The dining table at Newton Walled Garden
A white linen table cloth can be as terrifying as the blank page. Both are beautiful and full of potential, but where the hell do you start to tell the story? Read more
Archive for animals
The pine martens make a meal of it, until the badger comes along
A pine marten looking for danger – and peanuts.
A few weeks ago I spent a very enjoyable evening in the hide at Aigas Field Centre, where BBC Springwatch is filmed, watching a pine marten happily munching peanuts – until a badger came along… Read more
Photo story: Plucking a goose for Christmas
I have recently written a piece for Spectator Life on why goose are back in fashion this Christmas – following the news Theresa May favours goose over turkey. Here is a photo story about how I plucked and gutted my own goose for Christmas, making sure to save the fat for the roast potatoes – just like our Prime Minister likes them. Read more
How writing The Ethical Carnivore taught me the true meaning of Thanksgiving
Free-range turkeys raised with care by farmer Lucy Beattie
Writing The Ethical Carnivore taught me how to shoot, fish and butcher animals. Most importantly, it taught me to be grateful for the meat we eat. Read more
Photo stalking the red deer stags on Ben Damh
This 8-pointer stag is in the height of the rut, roaring to demonstrate his willingness to fight for the chance to mate with the hinds.
If you have already read chapter 14 of The Ethical Carnivore, you will understand this is a little bit of a postscript… Read more
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.
Blowing my cover…
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
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?
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:
Why eating squirrel can be the ethical option
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. 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
