It’s not often that a giant magical tree stars in a Hollywood mega blockbuster film. And what could possibly connect it to a key story in the transformation of Northern Europe from pagan-worshippers to Christians? These are the kinds of thoughts which wash around my brain after an invigorating mental workout at the Oxford Real […]
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Some thoughts on the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2019
Natural Capital debate cartoon by Rebecca Roberts @envirovisuals Last week’s 10th Oxford Real Farming Conference was bigger than ever, with over a thousand delegates attending – and nearly as many again, on the waiting list for returned tickets. The conference was spread over even more venues this year, to cater for the extra people, and […]
Guest Blog: Silent Space 2016 – a pilot study by Liz Ware
By milesking on August 23, 2016 in gardening, nature and reflection, nature connection, Uncategorized
Today’s Guest Blog is by garden writer and photographer Liz Ware, who has been running a pilot study this summer that encourages gardens that open to the public to reserve an area where visitors can be silent. How often do we allow ourselves the time to be silent in a green place – […]
A World Away, So Near. Julian Hoffman reflects on Lodge Hill, Kent
By milesking on August 22, 2016 in inspired by nature, Lodge Hill, Public Land, re-imagining lost landscapes, Uncategorized
A World Away, So Near On May 19th 1924, the BBC made history with its first live broadcast of a wild animal, setting its microphones and sound equipment in the leafy Surrey garden of cellist Beatrice Harrison as she performed a duet with a nightingale. Against all of the expectations of BBC founder Lord Reith […]
Winning Poems of the “Ways to be Wilder” Poetry Competition: Summer Photograph by Amy Wolstenholme
This is the first in a series of pages publishing the winning and highly commended poems in our “ways to be wilder” poetry competition. We’re also publishing our competition Judge, Jen Hadfield’s comments for each poem. Summer Photograph Amy Wolstenholme (18) Bluebells bloom from the refuse heap, Plait a crown for broken pots […]
Re-imagining Lost Landscapes: PNN Trustee Keith Datchler reflects on Lodge Hill
By milesking on June 30, 2016 in inspired by nature, Lodge Hill, Public Land, re-imagining lost landscapes, Uncategorized
Continuing our series of posts after our expedition to Lodge Hill in Kent, This piece comes from People Need Nature trustee Keith Datchler. Photo: Matt Shaw After our day at Lodge Hill, I surprised myself at how much I brooded over the day when I got home, to the extent of waking in the night […]
Re-imagining Lost Landscapes: Paul Evans on Lodge Hill.
This is the first in a series of reflections on our expedition to Lodge Hill, from poet, writer and broadcaster Paul Evans. Cocksfoot Photograph by Maria Nunzia @Varvera Between downpours the security guard goes behind the building for a cigarette. Beside him is a fire-bucket of sand in which a thousand stub ends […]
Guest Blog: the getting of natural history by Mark Fisher
It’s a pleasure to have our first guest blog written by Dr. Mark Fisher, Honorary Research Fellow at the Wildland Research Institute, University of Leeds. Mark writes a fascinating blog at www.self-willed-land.org.uk. The post arises from a discussion between Miles and Mark, over a number of months and emails. The Getting of Natural History Though […]
New Report investigates impact of Brexit on the UK Environment
An important new report has appeared today, to contribute to the debate about whether the UK should stay in or leave the European Union. Commissioned by RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and WWF UK, the report was prepared by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). The report investigates the EU policies which have a significant […]
Satish Kumar and Schumacher College
Composer and poet Matt Shaw (who also works at ethical cosmetics firm Lush) invited me to join him on a visit to meet Satish Kumar at the college he founded, Schumacher College, on the Dartington Estate in Devon. Earlier, Matt had invited Satish to talk to Lush employees about his book Soil, Soul and Society. […]