The best of the season to inspire and admire
NATURE BLURS ITS CANVAS
A veil of pearly mist hangs over the market town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire. Suffused with the golden light of an early morning, its diaphanous wisps move and swell, leaving beadlets of rainbow light clinging to the frost-covered ground. The buildings are shrouded in a hazy indistinctness; the towering church spire and ancient abbey almost appearing from the fog as a ghostly apparition. There are many different types of fog and, depending on the temperature and humidity, it can form very suddenly and disappear just as quickly. On a chilly winter’s day, this natural phenomenon usually occurs when the air close to the ground cools, which reduces the ability of the air to hold moisture, allowing condensation and fog to occur, known as radiation fog. This usually dissipates with the light as the ground begins to warm, and a sunny day typically ensues – though it is still one of icy temperatures and illuminated breath; of thick boots and warm layers to fight against the chill.
WAVES CAPTURED IN WINTER
Splashes of white and gold shine amid a blend of cool flowing blues and browns in this evocative abstract painting of Osmington Mills in Dorset. Through a carefully considered colour palette, artist Chantal Hanna encapsulates the atmosphere of chilly winter days on one of her favourite beaches. Wrapped up in several layers against a biting wind and rain that falls relentlessly, she often searches for fossils, hag stones and sea glass at this time of year, followed by a welcome hot chocolate back in the warmth at home.
Osmington Mills in January £44.40, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ChantalHannaArt
NATURAL GUIDANCE
Known as monk’s hood lichen, Hypogymnia physodes is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Widespread throughout Britain, it is commonly found on trees with acidic bark, as well as branches, twigs, fences and rocks. It has a grey to yellowish-green thallus, which is roughly circular, with inflated, hollow lobes. The outer edges lift up at the tips and burst open to display the white powdery soredia underneath, which are the common reproductive structures of lichen. Like many species, it is sensitive to nitrogen pollution, so is often used in biomonitoring studies, enabling the assessment of air pollution and other environmental concerns.
STEPPING THROUGH CHANGING TIMES
A way to reconnect with the seasons, this month-by-month guide celebrates the beauty of nature; wildlife and folklore; tide tables; sunrises and moon phases; garden feasts; and seasonal recipes through the year. The 2024 edition provides practical information that gives access to the outdoors, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights, and beach holidays. Divided by months, the reader can
