PERHAPS it was inevitable that Philip Strange would become a nature writer.
A scientist by training, he worked in universities for more than 30 years researching mechanisms of drug action.
Writing about his academic research was an important part of his university life, leading to numerous scientific papers and even a respected textbook on brain biochemistry and brain disorders.
But taking early retirement offered the opportunity of a fresh start and a new adventure. And moving with his wife Hazel and family to the West Country proved something of an eye-opener, awakening a new interest for him in the natural world.
“We live in Totnes and have enjoyed exploring the coast of south Devon and west Dorset, also nearby Dartmoor,” says Philip. “It has been a revelation for me as to how much there is to see, not only beautiful views but also wildlife including birds, insects and flowers.”
Since he retired, writing about nature has become his principal occupation, inspired by his daily ramblings down local country lanes.
“I never fail to be moved by the beauty of the environment and the wildlife found there,” says Philip.
That new fascination has led to dozens of articles being published in print and online, along with more than 270 blog posts chronicling his encounters with local insects or wildflowers.
In a new departure, following a suggestion from his artist wife Hazel, the pair have organised three exhibitions together in a Totnes gallery over the past few years with her landscape paintings of the local coast alongside his photographs of wildlife in similar locations.
“I have found that there is a multitude of wildlife very close to our house, in nearby country lanes, in a local community garden and even on the edges of town centre car parks,” says Philip.
On a quiet local lane, he can hear the sound of the church bells pealing in the centre of Totnes and look over towards the hills of Dartmoor.
Ten years on, he’s still passionate about the natural world and about communicating that passion through his writing and photographs.
His blog has received more than 150,000 views, and his articles have appeared everywhere from Devon Life and Cornwall Today to The Dark Mountain Project and a range of science, nature and environmental journals.
His scientific background gives his articles heft and his painstaking attention to detail adds to their credibility, but ultimately it’s their accessibility and enthusiasm which has ensured their popularity.
He can lament the loss of vital heathland habitat in an unsentimental way, explaining how such landscapes were created and shaped by human activity across the centuries or exploring how flower-rich hay meadows that were once such an important feature of the British countryside have declined so dramatically since the 1930s.
But the main emphasis of his regular blog posts lies in chronicling the bees, moths, butterflies and wildflowers he encounters on his rambles, whether that involves exploring controversies surrounding the humble ragwort or delighting in the discovery of hundreds of ivy bees.
Perhaps one series of posts best sums up the enduring appeal of Philip’s blog: those tracking the changing seasons along Fishchowter’s Lane, an ancient footpath not far from his house.
With a rich history dating from at least the 12th century when it was part of the main road from Totnes to Dartmouth, the lane provides a perfect microcosm of Philip’s fascination with the local landscape.
It reflects his ability to home in on the small details that many of us miss: a bumblee feasting on yellow archangel, perhaps, or the unexpected beauty of hedge woundwort or bramble flowers.
Accompanied by hundreds of pictures, the posts act as a veritable encyclopaedia of those local flowers and insects, a welcome reminder of how much beauty can be found on our doorsteps, if only we look closely enough.
Philip’s blog contains links to all his other published articles.
