'Disconnection from the natural world makes it easier to treat it like a commodity’ .
In Rewilding the Urban Soul author Claire Dunn explores what we all can do to ignite that spark of connection with place and nature, so we all will want to protect and nurture its survival.
After spending a year living in the bush as part of a wilderness survival program and writing about it in My Year Without Matches, Claire found herself being drawn back to the city for romantic reasons. She wanted to share the passion, awe and gratitude she had found in the bush and bring it back to the culture of city living. Not only does the city provide for our needs for social connection and networking, it is often where we end up living for work and family reasons and access to services and resources.
As the norms of city life took over and she grew busier and more consumed with work, she felt the need to disconnect and wind down by spending time immersed in natural surroundings. Living not far from the Yarra River gave her plenty of places to explore. She had a favourite ‘sit spot’ where she would go to listen, tune in and relax.
She set about finding connection with nature in the city and sharing that with others. She became involved in running ‘Rewild’Fridays’, where she would lead groups in foraging for native edible weeds, or observing birdlife and birdsong. She also had an urban hunter gatherer challenge where she and her friends would only eat what they could forage, grow or barter with others for one week. She spent time with friends, first nations people and local environmentalists who provided insightful perspectives and knowledge and shared their relationships with the land.
Claire writes eloquently and soulfully about her love of nature in Rewilding the Urban Soul and the importance of tapping into this love when advocating for action on climate change and environmental issues. Several times I re-read passages of the book, or stopped to ponder her words as they were so poignant and lovely. I highly recommend this thought provoking, inspiring and interesting read.
Robyn
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