Memories

17 July - I will always be profoundly grateful to my mother, who died 23 years ago today, for passing on to me her love of natural history, which has provided an ongoing fascination wherever, and in whatever circumstances, I have been throughout my life, and has always helped me to get things into perspective. Two of her favourite birds were the Cuckoo and the Swallow, and whenever I see or hear either of these I always think of her. And she loved Scotland as I do.