From gravel pits to wildlife haven.

Congratulations to the North Cave Wetlands centre which has won an award for transforming old sand and gravel quarries into a magnificent wetland area. I saw avocets like the ones in this painting when I last visited.
At one time I drove all the way to Exmouth to see these birds and now we have them here in Yorkshire!
Click on the text in blue to read how the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust team won an award for transforming this former industrial landscape into a haven for wildlife.

Will Hockney Trail stop at Fotherdale?

I read in the papers this week that David Hockney, the godfather of modern art, is to endorse a new tourist trail to the sites from which he painted his latest series on the Yorkshire Wolds.

Warter, Woldgate Woods and Thixendale are among the beauty spots visitors will be encouraged to visit on the trail. I wonder if the painting above - which actually has my gallery in it - will be chosen for the trail?

Painted from the hillside opposite, you can see the gallery in the distance just to the right of centre.

P-p-p pick on someone your own size!

Beaches in South Georgia can get a little crowded at times. During my trip to Antarctica I witnessed an incident of 'beach rage' in which a penguin slapped an elephant seal with his flipper as he tried to get to the water's edge.

It was a brave move, as the penguin discovered when the seal rounded on him with a fierce bark.

Despite the fact that South Georgia hosts the largest penguin colony in the world, this unique habitat is under threat.

Rats, introduced by sealers in the 19th century, are killing young chicks at an alarming rate. 

Please click on the text underlined to read my column in the Malton Gazette & Herald this week on the South Georgia Heritage Trust 's ambitious plans to eradicate rats from the Antarctic island.

Time to Buy Your Christmas Cards

There's still time to buy your Christmas cards online, but hurry up because we can't guarantee we'll get them to you by post after December 21st.

Here are a few from my greeting card range.

This one remind you of the BBC's fantastic Frozen Planet series?

Waxwings always make me think of Christmas.

And of course Robins say it all.

Don't worry if you miss the posting deadline since you can always come in to the gallery to buy them. We are open all every day until Christmas now.

Click on the words greeting card range to order your cards.