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Introducing: 24 Questions to Save the World.
What if the Earth could ask us its most pressing questions? What would it say about how we live, the choices we make, and the future we leave behind? WWF say: ‘We are what we leave behind.’ That’s the idea behind 24 Questions to Save the World. In the movies, the hero gets 24 hours
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Some lovely news to share…
We’ve just opened up part of our Naturespace project to a local CIC — Daniel’s Kitchen CIC — and I couldn’t be happier about it. This partnership means we’re not just talking about doing good in the community… we’re actually doing it. Together, we’re creating a space where people can grow food, connect with nature,
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Climate Change is Rewriting the Rules of Bird Breeding – Are We Paying Attention?
As spring arrives, birds across the world are getting on with the business of nesting, mating, and raising their young. It’s a rhythm as old as time, dictated by the seasons, food availability, and instinct. But new research suggests that climate change is throwing nature’s finely tuned calendar out of sync – and birds are
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Leadership, Leverage and the Burden of Power
Decision-making is at the heart of leadership – how power is used, how influence is wielded, and what happens when one has all the leverage. History, politics and business are full of instances where leaders with power have to make a choice: do they use their authority to create deeper relationships, or do they use
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Q13: If Nature Were a Business, Would It Be Bankrupt?
Imagine if nature were a business, a global enterprise providing essentials like clean air, fresh water and fertile soil. Every human is a shareholder, relying on its assets for survival and prosperity. Let’s examine the balance sheet: Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2024 Perhaps you think, “That’s unfortunate, but it’s happening elsewhere in the world.”
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Q13: How Do We Stay on Course When Politics Knocks Us Off?
Picture this: You’re on a flight from London to New York. The pilots have a clear destination, but they spend most of the journey off course. Winds push the plane sideways, turbulence forces adjustments, air traffic control redirects them. Yet, despite all this, the plane still lands where it’s meant to – New York. The
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‘Straw Wars’: The Distraction We Keep Falling For.
Paper or plastic? The debate rages on. The White House’s decision to scrap paper straws in favour of plastic is making headlines. The administration argues that paper straws are weak, expensive and potentially harmful. Critics counter that bringing back plastic straws ignores the bigger environmental crisis. But here’s the real question: Why are we still
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Q12: What Can We Learn from Termites About Sustainable Living?
Two species. Two ways of living. One clear winner. Species A: Builds towering cities with built-in climate control. Uses only what’s needed – no waste, no excess. Thrives in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Works together to ensure survival, balancing growth with long-term stability. Species B: Bulldozes forests to build sprawling, resource-hungry cities.
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Does Nature Need Its Own MI5 & MI6?
We protect economies with financial watchdogs. We protect national security with intelligence agencies. We track cyber threats with dedicated teams of experts. So why don’t we have an intelligence agency dedicated to protecting nature? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Conservation Without Borders recently floated the idea of a Biodiversity Intelligence Agency – an
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Q11: Why Do We View Environmental Issues as ‘Somebody Else’s Problem’ and pop out for popcorn?
Imagine this: You’re in a packed cinema. Halfway through the film, smoke starts curling up from the carpet. A handful of people notice, but they don’t move. They assume someone else will sound the alarm. Meanwhile, the fire spreads. Some people pretend they don’t see it, hoping it’s not their responsibility. Others rationalise – Surely
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The 2025 BCG (British Chelonia Group) Spring Symposium.
A tortoise (and terrapin and sea-turtle) day in Cambridge, Sunday 2nd March. All welcome! The 2025 BCG (British Chelonia Group) Spring Symposium will take place on Sunday 2nd March at Homerton College, Cambridge – see attached poster and: http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/events/spring-symposium-2025 The day promises, as always, to be both educational and fun, with lots of interesting people attending and
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Q10: How Do We Balance Economic Growth with Ecological Stewardship?
Imagine an egg delicately balanced between two forks. Lean too far one way, and it tumbles. Too much pressure from either side, and it cracks. That’s where we are with economic growth and ecological stewardship – walking a fine line between progress and scrambled eggs. For decades, we’ve been told that economic success and environmental
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Q9: Can Progress Exist Without Destroying the Planet?
Progress should be a word we associate with innovation and human growth. A promise of a better future for people and the planet. Too often, progress comes with unexpected consequences – it has a rattle in its tail! (Maybe it’s those two “s’s” together that make it so). The usual victims? The easy-to-exploit – people,
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Q8: What Would It Take for Us to Truly ‘Value’ Nature?
What Would It Take for Us to Truly ‘Value’ Nature? Not ‘admire’ or ‘like’ – but truly value. This tree, this hill, the sky, the sea. Can we see their value the way a CEO sees value on a balance sheet? When’s the last time you heard someone say, “You know what… nature is valuable”?
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Q7: Why Does It Feel Like Our Efforts Aren’t Enough?
We play by the rules. We separate our rubbish, recycling what we can. We try to buy efficient cars and maybe stretch our finances to buy electric vehicles. Because we’re told it’s the right choice for the planet. Most of the time, we’re on our best behaviour. Okay, we slip up occasionally. Maybe we forget
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Chasing the Northern Lights with AuroraWatch UK
Hi, I’m Simon’s daughter Lucy, and I’ve been exploring the magic of the night sky with AuroraWatch UK. This amazing tool sends alerts when the aurora might be visible, making it easy to catch nature’s light show – even from here in the UK. I’ve taken a few photos during recent aurora alerts and wanted
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Q6: What Comforts You About Nature’s Resilience?
Year after year, the seasons turn. Forests regrow after fires – if industry doesn’t claim the space first. Rivers carve new paths when blocked by development. That doesn’t end well for homeowners, but nature finds its way. Life adapts and evolves, often in ways that surprise and inspire us. There’s comfort in nature’s resilience. Just
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Q5: What Scares You Most About the Changes You See in the World?
The world is always changing – that much we know. But lately, the pace of change feels relentless. Faster. Less predictable. More unforgiving. So, what scares you most about what’s happening in the world? Can you put your finger on it? Is it the rise of AI and its unknown impact? The loss of wildlife
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Podcast: From Ice Warrior to Global Warrior: A Conversation with Jim McNeill
Latest Naturespace podcast session. What does it take to survive in the world’s harshest environments? And what lessons can we learn from someone who has dedicated his life to understanding and protecting our planet? In the latest Naturespace with Haith’s podcast, I (Simon King) sit down with polar explorer Jim McNeill. He is a man
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Q4: Why Do We Wait for Disasters Before We Care?
Some people dedicate their lives to protecting the planet. The rest of us? We’re busy ignoring it. Out of sight, out of mind – until disaster barges in, uninvited. And when it does – we are shocked, surprised. ‘How could this happen? Why didn’t anyone do anything?’ we ask. Deep down, we know the warning
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Military Land – A Conservation Success. By Graham Wellstead.
Introduction: When we think of military land, conservation isn’t often the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, as Graham Wellstead highlights in this fascinating guest post, the UK’s military-owned land has become an unexpected sanctuary for wildlife. Spanning 600,000 acres, much of this land has remained untouched for over a century, offering a haven
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Exciting Podcast News!
I interviewed Jim McNeill yesterday. He is one of the world’s most experienced explorers. Jim is the visionary behind the Ice Warrior and Global Warrior initiatives. The interview is for the Naturespace with Haith’s #podcast. We discussed his latest project, Ocean Warrior. It is a 10-year mission to protect our oceans through cutting-edge research. The
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Q3. What Happens When We Treat the Planet as Disposable?
Our world is one of convenience. Use it, bin it, move on. Fast fashion. Single-use plastics. Endless consumption. Just spend five minutes at a rubbish tip and watch what gets thrown away. This can’t end well, can it? Here’s the thing: the planet isn’t disposable, and its resources aren’t infinite. We contribute to the problem…
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Q2. What Does It Mean to ‘Belong’ to the Earth?
Rather than belong, we prefer to be in charge. We’re the apex predator – the masters of the planet. Of the universe! We own land. Build castles. Mark out borders. This is mine. Stay away! It’s tomfoolery, really. Because the truth is, the Earth does not belong to us – we belong to it. And
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Q1. What Does the Earth Give You That You Cannot Live Without?
It’s a long list. When was the last time you stopped to think about the miracle of life? We breathe. We drink. We eat. We’re on autopilot. After those early science lessons fade from memory, we rarely question where it all comes from. The Earth is the provider of everything we depend on. There’s no
What will you do now that you know?
Welcome to The Frightened Face of Nature (FFON).
This is a space for reflection, challenge and connection. Here, we ask the big questions about our planet – our choices and the legacy we leave behind.
Inspired by Maxwell Knight, FFON explores the balance between humanity and the natural world. Our latest project, 24 Questions to Save the World, reaches into the heart of the environmental crisis – one question at a time. These aren’t easy questions, but they’re the ones that matter.
This isn’t just a blog. It’s a space for those who care about the future. A place to pause, to think and to act.
So, what will you do now that you know?
— Simon King FLS
