Thank you to everyone who tuned in to listen to me eulogise Clarence Ellis' book, The Pebbles on the Beach, on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday morning. It's a lovely book and reminder that there is great joy to be had…

The colour of water is determined by: A) What's under it. B) What's in it. C) What's on it. D) And by light levels and angles, including the colour of the sky. In this picture, taken from Climping Beach in West Sussex, we can see…

As its name suggests, the wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana) is a sign, if you aren't already aware, that you are on or near a path. It is more a shrub than tree that grows up to 15ft and almost exclusively on chalk or limestone. Its white…