Tagging gannets on the Bass Rock

Tagging gannets on the Bass Rock.

Tagging gannets on the Bass Rock.

I was lucky enough to visit the Bass Rock with Leeds University scientists to tag gannets. A short piece has already appeared in the Guardian Country Diary so I just wanted to add a few photos here and note my family connection to the island.

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Blowing my cover…

The cover of The Ethical Carnivore published by Bloomsbury September 2016

The cover of The Ethical Carnivore published by Bloomsbury September 2016

After much deliberation, The Ethical Carnivore has a cover and the build up to publication has begun. Read more

You know most of the time I’m veggie – right?

Parmigiana at Henderson's

Parmigiana at Henderson’s

The best thing about only eating animals I kill myself is being vegetarian most of the time. Read more

New Year 2016, Glen Clova

A roe deer skull I found on Glen Clova. The back of the antlers were black so I wonder if it was running from the muirburn? Or died before the heather was burnt off?

A roe deer skull I found on Glen Clova. The back of the antlers were black so I wonder if it was running from the muirburn? Or died before the heather was burnt off?

One of my many New Year’s resolutions, is to learn to describe better my two great loves: food and nature. So here’s a start:

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Why eating squirrel can be the ethical option

Preparing squirrel to a Nigella recipe.

Preparing squirrel to a Nigella recipe.


In the latest update to The Ethical Carnivore project, I eat grey squirrel killed as part of a programme to protect the red population. Read more

In which I meet my illustrator…

Learning to shoot with Chris Wheatley-Hubbard of Four Feathers. Illustration by Sam Goodlet.

Learning to shoot with Chris Wheatley-Hubbard of Four Feathers. Illustration by Sam Goodlet. I like my ‘flippers’, like I could swim away…

The Ethical Carnivore is to be illustrated by Sam Goodlet, a talented artist and a vegan… Read more

Photo diary: Lobster fishing – and eating – in North Berwick

Lobsters caught and eaten off North Berwick. Sorry, but I didn't share it with the seagull...

Lobsters caught and eaten off North Berwick. Sorry, but I didn’t share it with the seagull…

In North Berwick it is now possible to see baby lobsters in a hatchery, take a boat trip out to haul creels from the sea and finally enjoy the catch safe in the knowledge it is sustainable. Here is my photo diary of the best lobster I have ever tasted. Read more

Want to meet the farmer? Come to a dinner party in a field

Enroot: A dinner party in a field with local ingredients. What's not to like?

Enroot: A dinner party in a field with local ingredients. What’s not to like?

I was lucky enough to take part in a project recently helping to connect people with where their food comes from. Enroot, a farm-to-table pop-up restaurant, is very much in keeping with my book and was an opportunity to experience the joy of preparing and eating food sourced locally.     Read more

Photos of butchers – because we probably don’t appreciate them enough

Julian butchers a lamb at Devon County Show.

Julian butchers a lamb at Devon County Show.

The number of butchers shops in Britain has fallen from 30,000 to under 6,000 in the last 20 years. It’s a shame because butchers should be the point of contact between you and the farmer who raised the meat on your behalf. Read more

Photos of farmers – because we probably don’t appreciate them enough

Producers supplying Farmdrop, a kind of online farmers' market that provides Londoners with fresh produce.

Producers supplying Farmdrop, an online farmers’ market that provides Londoners with fresh produce.

Pork, chicken, lamb, beef, eggs, dairy – it all came from a farmer getting up early and working on your behalf – as these Farmdrop producers did. Here are some other farmers that I have met during research for my book The Ethical Carnivore. I will try and update it as I go along… Read more