ABOUT
Hi, I’m James - welcome to my blog about the Great British Outdoors.
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If you’d like to feel better, healthier and happier in 100 different ways; if you feel shut out from our country’s natural wonders; or if you just want some fun for free; then you’re in the right place. I have something for you, although it took me a while to find it.
LIFE ON THE WILD SIDE
I grew up in Essex, where I learned to love nature from a young age. But I moved to London as soon as I could, climbing the career ladder while enjoying everything the city had to offer. But after a while I felt like I was on a treadmill, running faster and faster but going nowhere. Grind all week for money that you’re too tired to enjoy, spend it on stuff you don’t need, keep your head down and when you die you’ll go to heaven or something. That was my narrative, and I knew it: but I didn’t know any other way to be. I was burned out and broken.
Now here’s the part where I quit my job, went travelling and totally found myself. Well, sort of. I was only a few weeks away from desperately buying a one-way ticket to Thailand. But out of the blue, I was offered a job in rural Cornwall, which I accepted: suddenly I had traded my Zone 2 flat for a cottage in the middle of nowhere. To avoid going mad, I went exploring, and found a wild side of Britain that blew my mind: pristine beaches, lush rainforests and ancient temples. Here I discovered stories from a time before concrete and capitalism. A place where we could relax, celebrate, grieve, and be ourselves. My health improved, my energy returned and I was ready to live life on my own terms. But from this place, I began to see the stories woven into our world:
"The countryside isn’t for people like you. Don’t bother visiting nature; you'll only spoil it; better to watch it on Netflix. There’s no room left in Britain. Pride in Britain means pride in colonialism. Work hard and spend money, then you’ll be happy. There’s plenty to go around if we keep burning the planet’s resources. Don’t worry about it, just do as we say and everything will be fine."
Bollocks. These are narratives told by the ruling class, reinforced by the division of society from nature. But not for me. I’m done with being worked to death while being driven to extinction. I’m done living alone in a world away from nature. I choose to boldly reclaim what’s mine and ours. I’m going to keep exploring the lost side of Britain, looking to the past to find answers for our future and reminders of who we really are.
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“Those who go into wilderness, into Nature that has not been tamed, are no longer under arbitrary human law, but under the all-encompassing, inevitable law of Nature. They are no longer citizens, they are not orderly, they are not civilised - they are outlaws. When you go into wilderness, something happens, something that civilisation does not like. That's why they cut it down, you know.”
- Stephen Harrod Buhner
Nature gives us food to eat, water to drink, air to breathe and energy to live. We are a part of nature, through and through: this is where we are meant to feel our best. The more we forget that, the more we forget ourselves and the meaning of life. You don’t need to move to the mountains, run marathons, or have all the fancy gear. You don’t even have to give up on modern technology: just a regular dose of nature is enough to make you healthier and happier. I truly believe that this is the closest thing to a quick win to improve our lives and the chances of a good future for all.
LESS GREY DRIZZLE, MORE GREAT SHIZZLE
So now I write this blog about Britain’s wild side, in the hope that you’ll go out and see it for yourself. Here you’ll find my favourite adventures from across the land, and other bits to help you reconnect with nature. I want you to explore this beautiful country that inspired the Lord of the Rings and countless other magical worlds. It’s mine; it’s yours; it always has been and always will be.
Wherever you live, there are spectacular places within an hour of your front door that will blow your mind. Go for a walk: go near some trees; go look at some water for a bit. The further you go from civilisation, the more you’ll bring back. Do it however suits you best and you’ll soon feel the impact on your physical, mental and spiritual health. It changed my life and I know it will change yours too.
