Yesss. Thank you for this Meg. Framing the push against denaturing for hedgehogs is a really useful one I think I need to harness. I have a bunch of works in progress (or in my head) which looks at wild plants and their dependent insects. This is driving and exciting me but I know that it's so hard to get folk to care about them. So trying to work out how to follow this thread on a way that excites me but might make folk pay attention. I guess leaning on insects being hedgehog and bird food is one way.
Knowing you're working on similar goals has honestly boosted my motivation about my own hedgehog plan! I'd love to meld minds sometime about what you're up trialling/what's working/how we're changing minds this year
I began reading your essays by way of a recommendation by Samantha Clark and have enjoyed your writing ever since. This piece in particular expressed ideas that are close to my heart. I live in western Montana in the US and we are seeing record numbers of other folks moving to this area. Their ideas of improving on nature are establishing the very decline they claim to dislike in their former communities. It is sad to see beautiful wildlife habitat turned into manicured emptiness. I have not found a way to order a copy of the Nature Chronicles Prize 2 , but I did find a used copy of the Prize 1 book on eBay. I hope in the future I will locate the Prize 2 book with your contribution. Keep writing!
Thank you for your kind words Linda, it really means a lot. I'm so sorry your part of the world is being denatured in such a similar way! If you would like, I'd be happy to email you a PDF of my essay in the Nature Chronicles 2!
Yes yes yes. I think the crucial bit of this is the reintegration of theirs and ours - this will not only lead wilder vegetation and creatures back into our cities and farmland, but also lead us out into 'wilder' spaces looking for less conventional food, very light grazing on rewilded spaces producing small amounts of meat, etc...
I loved your original article on the Goodman's Croft, and find this idea really powerful, at least as important as the big rewilding projects. These are fantastic and absolutely necessary, but can risk people thinking that nature recovery is happening far away 'out there', when really what we need is behaviour change from the majority of people doing a little bit of what they can, a Goodman's Croft on every little parcel, hedgehog corridors on every street...
The antithesis of what I and almost all farmers have been taught & encouraged to do.
How did Hugh White make a living over those 30 years after stopping working the farm conventionally?
Sad that a son or daughter didn't feel able to shoulder the load and continue living at the farm. Far easier to make a sensible living with a balanced life in the city perhaps.
Yesss. Thank you for this Meg. Framing the push against denaturing for hedgehogs is a really useful one I think I need to harness. I have a bunch of works in progress (or in my head) which looks at wild plants and their dependent insects. This is driving and exciting me but I know that it's so hard to get folk to care about them. So trying to work out how to follow this thread on a way that excites me but might make folk pay attention. I guess leaning on insects being hedgehog and bird food is one way.
Knowing you're working on similar goals has honestly boosted my motivation about my own hedgehog plan! I'd love to meld minds sometime about what you're up trialling/what's working/how we're changing minds this year
We are overdue a catch-up
I began reading your essays by way of a recommendation by Samantha Clark and have enjoyed your writing ever since. This piece in particular expressed ideas that are close to my heart. I live in western Montana in the US and we are seeing record numbers of other folks moving to this area. Their ideas of improving on nature are establishing the very decline they claim to dislike in their former communities. It is sad to see beautiful wildlife habitat turned into manicured emptiness. I have not found a way to order a copy of the Nature Chronicles Prize 2 , but I did find a used copy of the Prize 1 book on eBay. I hope in the future I will locate the Prize 2 book with your contribution. Keep writing!
Thank you for your kind words Linda, it really means a lot. I'm so sorry your part of the world is being denatured in such a similar way! If you would like, I'd be happy to email you a PDF of my essay in the Nature Chronicles 2!
Thank you for the offer of a PDF. I would enjoy reading your essay while I wait for an opportunity to purchase the book.
I do have the good fortune to live near public land--National Forests--and can find solace hiking there.
Absolutely! Is it ok for me to email it to you at the email address you've subscribed with?
Certainly! I look forward to reading it.
Yes yes yes. I think the crucial bit of this is the reintegration of theirs and ours - this will not only lead wilder vegetation and creatures back into our cities and farmland, but also lead us out into 'wilder' spaces looking for less conventional food, very light grazing on rewilded spaces producing small amounts of meat, etc...
I loved your original article on the Goodman's Croft, and find this idea really powerful, at least as important as the big rewilding projects. These are fantastic and absolutely necessary, but can risk people thinking that nature recovery is happening far away 'out there', when really what we need is behaviour change from the majority of people doing a little bit of what they can, a Goodman's Croft on every little parcel, hedgehog corridors on every street...
I couldn't agree more, Jenny!
Never knew of this concept Meg, thank you.
The antithesis of what I and almost all farmers have been taught & encouraged to do.
How did Hugh White make a living over those 30 years after stopping working the farm conventionally?
Sad that a son or daughter didn't feel able to shoulder the load and continue living at the farm. Far easier to make a sensible living with a balanced life in the city perhaps.
I think Hugh White got a lot of government support for the project, at least for a while. I wish I knew more details myself because I am curious!