I agree with the sentiments expressed in your article. However, can you explain the 8%? Scotland is over 30% of the land mass of GB and I have virtually unrestricted access to the countryside (I live in the Highlands) so 8% appears very low.
Hi Ron, thank you for reading. Thanks also for catching this typo! I have now corrected these stats to England only. Apologies. A classic case of originally writing a longer paragraph applying to the UK, and then editing down for length and creating errors! Thank you. Point still stands—situation in England is dire. We can only learn from Scotland!
It's ironic, one of the things we love about being nomadic in the UK is that so many natural spaces here are so easily accessible by public transportation, compared to the US where there aren't bus routes that serve national parks or public footpaths through private lands. But I agree with you about not seeing people of color. We were just on Innismore, the largest of the Aran Islands, and a person of color rode by me on a bicycle. I noticed because it was so unusual! Thank you for the work you do to create more access and for highlighting the need for improvement in that area.
Perhaps we should accord our natural resources legal standing as has been done in New Zealand and I think Ecuador. Rivers have been given legal standing by way of specific legislation and may be represented in court accordingly. Robert MacFarlane discusses this possibility in his book " Is A River Alive". There is no conceptual reason this could not be done for any river or other natural resource in the UK or elsewhere. It would make it much easier to challenge both water coys breaches of law and any failure on the part of regulators or government to enforce such laws.
This is something I've never thought about - I'm one of the lucky ones, we live in a rural area with plentiful access to green spaces. A fascinating read, and a really important issue, thanks for writing about it 🙂
This is not talked about enough!! I had a similar experience when I first started spending more time outdoors and wrote a piece with a similar sentiment not too long ago. The idea that you need expensive gear, the space doesn’t feel like it’s for you, complicated commutes to even access these green spaces if they’re not easily accessible…the list goes on. I’m so glad people are talking about this!
Thank you for reading! I’m so glad you relate! We absolutely need to normalise the idea that nature isn’t just for nature experts. It’s also for a chill wander in a nice outfit. Accessibility is key!
We lived off Brooklands Avenue, near Cambridge Botanic Gardens when I was growing up. At that time, there was no entrance fee to the garden and there was a side door you could use to walk through the botanic gardens to the main entrance whenever you felt like it. It felt very special. We went back to the gardens as a family recently (I now live in Newcastle upon Tyne) and it is still a beautiful - perhaps more beautiful - space. But now, of course, there is an entry fee. It's not super expensive but it does make it feel more exclusive and anyone on a limited budget is unlikely to feel they can justify spending it on entrance.
Absolutely. As it happens, I am sitting in the cafe of the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge right now! I live incredibly close by (so lucky!), so my partner and I opt to pay for their joint annual membership, enabling us to basically use the gardens as our own, since we don't have one. I used to work for the University of Cambridge Museums, the network of which the Botanic Gardens belong, and breaking down access barriers was a huge part of our work. That's amazing to hear that they used to be free to enter and wander through! How wonderful! I would LOVE that to continue to be the case. Especially in this period when money is so tight, I worry so much that ticket prices exclude so many—so sad. If only I had a magic wand... Thank you so much for reading and for sharing your thoughts.
It's a lovely space and I'd definitely pay for annual membership if I lived where you do! Also the cafe must be a wonderful place to work - connected with nature (or very close) as you write. Thank YOU for your work. This is what I love about Substack, the important niches that are being filled with work like yours and brought to life.
It's sad that the garden had to end the free access but I guess there were reasons for it, not least, sadly, financial ones. Maybe there could be a scheme for free passes for all families that get free school meals or something. I'm dreaming of course but maybe one day!
This is so important Kate, thank you sharing. I'm going to share this with the Wild South London trustees as it's built into our constitution to carry out all of our activities in a way that is inclusive to the diversity of people in South London and to recognise and try to overcome barriers to participation - I think keeping this conversation open is so helpful in finding ways to actually do that.
Yes, Zabby! Thank you so much. Absolutely—I think constantly having this conversation openly and trying to improve is the only way forwards. Thanks for reading and sharing. Do let me know if anything comes of it. There are so many wildlife charities doing fantastic work in our cities—they need amplifying!
I agree with the sentiments expressed in your article. However, can you explain the 8%? Scotland is over 30% of the land mass of GB and I have virtually unrestricted access to the countryside (I live in the Highlands) so 8% appears very low.
Thank you.
Hi Ron, thank you for reading. Thanks also for catching this typo! I have now corrected these stats to England only. Apologies. A classic case of originally writing a longer paragraph applying to the UK, and then editing down for length and creating errors! Thank you. Point still stands—situation in England is dire. We can only learn from Scotland!
Thanks for the response. Keep getting the message out there, it’s for all our benefit.
Thank you. I will do!
Another great post Kate. Enjoying your work!
Thank you!
It's ironic, one of the things we love about being nomadic in the UK is that so many natural spaces here are so easily accessible by public transportation, compared to the US where there aren't bus routes that serve national parks or public footpaths through private lands. But I agree with you about not seeing people of color. We were just on Innismore, the largest of the Aran Islands, and a person of color rode by me on a bicycle. I noticed because it was so unusual! Thank you for the work you do to create more access and for highlighting the need for improvement in that area.
Thank you for reading, Robin. I agree—there is so so so much more we need to do, and constantly having the conversation is just the start!
Perhaps we should accord our natural resources legal standing as has been done in New Zealand and I think Ecuador. Rivers have been given legal standing by way of specific legislation and may be represented in court accordingly. Robert MacFarlane discusses this possibility in his book " Is A River Alive". There is no conceptual reason this could not be done for any river or other natural resource in the UK or elsewhere. It would make it much easier to challenge both water coys breaches of law and any failure on the part of regulators or government to enforce such laws.
Absolutely! I think this would definitely be a step in the right direction. Huge impact if we can make it happen.
This is something I've never thought about - I'm one of the lucky ones, we live in a rural area with plentiful access to green spaces. A fascinating read, and a really important issue, thanks for writing about it 🙂
Thank you so much for reading! So glad to hear it is helpful 🙏
This is not talked about enough!! I had a similar experience when I first started spending more time outdoors and wrote a piece with a similar sentiment not too long ago. The idea that you need expensive gear, the space doesn’t feel like it’s for you, complicated commutes to even access these green spaces if they’re not easily accessible…the list goes on. I’m so glad people are talking about this!
Thank you for reading! I’m so glad you relate! We absolutely need to normalise the idea that nature isn’t just for nature experts. It’s also for a chill wander in a nice outfit. Accessibility is key!
We lived off Brooklands Avenue, near Cambridge Botanic Gardens when I was growing up. At that time, there was no entrance fee to the garden and there was a side door you could use to walk through the botanic gardens to the main entrance whenever you felt like it. It felt very special. We went back to the gardens as a family recently (I now live in Newcastle upon Tyne) and it is still a beautiful - perhaps more beautiful - space. But now, of course, there is an entry fee. It's not super expensive but it does make it feel more exclusive and anyone on a limited budget is unlikely to feel they can justify spending it on entrance.
Absolutely. As it happens, I am sitting in the cafe of the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge right now! I live incredibly close by (so lucky!), so my partner and I opt to pay for their joint annual membership, enabling us to basically use the gardens as our own, since we don't have one. I used to work for the University of Cambridge Museums, the network of which the Botanic Gardens belong, and breaking down access barriers was a huge part of our work. That's amazing to hear that they used to be free to enter and wander through! How wonderful! I would LOVE that to continue to be the case. Especially in this period when money is so tight, I worry so much that ticket prices exclude so many—so sad. If only I had a magic wand... Thank you so much for reading and for sharing your thoughts.
It's a lovely space and I'd definitely pay for annual membership if I lived where you do! Also the cafe must be a wonderful place to work - connected with nature (or very close) as you write. Thank YOU for your work. This is what I love about Substack, the important niches that are being filled with work like yours and brought to life.
It's sad that the garden had to end the free access but I guess there were reasons for it, not least, sadly, financial ones. Maybe there could be a scheme for free passes for all families that get free school meals or something. I'm dreaming of course but maybe one day!
What a wonderful dream! One day 🤞
This is so important Kate, thank you sharing. I'm going to share this with the Wild South London trustees as it's built into our constitution to carry out all of our activities in a way that is inclusive to the diversity of people in South London and to recognise and try to overcome barriers to participation - I think keeping this conversation open is so helpful in finding ways to actually do that.
Yes, Zabby! Thank you so much. Absolutely—I think constantly having this conversation openly and trying to improve is the only way forwards. Thanks for reading and sharing. Do let me know if anything comes of it. There are so many wildlife charities doing fantastic work in our cities—they need amplifying!