Steve Allanson - Author

12/04/2026

The Upside Down Bird

With practiced ease you scamper down,

along, around or up indeed.

A blue cloaked acrobat of trees,

a master of the living bark.

(1st stanza of a poem by Steve Allanson which will feature in the book Songs of Field and Garden )

The Nuthatch is often first noticed because of its unique habit of climbing down the trunk of a tree. They will then notice its beautiful colouring, its blue grey back and its stunning buff coloured chest and belly and the striking black eye stripe.

Not a particularly melodic singer it announces its presence with a sharp “tee whit” which can carry a long way in the woodland setting.

Tradition has the bird as industrious, thrifty – using what is there, it is known to store food.

This photo was taken by Steve Allanson in a forest in Galloway.

27/03/2026

Reform...

More like fc***ng Trump every day.

An investigation into alleged "family voting" finds no evidence of intent to influence voting.

11/03/2026

The opening stanzas from my latest poem destined for the forthcoming book.
Songs of Field and Garden
www.songsoffieldandgarden.com

The Unseen Caller

Today, just now, I heard your song,
It’s spring, I hear — it’s been so long.

I check for coins, and finding none,
Regretfully my luck has gone.

The call is heard across the land,
The time to plant is now at hand.

This one is all about the sound, as most of us will never actually see a Cuckoo. The rhyme structure, the metre and the shortness of the lines is all intended to mirror this wonderful, elusive bird.

When will we first hear that call this year do you think?

I am still looking for a talented artist to illustrate this poem in the book (and share in it's, hopefully, huge success), could this be you or someone you know. If so drop me a line or comment below.

10/03/2026

The first stanza from the latest poem I have added to my forthcoming collection,

Songs of Field and Garden.

www.songsoffieldandgarden.com

Forked Tails in April

With lambs in the fields, when mornings are new,
I scan the clear air above the fresh green;
forked tails carve through April’s blue,
two shapes on a wire, red throats seen.

Would you like to be the collaborating artist to illustrate this poem in the book?

Let me know by DM or comment below.

I wonder when I will see the first of these in the UK this year.

10/02/2026

It's nearly time again...

Here we are in the middle of a gloomy February in the UK. The rain seems to have been relentless throughout January and has not improved yet this month. There are over 100 flood warnings live and it's due to turn even colder this coming weekend - but still with only one day of sun forecast.

And yet...

Just four or five short weeks away and Puffins will begin to return to their breeding colonies around the UK. The nearest to me are at Flamborough and Bempton, I've certainly seen the birds there from mid March.

Of course the best time to see them is from May to July – and that’s certainly when you might expect some warm days and maybe even be tempted to take a dip in the sea for yourself.

The beach at Flamborough North Landing is pleasant and sheltered. There’s a good car park, cafes, shop and the best ice cream cone 99s in Yorkshire. The walk from here round to the lighthouses offers some of the best opportunities to see puffins, as well as kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and more. I have also seen dolphins off the coast and the sight of gannets flying past on their way to or from their feeding grounds and their nest sites at Bempton is wonderful.

In March the orchids might just be coming out along the clifftops along with the daffodils or course.

The puffins themselves inspired me to write my first book –

Aldar, A Puffin’s Tale

Available on Amazon

06/02/2026

A detail from my latest poem "The Garden Tympanist" destined for the forthcoming book "Songs of Field and Garden". A collaborative blending of poetry and illustration.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year the shells were gone; you were not here,
spring’s budding hedge now quiet where you sang,
no holes in ornamental leaves, no food for young.

I heard you sing,
I miss your song,
I’ll listen still,
for your return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you think you could illustrate this poem with a pencil, watercolour or other rendering of the bird in question please comment below, drop me a DM or use the project website to send a Contact Message.

www.songsoffieldandgarden.com

Who can guess the bird I wonder?

05/02/2026

Azure ringed orbs
Of midnight centred white.
Black on black, survival’s legacy.

What does the last line refer to?

From a forthcoming illustrated poetry project - Songs of Field and Garden.

Project website here - www.songsoffieldandgarden.com

We are still looking for a couple more talented wildlife artists to join the project, drop me a message or use the contact form on the wbesite if you would like to be considered.

03/02/2026

The Songs of Field and Garden project now has an official home.

www.songsoffieldandgarden.com

We are still looking for one or two more talented wildlife artists to collaborate with the project. If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to the forthcoming book combining poetry and illustrations, please message me or use the contact form on the website.

In the latest post I reflect on the rare visitor to the North Yorkshire shores - Albie the Albatross. Follow me here or sign up to the newsletter on the website for more news.

https://songsoffieldandgarden.com/photography/an-albatross-in-north-yorkshire/

Some years ago I was lucky enough to capture some photographs of Albie the Albatross as he was named by RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

06/12/2025

Really...this is sooooo simple to fix.

When you book a test it should be with the name and details of a specific learner...and then the booking can be used only by that specific learner- no changes allowed, only cancellation.

Problem solved

Touts use instructor login details to bulk-book tests and sell them at a huge mark-up, the BBC finds.

14/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1M1NUN7jDq/

08/10/2025

Who cares...

York's Christmas market last year was a dire affair.

No music, no atmosphere.

Rubbish.

Pocklington knocked it into touch.

The council says it had no choice but to approve anti-terror measures restricting disabled access.