The Spirit of the Wetlands

"For more than two decades now I’ve lived alongside the pelicans of the Prespa lakes in northern Greece. These birds are—for so many, residents and visitors alike—simply an astonishing and seamless part of being here. There is no Prespa without pelicans. In summer, the skies brighten with their flights, as hundreds of birds, their wingspans … Continue reading The Spirit of the Wetlands

The Wild Nearby

He stood in cold sunlight beside the bus shelter, dressed in a dark overcoat and matching suit, a leather briefcase hanging from one hand. Unlike the rest of us, the man had his back to the road, his eyes fastened on three trees just the other side of the black iron railings that mark the … Continue reading The Wild Nearby

Restoring Wetlands: a path into the future

We never know what might act as a spark when it comes to the natural world. It could be some profound and magnetic encounter with a wild animal or a commonplace connection with our local surroundings. It might be a thrilling journey on foot through remote mountains or the evocative atmosphere of an old-growth forest. … Continue reading Restoring Wetlands: a path into the future

Wetlands: Havens of Life

This autumn I was meant to be in Chicago to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wetlands Initiative and to help kick-off the next chapter of the organisation's vital mission to protect and restore wetlands across the American Midwest. Wetlands are amongst the most threatened and fragile ecosytems on the planet: in Europe, roughly two-thirds … Continue reading Wetlands: Havens of Life

Wainwright Prize 2020

Enormous congratulations to Dara McAnulty for winning the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing this week with his book Diary of a Young Naturalist and to Benedict Macdonald for winning the Global Conservation Prize with Rebirding. I'm deeply honoured and delighted that Irreplaceable: The Fight to Save our Wild Places was Highly Commended for the … Continue reading Wainwright Prize 2020