Took some time out to do a bit of #WestCoastStoneBothering This is the aptly named Stinning Stane at Bains Hill or Rab’s Knowe in Maidens. Right at the edge of Turnberry Golf Course www.trove.scot/place/40856

Monday morning and I’m hoping to get back in the studio if the distractions of the garden aren’t too distracting to do a bit more to my hedgehog icon. Wishing everyone a productive week

The woad flowers are in full bloom in our Iron Age enclosure! ✨ Did you know that woad is a natural source of indigo dye? It has been used for several thousand years throughout Europe and the Middle East - not only to dye textiles, but also as body paint.

And with care, we remember ... Sweet Heart Abbey founded in 1273 by Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway, in memory of her husband John Balliol. 800 years later it's now covered in scaffolding to make repairs due to erosion from climate change. #scotland #heritage

The “Yoda Stone” and bonus hogback at Dalserf Kirk. Happy #StarWarsDay #MayThe4th

"The exhibition shows how public contributions have helped build a shared record of the symbol, reflecting a sense of collective ownership + civic pride ...the coat of arms featuring the bird, tree, fish + bell linked to St Mungo is presented ... as a living symbol rather than a fixed emblem" 🐦🌳🔔🐟

Some really instructive (& fun) ink making experiments with @jillburke.bsky.social this afternoon in prep for a forthcoming ink & quills workshop. Scottish, English or Aleppo oak galls: which makes the best ink? we will tell you after the workshop! 😉 Many experimental ideas in the pipeline ✍️📜🍃

More ink making & quill cutting experiments. Different tones with different galls, but all make very useful and workable ink. So very satisfying.... Next project to plan: pigment making and application workshop 🖌️

I'm seeing an organised kick-back on my social media against right to roam and public access in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Who is funding it?

Wee morning paddle

Seafaring wolf

West Coast Mother Hubbards

Apr 17: Feast of Eochaid (†635) of Lios Mór (Lismore), island church near Oban founded by Mo-Luóc in the 6thC. 📸Otter

Aedán mac Gabráin, king of Dál Riata, died #OTD in 608. He campaigned in Orkney, the Isle of Man and against the Miathi of the Forth Valley. In 603, he was soundly defeated by Æthelfrith, king of the Bernicians, at the unidentified Degsastán.

We’re so pleased to announce the next exhibition: 🐟🌳🔔🐦 Let Glasgow Flourish: The Glasgow Coat of Arms by Dr Caroline Scott The history of the Glasgow Coat of Arms is the history of Glasgow itself. Inspired by the stories of St Mungo, our patron saint, the city’s emblem has evolved over the years.

Bothwell Castle near Glasgow (Scotland) reconstruction mock-up. A stronghold of the Douglas family. Repair/rebuild work was done by Archibald 'The Grim' (illegitimate Son of James 'The Black' Douglas). #BothwellCastle #ScottishCastles

The tiny, exquisite rock-crystal jar from the Galloway Hoard. It's currently on display in Kirkcudbright, not far from where it was found, which should be useful if Bishop Hyguald turns up asking where his bling thing's got to.

So many tadpoles

Apr 4: Feast of Tigernach (†c.549), abbot and bishop of Cluain Eois (Clones, Ireland). He studied at Ninian’s monastery of Candida Casa, ‘White House’, (Whithorn, Galloway), and was remembered at some churches in Scotland. St Tigernach’s tomb 📸HughPatrick23

Deep in the South Downs lies Kingley Vale, a forest of ancient yews steeped in myth, magic and stories of Viking kings said to be buried in its hills. Historian Emily Jessica Turner explores the folklore and eerie atmosphere in this mystical landscape www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

"A fungus never before found in the UK has been discovered by a walker strolling through a forest. The blue-based earthtongue, which has the scientific name microglossum cyanobasis, was found at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex." #FungiFriends www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Another new route added to #MiningLandscapes #Ecomuseum the 3rd in the #Crossford #Lanarkshire series by local resident Margaret and National Mining Museum Scotland volunteer Bill focusing on the coal and brick industries in and around #Braidwood See www.mining-landscapes.org/route/172

🤓 The gardening word of the day is [Allelopathic]: Plants which produce a chemical deterrent to prevent other plants from establishing themselves nearby. Often a toxic root exudate.

Mar 22: Feast of Faílbe mac Pípáin (†679), abbot of Iona. His presence on the island when King Oswald visited in the 630s suggests he joined the community young. Adomnán mac Rónáin succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky

Saxon Musk sounds like a bad 70's aftershave from the Old Spice range

It's the fourth annual event of What's that nesting in the greenhouse? I am delighted to report that this year its a hedgehog!! 🦔🦔🦔 Kindest hurcheon blessings to you all

Mar 17: Feast of Pátraic (Patricius) († late 5thC), bishop. Romano-British missionary who became patron saint of Ireland. He condemned British warlord Coroticus who, ‘allied to the Scots and apostate Picts’, slew or took captive many of his converts. 📸National Museum of Ireland #medievalsky

Today's the feast of St Patrick, 5th Century Romano-British missionary to Ireland. He stands with St George in glass by the Harry Clarke workshop, c1950 in Plymouth Cathedral. He's one of the patron saints of Ireland, particularly associated with the Irish diaspora.

Mar 13: Feast of Garalt (Gerald) (†732) of Mag nÉo na Saxan (Mayo, Ireland). Colmán of Inishbofin founded this monastery for his English followers, Alcuin corresponded with its members, and in the second half of the 8thC it was attached to the province of York. 📸John Armagh #medievalsky

When Henri Cleutin, sieur d'Oisel, visited Craignethan Castle in November 1550, Regent Arran sent his servant Dalyell to taverns in Lanark to buy beer, white white, and claret

The remains of Bothwellhaugh Roman Bathhouse at Strathclyde Country Park in North Lanarkshire. The bathhouse served the nearby Roman fort and was in use from around 142 to 162 AD when the northern frontier was based on the Antonine Wall. 📸 My own. #RomanFortThursday

Granny pine at RSPB Abernethy reserve 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 which bears the evidence it was used to make fir candles in the past #thicktrunktuesday

Good morning tree people. Happy #ThickTrunkTuesday from the Watch Tree

This one is hard to take, like when we lost the Mack the first time. Thoughts are with the firefighters and emergency services, rail staff, residents and those who appreciate the grand old gal

Quite an image on the BBC live page (www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...; no photographer credited). Sounds as if they've saved the station and the hotel, and more importantly, without loss of life. Citizens; heroes.

Mar 2: Feast of Fergnae (Virgno) the Briton (†623), last abbot of Iona who was a monk while Columba was alive. One night, as a monk, Fergnae reportedly saw the church fill with a heavenly light when Columba entered to pray. Ségéne mac Fiachna succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky

Mar 2: Feast of Sléibíne mac Congaile (†767), abbot of Iona. He enforced the Law of Colum Cille in Ireland in 757, which probably involved the formal bearing of the saint's relics on circuit in association with the collection of tax. Suibne succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky

Netherton Cross, about a thousand years old, covered with mix of figurative & geometric designs including beast headed figures, snakes, boses & interlace patterns. An example of Govan School sculptural tradition relsting to the Kingdom of Strathclyde @archscot.bsky.social @govanstones.bsky.social

Kilmartin Parish Church and Glen, Argyll, Scotland. Kilmartin is host to one of the most remarkable prehistoric and historic valleys in Europe, filled with cairns, standing stones, and stone circles, with the early medieval Dàl Riatan centre of Dunadd at its southern terminus.

THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent trees I have met on walks. You will find the all-important captions to each photo in the alt text.

Absolutely gutted that the Muirhead Oaks, an avenue of Category A, ecologically and historically important veteran Oaks in Chapelhall, Lanarkshire have been felled to build an AI Data Centre.

Absolutely gutted that the Muirhead Oaks, an avenue of Category A, ecologically and historically important veteran Oaks in Chapelhall, Lanarkshire have been felled to build an AI Data Centre.

They’re on site cutting down the Muirhead Oaks for the AI data centre that’s been all over the news today and I swear it’s going to become my villain origin story

They’re on site cutting down the Muirhead Oaks for the AI data centre that’s been all over the news today and I swear it’s going to become my villain origin story

It's surely one of the best facts about the see of Glasgow that one of its bishops had his head impaled on a pole as a human sacrifice to the Slavic god Radegast

I don't think you're ready for this jelly [ear] Liberton #Edinburgh #FungiFriends

I like the idea that we can have our names cut at the beginning as well as the end.

Jan 13: Feast of Kentigern, ‘hound-lord’, (Mungo) (c.†614), bishop of Glasgu (Glasgow), which he is said to have founded. He was a contemporary of Riderch I, king of Alt Clut (Dumbarton Rock). He is thought to be the ‘Conthigirnus’ whose obit appears in the Annales Cambriae. #medievalsky

Gaelic in Airdrie

He’s everywhere today (I get so much joy from this road sign)