William Smith, 1769-1839, in 1801 created the first geological map of England, Wales and southern Scotland. In 1815 he published Delineation of Strata of England and three years later Strata Identified by Organized Fossils. His fossil collection is on display at the British Museum. These studies showed clearly that life-forms changed across time, thus heralding the […]

In the booklet Descriptions of East Yorkshire: Leland to Defoe (published by the East Yorkshire Local History Soc. in 1985) Donald Woodward’s extract from Defoe’s Tour (1720s) includes the following phrase when writing of the North Yorkshire coast ‘here are the snake stones, of which nothing can be said but as one observes of them,

Good time of year to walk Middlegate lane, high up the scarp slope above South Ferriby and Horkstow villages. Profusion of primroses in South Ferriby churchyard, especially in the older burial areas – this and Paull churchyard surely the best in Humberside for seeing spring flowering plants. Scattered small colonies of blue and white violets under the

Last night chaired a very interesting talk by Simon Wellock who for the last year has been the Warden for Lincs. Trust at the Far Ings Centre, Barton. He described how reed-bed management could best promote a diverse ecology, although the bittern is often referenced a healthy environment for the bittern is a healthy wetland environment

Recently spent day in Lincoln, mostly around Castle Hill and St. Paul in the Bail area. Allowed to take dog into cathedral, surprisingly, cathedral authorities seem far more liberal than they use to be. Made a great fuss of by one of the vergers. Tea outside No. 1 Castle Hill. Return journey along scarp top road

Trip to York on Friday all but wrecked by continuous heavy rain but did ‘do’ Castle Museum, having not been for years, and it was really good, and not too crowded. At last suddenly blackthorn in flower this week, masses of white blossom appearing from nowhere it seems (see above), image from point on Middlegate