No idea what to write really… I love to write, especially about nature and maybe even a bit of fantasy if I feel like it. But getting started can feel like a bit of a hurdle.

What to even write about?

Will it be interesting or engaging?

Will it be useful in any way?

What do I want out of this?

Who knows, but I’m excited to get into it.

I guess I’ll start with a bit of background or maybe just some general musings of my recent(ish) past.

I’ve worked in conservation for a few years now, so I like to think I have at least some knowledge and experiences that could be interesting. I’ve lived in Scotland my whole life, and I’ve got to say I think it’s amazing. On a nature front, I think Scotland has SO much potential, which is why I feel sad when I see the state it’s in.

Last year, I drove around a large section of the Scottish Highlands over the space of about a week with my Mum. For the most part, it was miles of gorgeous rolling hills, but if you look around or even happen to open the window, all you will see and hear is silence.

There was a distinct lack of wildlife (except for sheep and deer), which seemed like a big old red flag for me. What became a light bulb moment was my Mum’s reaction to our surroundings.

While I kept saying (at very frequent intervals) “Yuck, look at all those forestry plantations…” and “Where are all the native trees?!”

Mum would keep saying variations of “Wow!” and “Isn’t it beautiful?”

And I was thinking, “Jesus Mum, are we even looking at the same things?”

Objectively speaking, what we were looking at was beautiful. Vast open heathlands with mountains looming all around us. The hills and mountains have real presence, and you can’t help but be somewhat in awe of what you’re seeing. But when you start looking a little closer, you realize that all you’re really getting is some visual eye candy. Yes, it looks nice, but what purpose does this scenery serve beyond giving you a bit of a dopamine hit from all the “Oooohs” and “Ahhhhs”?

Cue light bulb moment.

Nearing the end of our journey, we came to a small nature reserve a little south of the Cairngorms called Banff. Beavers had set up residence and did what beavers do best. Generally take a nice looking bit of woodland and turn it into a wet bombsite.

Looking around, the first thing I said was “This is fantastic!”, to which my Mum replied, “It’s a bit messy!”

BOOM!

That’s when the obvious hit me. We really weren’t looking at the same things. Well… we were, HOWEVER. Mum was viewing things purely objectively, seeing only the physical landscape, which in all honesty was a big muddy puddle with bits of wood floating in it. But, if you added in all the stuff you couldn’t see, it was a marvel of nature.

And what do I mean by all the ‘stuff’?

All the species this place supported and all the benefits it would bring. Animals such as fish, insects, bats, birds, and many more. Benefits such as flood control, pollution mitigation, water purification, and many, MANY more.

And long story short, that is why I wanted to start writing. To show people that the living world around you has a story to tell if you are willing to start watching, listening, and learning. And that story may be good or bad if you know what to look for.

Look at the bare Scottish hills, and you will see a landscape in decline. The lack of plant diversity leading to a crash in insect and bird life. An increase in soil erosion and flooding. A lack of diversity at all levels which has consequences we still don’t fully understand.

Look at the beaver wetland, and not only do you see and hear the thrumming of all the life around you, but something about it just FEELS right.

So, let’s start this journey to learn about this living world around us and why messy is not only good but essential.