I have a new sit spot: somewhere I regularly sit peacefully and contemplate; a place to be still and listen to the subtle murmurings of the land and the wildlife that surrounds me; a sacred space to learn and improve my ability to speak this green language. This new sit spot has welcomed my inquisitive attention and she feels grateful for the opportunity to express herself. This place feels peaceful and reverent with much wisdom to share. I hope to decipher her lessons with both time and practice.

I have a moment now to reflect on the year that soon passes, 2025. How much has changed for me and what gains momentum towards changing. I am almost at a year’s anniversary for my blog for one thing. That is a first for me: to weekly write down my observations and thoughts. Not that I have yet read them back, but I do know the discipline of writing them down has helped to hone my focus and create greater clarity of my thoughts, which in turn has helped me to step forward more confidently, despite not yet knowing where I am heading, but each small decision will eventually lead me to wherever that place may be. I have learned to overcome my inner critic who established herself within me as a young teenager, the competitive schoolgirl who created the falsely protective narrative for herself ‘I can’t write’ and ‘I am no good at english’. That block lasted over 35 years, but I have now reframed that voice and she has finally quietened down. For now at least, I don’t battle with her every time I sit down with pad and paper or my computer and that feels liberating to say the least.

Numerous relations with others have become richer this year as we all work towards mutually beneficial goals. The building of wildlife corridors across the landscape; collaborative farming movements beginning to work together for the greater good; like-minded nature based groups meeting to create greater opportunity for change as well as some small beginnings of new ideas that bring together other start ups who share a similar outlook on how to improve life for all of us in reciprocity and mutual benefit. They all feel so nourishing and restorative, on many levels, as we all need to work together – we are not in this alone. Nature teaches you that: symbiosis is the most successful relationship. Nature does not exist as lots of individuals, rather they are all intricately linked and for one to thrive, they must all thrive. There is much to be excited about where we are heading. There are so many people out there trying to do great things and I love to connect with them to become part of something much greater than me as an individual. Next week I am excited to be heading back to the Oxford Real Farming Conference and there is a huge collaborative movement gaining momentum there. I took great solace in attending ORFC last January as I realised I wasn’t alone but part of something so much bigger; there are thousands of others singing from the same song sheet, and the sound was exquisite, it was a joy to be a small part.

Despite this being the classic time for creating resolutions, I will instead be honouring the pause within the darkest part of the year: the time of rest and contemplation. As the spring equinox approaches, and more daylight returns, I will consider then what it is I wish to change or improve. For now I will try to slow down and recover from what has been a busy and chaotic time and enjoy listening to the land from my new sit spot. I will keep putting one foot in front of the other to head in whatever direction feels right, knowing that others are gathering around me, and me around them. Together we will help each other to catch the rip tide and drift towards wherever it wants us to head. May 2026 be a healthy, thriving and connected one for us all.