The Last Deep Dark Primeval Forest in Europe?

In Poland there are any number of subjects that might make good postcards, Polish girls perhaps. But decaying logs?  In the far east of Poland, this is in fact the case. Białowieża Forest is reputed to be the last, or perhaps the last sizeable ‘untouched’ forest in Europe. Unlike the rest of Europe, where forests are… Continue reading The Last Deep Dark Primeval Forest in Europe?

Discovering the ‘Bridge of Stone’ – the ancient route over the Kawarau River, New Zealand

Part way along the Kawarau River between Cromwell and Queenstown (Central Otago, New Zealand) is a feature known to Maori as ‘Whatatorere’ (Kaumatua Huata Holmes of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki pers. comm. to Lloyd Carpenter, lecturer in Maori Studies at Lincoln University) and to Pakeha (non-indigenous New Zealanders) as the “Natural Bridge” or “Chalmers’ Leap”. Before… Continue reading Discovering the ‘Bridge of Stone’ – the ancient route over the Kawarau River, New Zealand

Mongolia – The Lost Forests of the Gobi

When an entire landscape loses its forests, it can be so complete that most of us would have no comprehension of what had once been. The trees are cut down, or burnt, the soil washes away … and the very evidence has been obliterated. For this reason the odd ancient tree or patch of original… Continue reading Mongolia – The Lost Forests of the Gobi

Thin Ice? Climate change in Alexandra and skating on the Manorburn Dam

Growing up in Alexandra (Central Otago, New Zealand) in the early 1970s it was the family thing to go ice skating on the Manorburn Dam, a short drive from town. It was a very social occasion, with heaps of the rest of Alexandra there too, daytime and after dark too. You could either go on… Continue reading Thin Ice? Climate change in Alexandra and skating on the Manorburn Dam

Attack of the Forest-Killing Fungi (Kauri and the Elm Decline)

Kauri (Agathis) forest in New Zealand

New Zealanders are becoming aware of a new threat to their native forests – as if logging, burning, opossums, deer, ferrets, cats, dogs, weren’t enough. This time it’s a fungus (Phytophthora), and it’s attacking our oldest trees – the giant kauris (Agathis). This pest has already devastated parts of Australia, where ‘grass-trees’ (Xanthorrhoea), some of… Continue reading Attack of the Forest-Killing Fungi (Kauri and the Elm Decline)

The Origin of New Zealand in Deep-Time

Anyone who knows anything about New Zealand geology will know that it was once ‘part of Gondwana’. This is true, but how did it become a ‘part’? This is the origin of New Zealand in ‘deep time’. The question was addressed by researchers Li and Powell in 2000. While no-doubt much has been learned since… Continue reading The Origin of New Zealand in Deep-Time

Continental Déjà Vu – the Great Escarpments (Australia, Brazil, South Africa)

Most Australians and many tourists will be aware of a prominent topographic feature not too far from the east coast. For example, the Blue Mountains are a nice day trip from Sydney, while nearly two and a half thousand kilometres to the north, a visitor can pop up to the Atherton Tablelands. Both of these… Continue reading Continental Déjà Vu – the Great Escarpments (Australia, Brazil, South Africa)

Traditional Christmas in Hamburg

An 82 year-old shows us her living room, decorated for Christmas in 1984.

Late 1984, I was booted out of Denmark and hit the next ferry to Puttgarden  (this was a condition of the local cops when they gave my passport back), then hitched my way south through the mist-swathed Northern German Plain towards Hamburg.  Being the old-days, East Germany was nearby and I could hear the eerie sounds… Continue reading Traditional Christmas in Hamburg