It’s been a while since I’ve written here, but not for lack of inspiration. I’ve been bothering bugs, butterflies, birds, and bats, looking, listening, learning, and feeling the joy of the natural world deep in my heart. I’ve been out and about climbing mountains, wild camping under starry skies, sea swimming in secret coves, cycling quiet lanes, kayaking local rivers and walking every day.
I’ve followed my instincts, taken risks, wandered off the beaten track, waded through rivers, climbed trees, lit fires, peered down badger setts, and crawled inside hedgerows. I’ve followed my whims and let curiosity lead the way.
There have been early mornings spent watching the sunrise bring colour to the world, waiting for the flash of tuna hunting just offshore, or seeing what treasures the moth traps have revealed overnight. I’ve found fungi and feathers, nests and tracks, each a small, wild story waiting to be understood.
My wanderings have taken me from the chalk downs of Cerne Abbas to the ancient woodlands of the New Forest, the wilding landscape of Knepp, the fells of the Lake District, the rugged beauty of Scotland, and the windswept coves of Cornwall. Every place has reminded me how connected, intricate, and astonishingly alive our world is, and how important it is for us to take time to notice.
When I haven’t been out having adventures, I’ve been building BeWild, creating connections between our community and the natural world right on our doorstep. We’ve climbed church towers to find sites for swift boxes, surveyed meadows, painted wildlife discovery walls, released water voles, and rolled up our sleeves with volunteers clearing non-native species from precious habitats.
It’s been busy, but it’s been beautiful, with people coming together with purpose and passion. BeWild is growing into something special: a shared movement of individuals, businesses, and nature lovers who all believe that if we were all more connected to the natural world, our planet would be thriving, and so would we.
So yes, I’ve been away, but in all the best ways. Out exploring, learning, and rediscovering what it means to be wild. And now I’m back here, ready to share my adventures again and, I hope, to encourage you to have your own.
You can see what we’ve been up to over on Instagram @bewild.uk.