My morning sit spot where daily I drink my first cup of tea and watch the sunrise; a place of contemplations, affirmations and realisations. Today I was awed by the barn owl whom I now see most days. She landed on the fence post directly opposite me. We watched each other for a while and once she was content that I posed no threat, she silently, deftly, swooped down into the unkempt, shaggy grass in front of my house. After a few seconds she arose with a huge looking brown fur ball in her beak. I had no idea that untidy patch of shaggy grass was home to field voles, despite its close proximity to the busy-ness of the house. The untidiness suits them and explains why the barn owl is such a regular visitor.

David and I have just returned from our first visit to the Oxford Real Farming Conference. An educational and inspiring event, I implore anyone interested in food, farming or nature to attend. It is a wonderful experience to be in a space with 3000 people plus 500 online, all passionate farmers and activists working towards the change we need to see in the world. I have returned feeling reassured: I am not the only one, not even close, working hard to achieve change. There are thousands of us, across this country and worldwide, striving for a better food system for all – insects, fungi, plants, animals and all humans no matter their ethnicity, background, status or bank balance.

Like field voles these conference attendees are mostly working in hidden and surprising areas but they’re there, creating vast networks that spread far and wide. In places where land management is different: healthy, not manicured and unrealistic. Conventional society has told us our environment should be tidy, neat, clipped, ordered and, dare I say it, sterile. To be that we lose the breathing space to listen to the needs of the other creatures who should be living alongside us or to be creative and adaptable. Nature both within us and around us has been raising her voice and those of us who have changed our ways and begun to make small changes are now numerous and ever growing. I felt such reassurance in the collective power. A vast wisdom which permeated Oxford with love, gratitude and hope. The possibility of change going on in the undergrowth – a true grassroots movement. These networks are in the organic, healthy soil that is nourished by not being sterile. Instead of spraying to keep life away we are learning to invite all diversity of life to come and join us.

Like the barn owl, you need to know how and where to look. The mainstream narrative won’t let you know it’s there. They’ll be discussing the mess, how untidy everywhere has become and how this clearly demonstrates impending doom. But look closer, if your heart desires it, and discover there’s a lot of life down here, brimming with positive energy and a prosperous synergy. In time I trust if I am patient, it will rise from ground level and become the norm, but for now it can only be caught by those who look as carefully as a barn owl.