“If you’re going to work hard and look back at the end of every week at all you’ve done, it might as well be something you’ve enjoyed and that made a difference to the world.”
- James, Man About Country
It’s me, again, at last.
I took a week off from Urban Nature Diary, which turned into two, which turned into four.
I walked a lot, read a lot, attended a couple of film festivals, and I’m learning that having any kind of time to indulge in things we love is a gift we should give ourselves as often as we can.
But that’s not why I’m here.
I’m here to share the fabulous work of Man About Country, who has demonstrated how getting up from our desks and out of our homes can do us a world of good.
I’ve known James since we met at school, back in the day. I’ve been admiring his work over the last few years as he has carved a career out of connecting people with nature through storytelling and guided walks.
I’ve yet to find someone as passionate about celebrating the beauty of Britain as him, so it was a pleasure to sit down and chat about his work, what he loves about this country and why he’s now dedicating himself to sharing that love with as many people as he can.
I recorded the conversation for you to listen to in your own time. But, as he so neatly put it, "in a hazelnutshell”:
A long-term love of the outdoors really took off when James realised just how valuable it was to him and the benefits it had, and he started to think about how he can pay it back.
It started from a desire to get more people in this country outside, breaking away from the idea that people need to go to Lanzarote or Thailand on holiday while we already live in a remarkable place that so many people have left unexplored. “We live in a beautiful country and we need to get over this grey cloud, grey concrete idea that it’s not a beautiful place.”
“I wanted to share this country through the lens in which I see it. Here’s the coast, here are the mountains, the forests, the beaches, the places you could be hanging out, here are the historical sites, to enchant people about this country, to get them outdoors and the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that brings.”
To pull people in, James has found himself drawn to the art of storytelling, bringing the landscape to life through its rich human history.
“History’s all about kings and generals, but I’m more interested in what we, the common people, were doing. Why let the world be a boring lifeless place when actually it can be full of enchantment and it’s all within our power and imaginations? You can see Stonehenge as a bunch of stones that somehow haven’t fallen down, or you can see it as an incredible temple beyond comprehension that was used to monitor the sky and conduct rituals. It’s a proper rabbit hole, and I love tumbling down it.”
James’s enthusiasm for the world is infectious, and I left the conversation bursting with inspiration. I strongly recommend pouring yourself your favourite drink and taking half an hour to listen to our full chat. If you’re hearing impaired and would like to read a complete transcript of the interview, just respond to this email or comment below and I will send one over.
Stay up to date with James’s adventures on Instagram and his website.
I’d love to hear about your own country stories, so share the places and the myths that resonate with you in the comments, wherever you live in the world.
I’d love to do more features like this. If you enjoyed this and would like to see and hear more, consider supporting Urban Nature Diary by becoming a paid subscriber.
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