just a few degrees warmer than freezing, these big, beautiful garden visitors may be a little lethargic as they navigate their heavy, furry bodies.   Bumblebee and Garden Flowers : Garden Blog Their fur helps keep them warm and they can detach their wings from their wing muscles to use internally to warm themselves up enough to create energy to fly off in search of nectar. Once they've built up their warmth and, become more nimble, off they will travel, to explore the garden and local environment for a suitable nesting place. This warmer Spring month should also herald some visits from a fluttering Yellow Brimstone butterfly or two! The male Brimstone is the more noticeable, with its bright and cheerful yellow colouring, whereas the female has pale chalky green or ...

Bee Spotting : Random Acts of Wildness Nature Challenge. There are many bees in the garden, attracted by the assortment of scents and colours of the flowers and tree blossoms. This week is National Insect Week ! Two years ago, the focus was on looking for whichever bugs could be found - traditional bug-hunting! Using a wildlife ID sheet is another way to record insects, wildlife and plants found in and around the garden, woods and parks. Watching out for less familiar wildlife using a wildlife identification sheet can help extend knowledge of different wildlife creatures, birds and plants that might be visiting local areas. Instead of finding a bug and then discovering more about it, this wildlife activity focuses on having a list of possible mini-beasts to actively look out for (or wildlife, plants, trees or birds). Here's an excellent bee spotter sheet from Wildlife Watch - plus many more for different finds in the garden, local green spaces and woodland areas. There is...

Wildlife Nature Challenge : 30 Days Wild - Save a Life. There was a crow in the garden the other day; a fledgling crow, hiding in the corner. It was unnoticed until it moved a wing, hoping to tuck it out of sight but in fact catching attention from two cats who were following light and shade in the garden. The crow stirred. The cats pounced. A sudden shout and they stopped in their tracks. The crow mustered the energy to take flight but it all happened so quickly, there was no photo. A Rescued bee Today, a bee needed rescuing and as a photo was captured, it became this blog entry. The bee had fallen into a puddle of water. A little sugary syrup and some time in a light breeze and a sun spot renewed spirits and energy - and off it flew! For the #30dayswild post in 2016, Nature Challenge : Save a Life , click here . 

Garden Wildlife : Bees A semi-wild garden with wildflowers and grasses will be filled with bees!  On the day of this daily wildlife challenge, bees were active on foxgloves and fruit trees,  down in the wild patches of nettles and green alkanet and amidst the hazelnut and other British native trees, including a willow that seems to be self-rooting and growing all over again! But this bee on a poppy in a park was most engaging and active - on such a vibrant splash of colour!   Busy Bee : A bee enjoying the colours of Spring. There are many ways to follow a bee…this bee poem does it beautifully! The Humble-Bee by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) BURLY, dozing humble-bee, Where thou art is clime for me. Let them sail for Porto Rique, Far-off heats through seas to seek; I will follow thee alone, Thou animated torrid-zone! Zigzag steerer, desert cheerer, Let me chase thy waving lines; Keep me nearer, me thy h...

30 Days Wild Nature Challenge It decided to pour with rain.   The bee is still busy, even in the rain.   It is a beautiful view - to look across green land and trees - through a shield of rain. To smell the freshness being absorbed back in to life! What better reason could there be to dance outside, than during a downpour ! It certainly seemed to be the case with the bees - who looked like they were singing and dancing in the rain! For more Random Acts of Wildness use the sidebar menu Blogs 3 0 Days Wild 2016 and 30 Days Wild 2018 .

Wildlife Nature Blog : Follow a Bee  Watercolour Bee and Wildflower Illustration Botanical art and drawing British wildlife from the garden and local countryside.  The garden attracts a variety of bees - often Honey Bees - but this was a particularly big, furry Bumblebee - a Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) - a perfect choice for some quick sketching, a few photographs and a couple watercolour painting compositions. The bee was drawn in pencil using previous reference sketches and photographs and the bluebell was a life study from the garden.  British Wildlife Illustrations : Bee and Bluebell Watercolour Painting The bees enjoy the Sedum, as well as the native Kent Bluebells that grow around the garden - which is not far from the local ancient woods where a carpet of bluebells appears, as if by magic, each year. This bee was buzzing around for quite a while, carrying a large amount of pollen that it had gathered. How much bees have done ...