Nikolai Astrup’s paintings at the Dulwich Picture Gallery

Eileen Petterssen has written from Norway to share this photograph with her many heather friends in the Society. The picture is of fellow Norwegian Nikolai Astrup, who was such a prestigious artist that, in 1925, his village, wanting to honour him in some way, presented him with a heather wreath. He died of pneumonia three years later at the young age of 48.
There is an exhibition of Nikolai Astrup’s paintings at the moment, at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Eileen recommends anyone who lives nearby to take a look. He is regarded as the equal of the famous artist Edvard Munch. If you can’t get to Dulwich you can find many of his evocative paintings on line.

Cinderella heathlands

“Herriza – the Cinderella heathlands of the Straits of Gibraltar. A short video about heathland at the southern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula, featuring Erica australis (Spanish heath) and Calluna vulgaris (ling).” The video is presented by Professor Fernando Ojeda, an expert on the evolution of heathers and heathlands particularly in response to fire.

See the video by clicking here.

Members – Old Bulletins added

Check out the Bulletins section of the members area. We are adding the old editions of the bulletins from when they were first published in 1967. So far we are up to 1977, but the rest will be added as soon as the scanning can be completed. They make interesting reading as a history of the Heather Society. For some of you, a chance to remember old friends. A pleasant interlude in the cold wet days of winter.  Click to see Bulletins page (you may need to log in first)

Bulletin email – did you see it?

The Society has sent emails to its membership regarding access to the Autumn Bulletin. As you know, we have decided to make the Bulletin an online document for those of you who have internet(email) access to reduce costs to the society, and hence your membership fees. Details of how to access the Bulletin are in the email.

However, if you do not receive an email, there are 2 possible causes.

  1. The email could have ended in your email SPAM bucket/folder, so please check if it is there. To fix this in the future, add admin@heatherworld.org to your email contacts and/or safe senders list.
  2. We have an incorrect email address recorded for you. If you think this to be the case, please email admin@heatherworld.org with the email address we should be using to contact you.

 

To burn peat or not, an interesting article on its impact

An article on the contoversial subject of preservation of peatlands by Jamie Doward in the Observer, Peatlands burn as gamekeepers create landscape fit for grouse-shooting. Climate change experts say burning heather to increase bird yields is a threat to protected peat bogs.

See article here. Link

2015 Silver-Gilt for the Heather Society Display Hampton Court

Congratulations! The Heather Society display led by Forest Edge Nurseries, has gained a Silver-Gilt Flora Medal for a display of heathers staged in the Floral Marquee at this year’s show. The show continues until Sunday 05 July and the award-winning display of heathers is at site FM 279. Once again, as in 2014, David Edge and his team of helpers well deserve this medal.

For all medal winners see the list published on the RHS website