October 2012 - it's a great year for sweet chestnuts - must be all that rain we had instead of a summer.

It's a race against the squirrels for these tasty treats - but this time, I won, and returned home with a couple of pounds of lovely plump chestnuts.

This summer of rain finally let up, so we headed off to the New Forest for a walk; I picked some Bog Myrtle to make Gale Beer.

Wall Pennywort, also known as Navelwort, is a common plant on coastal cliffs, stone walls and banks, especially in the southwest of England.

August 2011 - This doesn't happen often - although hazel trees are common, and produce nuts in abundance year after year, it always seems like the squirrels, mice, jays and weevils snaffle the crop before humans can get a look in.

Time and chance was kind to me on this occasion though and I was delighted to gather a satisfying heap of hazelnuts.

August 2011 - I went for a sunny, breezy walk atop the chalk downland of Old Winchester Hill. Wild Marjoram is abundant in this habitat - and it's a useful kitchen herb, so I picked some to take home for drying.