I have recently read James Rebanks’ wonderful book, English Pastoral. Living on a farm, much of it really resonated with me and I also found it interesting to read about how changes in farming over the years have affected the land and our wildlife.

What particularly struck me was a passage where he writes about getting to know a piece of land, over decades:

‘I have worked here my whole life, but I am only beginning to truly know this piece of land. I stumble across a field at a different time of day, or in different light, and feel as if I have never seen it before – not the way it is now. The more I learn about it, the more beautiful our farm and valley becomes.’