Last weekend, I traded modern tools for ancient ones and embarked on an incredible journey with Ancient Craft, led by the brilliant Dr. James Dillney. We didn't just passively learn about history; we actively engaged with it, taking part in a copper smelting workshop designed to reproduce the ancient process in a sympathetic and hands-on way, all based on James's expert study of the archaeological record.

The mist hangs low over the green-gold landscape, a familiar blanket in the west of Ireland, yet today it feels like a secret being held just for us. The ascent begins on the slopes of Ben Goram, a sentinel of Mayo’s landscape, less famous than its neighbour, Croagh Patrick—or 'The Reek' as it is known locally—but no less majestic.

The wind whips through the ancient grasses of the Preseli Hills, carrying whispers of a time long past. A time when colossal stones, destined for monumental purposes, were hewn from the very earth beneath my feet and embarked on an epic journey across the landscape. For me, someone captivated by the mystery of Stonehenge, the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, hold a special allure: they are the legendary source of Stonehenge's enigmatic bluestones.

A Journey to Brú na Bóinne and Its Ancient Wonders

My recent trip to Ireland was filled with breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, but nothing quite prepared me for the profound experience of visiting Brú na Bóinne. This UNESCO World Heritage site in County Meath is a testament to the ingenuity and spiritual depth of our Neolithic ancestors, and it left an indelible mark on my worldview.

Inspired by a trip to new grange I wanted to travel to wicklow and retrieve a piece of quatzite to make a sculpture.

Visiting Newgrange and Knowth was incredible. What really struck me, beyond the sheer age of these tombs, was learning that people centuries ago brought quartzite stone all the way from the Wicklow Mountains to place around the outside of these sacred sites. That fact really sparked something in me. I wanted to experience that connection to the land myself, and bring a piece of that history into my own work.

Our contemporary understanding of conservation and habitat creation demands a profound re-evaluation. We stand at a critical juncture, faced with the urgent need to bridge the chasm between the environment we are accustomed to seeing and the often damaging reality of modern land use. The path forward is not about brute force or utilitarianism, but about intelligently weaving together necessary infrastructure with effective habitat generation, moving beyond mere mitigation to true ecological integration.