Wilderness and people

On Monday, there was an interview with Mick Abbott. I found it really thought provoking and agree with much of what Mick says. In particular, connecting people with wild places in many different ways. We can learn to care about places by seeing inspiring images, by sweating up a hill, by feeling the wet moss under bare feet, fishing, hunting, or just sitting and enjoying (with enough sandfly repellent).
Leave no trace also offers some great ways to learn to care for places and has a particular focus on what those places need from us. For example, there are places that you need to stay on a track because the soils and plants are so fragile, while there are many other places where it is great to go off track and feeling what it is like to move through the bush, mountains or lowlands is great because those places are resilient. Knowing the difference is the key, and having the respect to change your plan to take better care of a place.
But it is also important to think about how these places are important in developing care for the places that we live in. Does being in natural areas help us to care for the broader planet too? I think it can. If we care deeply for a place, then that care could grow to cover other aspects of our lives.
Blog provided by Chris North
Have a listen to Mick's interview on national radio by clicking play on the link below: