Dear Friends,

Last night I met with a friend who talked about her love of rain and the nourishment it brings to life around where she lives. She welcomes its gifts and potential to allow growth and abundance. I was struck by this lovely thought process and the connection she has to the trees and natural world around her, and how much she differs from most people I meet who have been deeply frustrated by our wet and unpredictable weather this summer.

With the climate issues and burning fires around the world, how welcome is her thinking and how lucky we really are to have this problem at hand of being too wet, rather than too dry. Global migration, poverty and population all combined are going to grow the impact of a heating earth and I fully believe that water is going to become a resource deficit that will drive further conflict.

I don’t apologise for this gloomy prediction and invite us all to consider the approach of  rain as a bonus not a burden (unless flooding is unleashed and it becomes another enemy of survival).

I have been fortunate to spend time really connecting with water since the last newsletter and in July have canoed the length of Loch Awe once more with our Haberdashers’ Company scholars. Wild camping along the shores, and on remote islands of this longest Scottish inland loch provides a deep sense of connection with the elements – and brings a sense of  feeling alive and a part of something bigger than ourselves. Our mainly urban young people take some time to settle into a more natural rhythm of life in tents, wild toileting, sitting in the tipi or lying in sleeping bags being buffeted by strong winds and rain, paddling through storms and sometimes, sunshine.

By the end of the canoe journey we are astounded at how quickly camp goes up in the evening and quickly it comes down the next day. Canoes are packed, breakfast taken care of, and we are back in the paddling seat. We love watching the growing sense of competence, mastery and belonging in the group and their growing alignment with the environment. Every day brings greater ease in managing life in the wilds, although sore muscles and the unfamiliarity of physical exercise after studying and then writing exams for A levels can take its toll. We notice the laughter levels rise, the noticing and pointing out  of  things life  bird song, pebbles, magnificent sunsets, trees and plants. The cold swims bring a sense of alertness and freshness and mutual enjoyment.

This engagement takes us back to the origins of the Wilderness Foundation and the canoe journeys and the Canoe Marathon on the Duzi River in KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, founded by Ian Player our remarkable founder. The humbling effect of working with water is profound as it can present real danger and requires deep respect. Progress is only made using your arm strength, and the weather can totally spoil a plan for the day if there is lightening, high winds and waves.

Experiences such as these,  connects us deeper to ourselves, each other and ultimately the earth. Coming from this space, one finds that  the need to care and nurture these spaces is less rational/thought led, and much more deeply emotional and heart led.

This growing sense of care, encouraged the group to spontaneously clear other people’s litter and mess, becoming increasing unhappy when a lack of respect was evident from campers or fishing folk along the shores. Talking about these things back home, before a wilderness immersion,  may make some impact on our behaviour in the wild, but living with it, experiencing the impact of the mess we can make of things and leave behind,  first hand, is a very different picture. Experiencing crystal clear waters where your toes gleam deep down in the water because it is so clean  – makes you appreciate it aesthetically, and also practically as we drink from it each day, linking to our survival and comfort.

Whilst this was all about water, we have recently  been wild camping with our TurnAround group in Mann Wood – the 100 acre Winnie the Pooh wood close to our headquarters. Listening to the feedback from young people who were with us, through pouring rain and shine, about how they felt after living so close to nature over the several days we were there was very emotional for Mark and myself who run the programme. One young person said that he now can look at of the window, or walk along a street and looking at nature makes him feel that he is truly at home and that he belongs to something. For him disconnection and hiding from his true self and feelings has had a devastating impact on his mental health so far in his life journey. Things are changing and he is expressing feelings of caring for himself, and liking himself for the first time. Although this is down to the programme and our content, it is fast tracked through being in woods and wild space, where he could relax and reflect, be touched by beauty and abundant life, but also be practicing ethics of respect for all life and upholding good values in how we care for nature.

These two wilderness immersions have breathed new life into me – and my role or attitudes as CEO. Totally desk bound I become stale and find my own disconnection grow, and although my passion for my work never dims, my own self awareness and self compassion suffers. Watching young people grow in the wild completely reinvigorates me and builds my tolerance for the less exciting but essential tasks of running an excellent charity – fundraising, governance, meetings, and management for example.. Nature helps me focus on my tasks better, and more creatively  and the more efficient our backroom services, the more we can do to connect ourselves and others to nature and life outside four walls.

I just wanted to thank you all for your support and the help you give which enables us to reach more people, and do more for educating, healing and supporting of others. We are already ahead of our annual numbers for last year in our outdoor education and our outdoor therapy services. We have been grateful to be entrusted to  teach school going youth about the beaver reintroduction at Spains Hall Farm, and to educate and engage groups at Hatfield Forest alongside our own various programmes, including the Wild Schools Climate Change programme.

We are keen to buy our own land and  have  recently been offered the opportunity to buy Mann Wood – if we can raise £800,000 to do so over the next year. Having our own space where we can amplify our biodiversity and climate change work through careful woodland stewardship, educate more children in a truly wild space, and enable young people like our TurnAround and other groups to fall in love with woodlands and nature and see how their wellbeing is directly connected to the wellbeing of the woods…is a huge opportunity for all of it.

Please watch this space as we step into this massive journey of growth and development – and if you can help or wish to be involved, support us financially or in kind, or simply want to come and visit this space – do get in touch. We will run some open days later in the year and will post out dates shortly. WE would love to hear from you.

Enjoy the rain, and the rest of what summer brings. Best wishes from the wider team and myself.

Jo