September 16th
Met more lovely folk in the Studio, a big Thank You to all who popped in to say Hi. It was unanimous - all were thoroughly enjoying the 'End of the Road Festival'; the intimate and friendly atmosphere, the music, peacocks, macaws and The Larmer Tree. Well done to the organisers, Sofia and Simon.

Brian and I spent the latter part of the evening supping cider and enjoying the entertainment with fellow 'festie goers' in the various marquees. It has been a great weekend and thank you again to all who popped in - it was lovely to meet you!

September 15th
As it was my dear friend Minnie's funeral yesterday I was unable to attend the first day of the festival.

Re: the book - this morning finalised the illustrations, one more artwork to complete and then publication in early 2008. I cannot wait!!!! Also still cannot believe that I am actually illustrating a book for a conservation group. It is a dream come true!

Arrived at Larmer Tree mid-afternoon to find the festival bathed in sunshine and in full swing. It was a busy afternoon and evening and super to meet with fellow artists, ecologists and so many lovely people; including familiar faces from last years End of the Road festival. It was also a lovely surprise to meet a friend whom I haven't seen for 20 years - we first met in 1978 when I was working at the Friends of the Earth office in Bournemouth.

September 11th
Another year has whizzed past and the 'End of the Road Festival' is setting up at Lamer Tree once again. The festival dates are 14th - 16th September. The gardens are now closed as festival preparations are in progress.

September 10th
Met up with Andy today, an old friend who now resides in Switzerland and is currently on holiday here in the U.K. We first met when we were 17 years old and have kept in touch over the years. Great to see him.

August 23rd
Lovely sunny day and lovely to see the dragonflies and butterflies darting around the gardens. Have completed another pencil drawing and am looking forward to starting the next.

August 19th
Started the day with a call from the Bat Conservation Trust re: a Serotine Bat in Fontmell Magna. It had fallen into a jug and had been there aprox. 3-4 days. It was dehydrated and sadly passed away within an hour of collecting it. Arrived at Larmer Tree later in the day to find it very busy and the Tearooms proving to be extremely popular.

August 17th
Started another pencil drawing for the book. Also mounting and framing artwork to be displayed in the Larmer Tree Tearoom.

August 15th
Mum and Dads 54th wedding anniversary, my daughters birthday and my dear friend Minnie passed away today. Also received a call re: a Pipistrelle bat that had been found covered in dust and cobwebs on the floor of a barn.

August 14th
Horrendous news; 4 mountain gorillas were killed in July. The gorillas included the leader of the group, a silverback male, and three females.  It is not known who did this or why.  A female and an infant from this group are still missing. 

Mountain gorillas are critically endangered and the needless death of seven individuals over the past seven months, is an indescribable tragedy. Please help by supporting Gorilla Conservation. http://www.gorillas.org

August 8th
The scaffolding has finally been removed..... No more limbo dancing - access to the Gallery is restored.
The Gardens will be open again on Sunday August 12th and the Tearooms officially opened on August 15th. Teas will be served Sunday 12 a.m - 4.00 p.m.

August 7th
This morning received a copy of the Dorset Wildlife Trust magazine containing a photo of Maureen Keates receiving a framed fine art print of my artwork, 'Greater Horseshoe Bat'. Maureen is a founder member of the Dorset Wildlife Trust and has worked as a bat carer for many years. Maureen is now an honourary member of the DWT.

Today turned out to be an exciting and busy day alround as, quite unexpectedly, the Larmer Tree Gardens and my little Studio received a Royal family visit and I now have an artwork on display in a palace. Am chuffed to bits!

August 3rd
Received a call re: a Pipistrelle bat found in a garden yesterday.

August 1st
My little Pip. was released last night. On arrival at the site it was really encouraging to see 3-4 Pips. leaving the roost site with many others already flying around the treetops nearby. Sadly his first attempt to fly was unsuccessful and he landed on the ground, 2nd attempt, he took off from my hand and landed on Brian's chin. We think he was probably giving him a goodbye kiss :-) As he had been flying well at home, I was concerned but he was eager to try again. 3rd time lucky - he took off from my hand and though initially a little laboured; I think I may have fed him too much before his release, he flew off towards the treetops where his buddies were darting about. During the evening we saw 30-40 Pipistrelles leaving this particular roost site and are hoping to do a bat count there one evening soon.

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On the way home we found a baby hedgehog toodling along the road. Thankfully the passing cars had managed to avoid him and we were able to move him to a safer place. He was chubby and cute and in really good condition!

July 30th
Received a call this a.m re: a Natterers bat found in a garden yesterday. Sadly it passed away before I arrived.

July 29th
Am pleased to say that the little Pipistrelle bat is doing very well and over the past few days he has really picked up. He is eating 20 - 25 meal worms a.m and p.m and am sure he is almost fit and strong enough to be released. As soon as the wet and windy weather clears we will release him close to where he was found.

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July 26th
If an injured or orphaned bat is found The Bat Conservation Trust has a register of bat carers across the U.K that they can contact. Received a call this a.m re: a Pipistrelle bat that needed help and am now looking after him. The bat had been found clinging onto weather boarding at the bottom of a farm building. He was very cold and wet. The good news is that there is a Pipistrelle bat colony in the roof of one of the buildings. Thank you Danny for contacting me and thank you Ben for the mealworms and milk. Very much appreciated.

July 17th
Started the first of my smaller pencil sketches for my project.

Larmer Tree Gardens have been closed since the beginnning of July for the festival. The festival finished on the 15th and the gardens are now being tidied up. Larmer Tree Lodge is now surrounded with scaffolding whilst the woodwork is being painted. Larmer Tree Studio and the new Tearooms will be open in August.

July 11th
Completed 3rd artwork today.

July 8th
Over the past few months we have periodically seen a Mallard duck flying up into the big old Walnut Tree growing in our garden. Today she sat in our garden, behind my studio making a 'hec of a racket'.

On investigation we discovered she was calling to her chicks. The chicks had jumped out of the Walnut tree and landed in the woodland on the other side of our fence. Mum and ducklings could not get to one another and the only way we could help was to remove part of the fence. Success!!!! Mum and ducklings were reunited and within minutes she had gathered her youngsters together and was leading them across our garden, single file, towards the lake on the nearby golf course. It was brilliant to be able to help out and it was a delight to watch her as she waddled off followed by 3 little ones.

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A little while later, with the aid of a ladder, we investigated her old nest. It consisted of twigs, leaves, moss and downy feathers and contained 5 unhatched, cold eggs. We are not sure why only 3 of her 8 eggs hatched.

July 7th
The Spotted Flycatcher chicks have fledged. All 5 left the nest today. Success!!!!!

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Also delivered 7 sewing machines to TFSR in Southampton. Thank you to everyone who has donated, and to John and Mildred for your help collecting. If you have an old sewing machine that you no longer use, or old, good quality tools that can be refurbished - please do contact me.

July 1st
We now have 5 Spotted Flycatcher chicks. They are quite vocal and as the nest is below the bathroom window and above the kitchen window we can hear them clearly from both rooms. Rain or shine, the parents are feeding them non stop. As much as we needed rain; I do feel for all the birds, it must be difficult to find flying insects and other food during these torrential downpours. Will post some photos of our nesting chicks soon.

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June 21st
Bird surveys and Bat surveys are in full swing.

Sadly we found 4 baby Wrens scattered on the ground below their nest three nights ago. Housemartins now number 3 pairs, which is good, but the remaining 23 nests sit empty. Where are all our Housemartins?

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Our Spotted Flycatcher is sitting on her nest positioned just above our kitchen window. She has a clutch of 5 eggs and her partner is being very good and is in attendance. The Swallows in the old barn have successfully reared 4 healthy shiny youngsters. They look absolutely beautiful and are almost full grown. It is incredible how they all manage to stay in the nest together - they must be almost ready to fledge.

Last night we counted fifteen Brown Longeared bats leaving the roost in our roof. Sadly numbers are still down compared to previous years for both bats and birds. There seem to be quite a few large moths about and am looking forward to doing a Moth count soon. :-)

June 15th
Started 2nd artwork for the book.

June 14th
Sadly dear little Daisy Chicken passed away today. She was a character, a real sweetie and used to chat with me constantly.   Charlie and Daisy were given to us as eggs and we watched them both hatch and grow - this was a first for me. They were both 'little treasures'.

May 9th
Started my 1st commissioned artwork for the book. :-) Then became poorly! Couldn't believe it. New baby granddaughter, studio and gallery open for the new season, commission plus print orders - and am 'flat on my back'!

May 6th
Have been commissioned to illustrate a book. Illustrating a book on wildlife is something I have always wished to do. The cherry on top of the cake is that it is also for a conservation group. I cannot believe it.....an on Cloud 9! Have completed one artwork, a 'section of a face' - which will possibly be part of new project. Am now looking forward to the next.

Thank you 'All' for your lovely messages re: baby Daisy. Lovely to hear from you.

April 24th
I am now a Nanna Su. Congratulations to Mum, Dad and Little One.

April 14th
The swallows have returned today and are investigating their old nest site in the Larmer Tree porch. Last year they arrived on April 17th and started thinking about nesting sites on April 22nd.

April 10th
Thanks to All who popped in this sunny Easter weekend. It was great to see you!

April 8th
Happy Easter!

April 6th
Have been working on a pencil drawing plus working 'like the clappers' in the garden and gallery. Fingers crossed all will be ready for the opening of the Larmer Tree Gardens on Easter Sunday. If you are in the area please feel free to call in and say Hi! What are 'the clappers'?

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March 31st
Car has broken down for the 2nd time in 4 weeks, hmm!

March 16th
Mounting and framing artwork.

Two frogs in the garden last night but other than that they seem to have completed their exodus. When the evenings are not too chilly we can hear them all partying at the lake on the golf course.

March 12th
Over the past 12months we have collected a couple of sewing machines, sewing equipment plus a couple of large boxes of assorted tools needing to be cleaned and renovated. We loaded them into the van, with a number of tools that have been refurbished by my Dad who is now in his early 80's, 'Thank You So Much Dad', and set off for 'Tools For Self Reliance' at Netley Marsh. Enroute we stopped to collect more sewing machines plus a couple of manual typewriters kindly donated by a lady in Fordingbridge.

On the way home we discovered The Red Lion; an old fashioned, cosy pub in the New Forest. We were delighted to find they also welcomed well-behaved mutts. We had a tasty lunch; apparently organic vegetables are used whenever possibe. It is seldom 'us veggies' can find somewhere that gives such a wam welcome and highly recommend a visit.

Whilst out and about I also bought some framing/mounting materials and we also stopped off to view the photos on display at the 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year' exhibition, Moors Valley Country Park. All in all, a jolly good weekend.

February 27th
Whilst cycling to work met a young male Fallow deer in the middle of the ride along Tinkley Bottom. He was sniffing the morning air and totally unaware of our presence. A lovely way to start the day. Tehya was well behaved and stayed by my side. Tinkley Bottom is a chalk downland valley with patches of ancient coppice and woodland.

At Larmer Tree I altered the layout in the gallery - I think Larmer Tree must be the smallest gallery ever. There is a little more space now, emphasis on the word 'little'.

February 24th
This a.m we found we found frog spawn in our pond, 10 days earlier than last year.  Some of it is extremely exposed in the shallow areas on the edge of the pond.  Not sure if it will survive a hard frost.  This winter the earliest recording of tadpoles was on December 23rd, in Cornwall.

February 20th
The frogs and toads are out and about most nights now so, it is out with a torch before we can go anywhere. They are either enroute from the old orchard and woods to our pond or to the nearby lake. They sit in groups or on their own - 'bolt upright' - in the middle of the driveway or in the puddles. They are so cute and look very proud - as if they own the place. Some males manage to latch onto a female and grip tightly riding piggy-back style. If it is dark when we arrive home one of us has to walk slowly in front of the car picking them up and placing them along the side of the track. We love seeing them and wouldn't wish it any other way.

February 15th
Frogs and toads on driveway. When you step outside the back door you can hear them. It is a muted sort of squeaking sound, quite different to the 'croaking' sound made when attempting to attract a female in the pond.

February 14th
Happy Valentines Day!

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Please also send an email to President Bush - it is easy - just visit my Events Page and click on the Whale Poster.

February 11th
Frogs very active in our pond.

February 10th
It is that time of year again. The first frog was sat on the drive tonight, just outside our gate - the weather was very wet. 

February 2nd
Walked with wolves today......... Wolves are magnificent creatures and it was a wonderful experience.

I was invited to attend the opening of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust Education Centre in Reading and met wolves for the very first time. I learned a lot from my visit to the Trust and met some lovely people too. The wolves residing at the UKCT were born in captivity and work with the Trust as ambassadors for their species.

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People have many misconceptions regarding wolves and a number of myths have evolved over the centuries. As a result, wolves have been persecuted throughout history, and today people worldwide still consider them as vermin or as viscious predators that attack human beings. This could not be further from the truth.

January 5th
Decorations have been laid to rest for another year. Not sure why but it always seems to take a while to get back into the swing of things after the festivities. Picked up my pencil today - brilliant to be back in the studio.

* Quote from Woodland Trust newsletter




------Wildlife Artist, Pet Portrait Artist and Natural History Illustrator

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---------------------------Nature in Art - Larmer Tree Studio

----------------------All Artwork, Images & Content © Susan Shimeld. 2002. All rights reserved.

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