The environmental crisis is a deeper problem than many of us have recognised, going to the heart of how we think and feel about the world. To cut a long story short, we have become estranged from the natural world and from the Earth, on which all life depends.
Place by Place has a way to solve this. The simple path set out in these pages offers a means to discover a new love the natural world, feel joined to the Earth and reform our lives. The outcome could be the rebirth of our culture. The secret is for each of us to focus on the places in which we live and to work together as local communities to renew our minds and transform our local areas.
As more and more local communities join this movement and follow this path, this website will record the stories of change and the rise of hope as our relationship with the Earth is renewed Place by Place. Read More
The path has two essential elements.
Firstly, we tap into the ancient art of festival as a means of drawing people together around something greater than ourselves. Each local community is invited to put on a festival celebrating our relationship with the Earth. Different places will want to do it in different ways, but the focus will always be on the Earth and we can expect an inner transformation that will change our lives.
Secondly, we set out to care for nature in our local area. Many groups are already at work on this. They are obvious partners. Our aim will be to draw new people in, to interest the whole community in the wildlife around us and to improve our relationship with it. We can expect to begin to feel the concerns of the natural world.
The key thing in both elements is to reach deep into our local communities, beyond the already committed, to work together and be inspired.
Place by Place is just beginning its life as a global movement. The very first communities are joining. Every new place that joins will be part of turning the tide. We would love to help you get started. Register your place here or contact us by email.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ sums up our approach in these words, ‘I think we are in this perilous moment because we have not loved the Earth enough, and it is love that will lead us to safety. I’m dreaming of a time when we are propelled not by fear of what is coming towards us, fearsome as it is, but by love for a beautiful vision of a world whole and healed.’
(from The Climate Book created by Greta Thunberg)
What can I do?
To start with you might like to consider becoming an Earth Partner. This puts you in touch with us and allows you to ask for any help you need. Then, when you are ready, you can register your place.
Want to know more?
Latest News and Conversation
Setting aside places for wildlife can seem hard in a built up area. Studying the map of Emersons Green shows that private gardens make up about half the total land in this area. So how would it be if these gardens became part of a designated wildlife reserve?
Emersons Green is fortunate in many ways. When the estate was built in the 1990s, many of the old lanes, hedgerows and trees were left in place. As a result we have foxes, badgers and even otters in our suburban area, as well as a broad range of birds including heron, little egrets and woodpeckers. This great spotted woodpecker has been a major community attraction!
But we realised that we could do more. Inspired by Felixstowe who were the first in the UK to go in this direction, we are now aiming to integrate our local authority managed spaces with private gardens so as to create one community nature reserve over the whole area. It is still early days for us, but 70 people turned out to our launch. Last weekend people came together to build more than 50 bird boxes and people have begun registering their gardens and telling us what they are doing to encourage wildlife.
The project is managed by our Town Council. Our wider authority, South Glos are also keenly in support and their Common Connections project aims to encourage others to follow.
The aim, of course, is not simply to encourage wildlife, important as that is, but also to shift the perspective of us humans toward a deep respect for the natural world and for the Earth.
