Harnessing inspiration from the natural world

Dr James Bashford

James is a neurologist, scientist, father, moth-er and writer. He is always trying to combine these pursuits in creative ways. And this website is all about some of the ideas he has come up with over the years. He really hopes it might boost your engagement with the natural world, even if just a little bit, not only benefitting your own health but also the health of all life on our wonderful planet.

Nature Within

by James BASHFORD

Reconnecting with Nature is the most important public health intervention of our time. Science has shown how our bodies are shaped by our environment – yet we still see ourselves as separate from the natural world. To protect human health, we need to reawaken our inner connection with Nature and prevent the destruction of our environment and the countless species we share it with.

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Buy Nature Within

Praise for Nature Within

'A beautiful, analytical and deeply human story of why reconnecting to the living biosphere is necessary, urgent, and provides us with the only path to resilience and harmony for all humans as an integral part of nature on planet Earth.' 
Professor Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

'This is a terrific book on a profound question: how does the Nature around us influence the Nature within us? I don’t know of another work that studies the question as deeply, nor with such elegance.' 
Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, economist and author of On Natural Capital

'A brilliant, nearly poetic, call for a vital human reconnection with nature to save us all.' 
Thom Hartmann, author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

We encourage everyone to set a little time aside for our natural neighbours and be rewarded with the perfect mix of vitality, solace and intrigue.

How it all started...

Having coined Wren & Bee from the middle names of our twin daughters, this website began life as a joint creative venture. Our young children compelled us to act amidst a climate emergency that will thwart the opportunities of successive generations much more than our own. And this was our way of expressing our passion for the natural world.

While the issues facing our planet and all of its residents are undoubtedly grave, this should not deter individual efforts. The right to be accurately informed about the scientific facts is fundamental, but sound logical reasoning, while essential, can only take us so far. We must also reconnect our creative right cerebral hemispheres with the mysterious and mythical aspects of Nature.

By collectively restoring our intricately evolved relationship with the natural world, an incentivised and compassionate crowd can bring about change anew. We believe this all begins with our communal reconnection with the surprising variety of organisms on our doorsteps.

In this hectic and uncertain world, we encourage all to set a little time aside for our natural neighbours and be rewarded with the perfect mix of vitality, solace and intrigue.

Suzi & James Bashford   

Here we are enjoying the Scottish coastline on the remote and spectacular Camas Mòr beach (the dog licking my face is Milo by the way - he gets a mention in the epilogue of Nature Within)

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