A Day at the Zoo

Field Notes

With less than a month to go until my next deadline, this week’s newsletter is a bit more photo-heavy than usual. We visited Marwell Zoo last Friday and had a lovely time! It’s my childhood zoo - a peaceful, greenish place where the animals always seem pretty happy, although I’ve never been able to reconcile my thoughts on zoos. I know there are lots of benefits to keeping animals in captivity - conservation, education, awareness, etc. - but it’s still difficult to see sometimes, you know? I’m not sure I’ll ever have a stronger opinion than that, but we definitely had a great time last week, my highlights being the snow leopard and the walk-through aviary in which we watched blue-crowned laughing thrushes chomping on papayas. I even managed a quick sketch while I was feeding Ash in the giraffe house! I brought my postcard-sized sketchbook and the POSCA pens because they’re quick and easy to use, plus I’m really enjoying playing with more abstract colours at the moment:

I’m working away like mad on my next book but the end is in sight, and I’m so excited for you guys to see the final published edition when it comes out next September 2024. I think you’re going to like it! In the meantime, enjoy these snaps I took of the beautiful animals at Marwell - and scroll down for two time-travelling photos of me attempting to mount the pygmy hippo statue.

Humboldt penguin waiting for a fishy feed

Giraffes enjoying a twiggy munch

The red panda I was desperate to stroke

Snow leopard waiting for her delicious meal of bloody animal leg

Meerkat setting the mood

My favourite sign from the reptile house

I also wanted to share this cool postcard I bought in the gift shop because I just loved the font! It’s from a promotional leaflet designed in 1973, a year after the zoo opened. Isn’t it cool? I’ve blu-tacked it to the wall behind my desk for inspo.

Before I go, here are two photos of me attempting to climb the pygmy hippo statue. The first was taken last week, age 31; the second was taken when I was 16 on a college trip for environmental studies, back in my iconic pearl necklace era.