Nature Writing

When I set up this blog, I thought the obvious first step (before I started ‘blogging’ away) would be to have a look at the work of other nature writers; and not just my own personal favourites: Gilbert White, Richard Mabey, Simon Barnes and Mark Cocker.

 As well as finding a plethora of nature blogs I also came across some interesting articles on ‘what constitutes good nature writing’; my favourite was by Sir John Lister-Kaye, one of Scotland’s best-known naturalists and conservationists.

In his opinion good nature writing should be more than just an entertaining read. It should be informative, thought provoking, challenging of damaging Western values that are destructive of nature, philosophical and, at the same time, uplifting. A good nature writer, in his opinion, should inspire people to understand and respect wild nature.

This seems like a hefty task, especially with people having little spare time in today’s hectic world. But it’s essential. We need the natural world as much as it needs us. Simon Barnes sums it up succinctly ‘we are all wild, it’s just that civilisation keeps getting in the way.’     

The poet and visionary, William Blake wrote in one of his letters: ‘the tree which moves some to tears of joy in the eyes of others is just a green thing that stands in the way.’

I hope in my nature writing that I can help and inspire people to feel that joy and reconnect with the natural world.