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Julia Hailes MBE

Sustainability Pioneer

"When I started as an environmentalist nearly 40 years ago it felt like we were making a real difference. Now it's clear we haven't done nearly enough. We need to take a more radical approach. My mission is to change current thinking and change mindsets."

Our 3rd and final Wilding Weekend was held on 15th & 16th of June, 2024. Find out more about wilding and see my interviews with Isabella Tree - Queen of Wilding - and Rene Haller, a wilding pioneer in Africa.

I am a Director of Rubbish Ideas. We are a mission-driven company aiming to create a waste-free world by promoting the circular economy.

"Inspiring, Challenging Provocative, Informed, Amusing, Humorous, Passionate, Insightful, Experienced, Brilliant, Thought-Provoking, Educations, Personal, Energetic, Imaginative Fresh, Controversial, Fantastic, Superb, Warm, Incisive, Interesting, Opinionated."

Rainforest Trust UK

If there’s one issue I care about more than any other it’s the destruction of the rainforests. Join me in supporting the Rainforest Trust in doing what we can to preserve what we've got.

Find out more about books, videos, articles, podcasts and anything else that I recommend.

Have a look at my YouTube channel for videos about our wilding weekends, our scything day, interviewing Isabella Tree, Sky TV, archive footage of my TV appearances in the 1980s and 1990s and much more! There’s even one with my mum’s funeral - she was the first person in the UK to be buried in a mycelium coffin!

"When I started as an environmentalist nearly 40 years ago it felt like we were making a real difference. Now it's clear we haven't done nearly enough. We need to take a more radical approach. My mission is to change current thinking and change mindsets."

René Haller – an inspirational man (Mar25)

René Haller transformed a lifeless quarry into a vibrant, flourishing ecosystem. This blog explores his groundbreaking work on the Kenyan coast and how it led to the creation of the Haller Foundation. Together with René,

My Instagram Feed

Not built by Monsieur Eiffel himself, but by one o

Not built by Monsieur Eiffel himself, but by one of his disciples – and rather splendid it is too. We strolled along the lower deck this morning, then followed the river Douro all the way to the sea, where we stopped for a delicious lunch. Later, we returned to cross the upper deck, with sweeping views and a warm breeze. Mocktails, tapas, and buskers rounded off the day as the sun dipped below the horizon – a perfect end to a perfect day.

Beautiful hair with a muscled body is a bit of a t

Beautiful hair with a muscled body is a bit of a thing in Porto.

I have never seen someone with tattoos all over he

I have never seen someone with tattoos all over her face and so dense on the arms. Isn’t she amazing?

Are you tempted to do a detox? We’re starting o

Are you tempted to do a detox? We’re starting one on 5th April and I’m rather excited. You can sign up too - and you’ll get all the support you need through WhatsApp and emails. See the attached brochure for more details.   Dena, who is running it, is great on health and lifestyle, but she’s also a superb cook and so I’m sure she’ll be coming up with some amazing recipes to follow. She says the benefits include improved energy, weight balance, skin clarity, mood, immunity, sleep and liver cleansing. What’s not to like?

We’re doing the full whammy version from 5th to 13th April - it costs 150 Euros. But there’s a Beginner Detox version too from 5th to 7th April at 75 Euros. Email Dena for more information. mailto:dena@andrenawoodhams.com

Have you ever marvelled at the beautiful rainfores

Have you ever marvelled at the beautiful rainforest stretching into a deep blue horizon. I’ve been talking at the Rainforest Trust about my recent trip to Guyana,Suriname and French Guyana. Over 80% and 90% forested but under threat from mono culture crops, burning, mining, hunting wildlife to extinction and the discovery of oil with ask that entails. The brilliant thing is that @rainforesttrustuk they have a campaign to save over 2 million acres of forest. ( with their US counterpart) if you contribute to this now your money will be doubled!!!! Here’s the link. https://www.justgiving.com/page/julia-hailes-1 The Guyana forests are part of the Amazon. We learnt how urgent this campaign is because that huge forest is getting close to a tipping point. If we deforest over 20% it is thought that it will start emitting carbon rather than capturing it - currently we’ve reached a frightening milestone of 17% destroyed. Crikey. Join me in doing what we can to help and meanwhile bring some hope to the Guyana forests and their indigenous people many of whom are fighting for their survival in the land of their ancestors.

Have you ever heard of Rene Haller. @hallerrene W

Have you ever heard of Rene Haller. @hallerrene Whether you have or you haven’t you might find it interesting to read my two recent blogs about this inspiring man, the pioneer of Wilding in Africa. He has spent the past 6 decades transforming the landscape on the Kenyan coast just north of Mombasa. When he arrived at Bamburi the cement factory was surrounded by a moonscape of mined coral. Now you can see large areas where he started planting trees and which have become lush and fertile ecosystems. I won’t tell you the full story because I hope you will read my blogs. The photos are from the 20th anniversary celebration of the Haller foundation last year now known as Haller. It was co-founded by @louisepiper and myself and is now run by @chloefordwelman. Also included in the photos are @hallerdany and @guido.haller as well as one of the former Haller chairs, Charlie Middleton. I can’t find him on Instagram but he was a former CEO of @triodosuk at one point. https://juliahailes.com/how-rene-haller-became-a-wilding-pioneer-in-africa-mar25/ And. https://juliahailes.com/rene-haller-an-inspirational-man-mar25/ @thehallerfoundation

@bertie.clark and @johncolfox have done an amazing

@bertie.clark and @johncolfox have done an amazing job converting our barn from a workshop to a totally recycled bedroom and utility room. They have used lots of old wood that was lying around, a trunk top as a splash back to the sink, curtain rings as door handles, a spirit level, an old door and many other quirky objects. Thank you for doing such a marvellous job. If anyone is interested in having some work done it needn’t be as quirky as ours. Let me know if you’d like contact details.

Wonderful to see the sun inside too. Such a contr

Wonderful to see the sun inside too. Such a contrast to the constant rain.

Do you know any 12 year olds? If so, you'll want t

Do you know any 12 year olds? If so, you'll want to listen to this wonderful podcast. It's an interview with my husband, Jamie Macdonald's grandson, Ewen Macdonald, about books.

I can't believe how on the ball he is. He talks about a wide range of books and his favourite genre which is dystopian fiction! And, yes, he not only knows what that means but is able to describe it too!

If you'd like to buy a book for a 12-year-old, or if you simply want to be amazed, please listen to this wonderful podcast.

It's a family affair because it has been created by Jamie's daughter, Fleur (Ewen's aunt), who is incredibly knowledgeable about books. However, that part doesn't run in the family because Jamie is the opposite of a book worm!!

Fleur's podcast is called @__shelflife

Here is the podcast
on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/shelf-life/id1744399638

on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pAcgE2ZxDAAhtNtg3AC99?si=53294a2f2aab496d&nd=1&dlsi=dcd68dee97984ee6

I have to admit that I’m quite glad to be home.

I have to admit that I’m quite glad to be home. I’ve still got some posts from our trip and lots of thoughts and ideas. Very pleased to see Ziggy. But a big change in temperature.

I’m sure I’m not alone in loving fruit and veg

I’m sure I’m not alone in loving fruit and veg displays. This one was by the side of the road as we were leaving Paramaribo, Suriname. I couldn’t buy anything except a coconut as we weren’t cooking. @desmonddaytrips_ @wilderness.explorers

A peacock doing its stuff in front of the peahens.

A peacock doing its stuff in front of the peahens. It was strange to see such a beautiful thing when we were witnessing the horrors of times past. It was the penal colony islands where Papillon was sent. What they did to the convicts was truly awful- disgusting.

As we all know the Dutch are expert at land draina

As we all know the Dutch are expert at land drainage. What most of you may not know is that they put their expertise to good use in their colony of Suriname ( independent since 1975). Another interesting thing about Suriname is that there’s an incredible mix of races who have arrived at different times and for different reasons. One of them is the Indonesians. At Rust and Werk they have formed an idyllic community along side the canals. No cars and children playing on bikes. Warm climate. One not so appealing part of it is that like many others here the men enjoy capturing and competing with song birds, which they keep in cages. Sadly they don’t breed them but capture them from the wild where many of the most tuneful species are becoming extinct. @desmonddaytrips_ @wilderness.explorers

You can clearly see this mother and baby squirrel

You can clearly see this mother and baby squirrel monkey jumping through the trees in this series of photos and a video too. Also taken at the Peperpot National park with @desmonddaytrips_ and @wilderness.explorers

Another gloriously coloured reptile! What a beaut

Another gloriously coloured reptile! What a beautiful green. Surinam. @wilderness.explorers

River dolphin in the Suriname river today. They ap

River dolphin in the Suriname river today. They appeared within seconds of us starting a boat trip. And continued to pop up doing their best to jump before we could catch them on camera. @wilderness.explorers

Intriguing to look round the smart area of Georget

Intriguing to look round the smart area of Georgetown, Guyana. Even the prime minister’s residence and the iconic tallest wooden church had multiple wires in front of them. I’m a bit obsessed with wires in cities because it mystifies me how they could possibly work or get fixed.

Isn’t he marvellous? Welcoming us to Paramaribo

Isn’t he marvellous? Welcoming us to Paramaribo in Suriname. Please send suggestions for what he might be saying! @wilderness.explorers @johnbelkington @rubbish_connor @monts.merlin

The market in Georgetown, Guyana, wasn’t on our

The market in Georgetown, Guyana, wasn’t on our schedule - but we managed to persuade our guide to stop there. It was wonderful, as markets all over the world, often are. Full of colour, vibrant and some very interesting characters down every little alley way. Here are a few photos from our visit. We could easily have stayed for a lot longer!

This sweet looking golden frog lives in a little p

This sweet looking golden frog lives in a little pool of water collected in the heart of a plant growing near Kaieteur Falls. We were lucky enough to see it poke its nose out…

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How René Haller became a Wilding Pioneer – in Africa (Mar25)

René Haller transformed the barren landscape on the Kenyan coast from quarrying

Visiting the rainforests might save them! (Mar25)

I’m not someone who buries their head in the sand—or in this

The Pantanal changed my life (Nov24)

Have you ever been to the Pantanal in Brazil? I have. It

Stop Destroying Bembridge (Jul24)

Is all housing good housing? I think not. Look what’s happening in

Come to Cafe Bridge in Bridport! (17Nov24)

WHAT IS CAFE BRIDGE? Some of you will already know that Cafe

Shameful BBC Totally Ignores Nature March – jun24

What possible reason could there be for the BBC totally ignoring up

Swansong of our first Green MP – Caroline Lucas – Jun24

Have you ever heard Caroline Lucas, our first Green MP, speak? If

Wilding Weekend – June 2024

Full steam ahead for our third Wilding Weekend. It will be on

Wilding Weekend 2024 (Apr24 Update)

Full steam ahead for our third Wilding Weekend. It will be on

Saving frogs and forests in Ghana (mar24)

Do you love frogs? You’re not alone. I love them too. Last

To burn or not to burn (Mar24)

Are fires the best way of getting rid of garden waste or

Sky News interviews me on e-waste (Jan24)

Are you concerned about e-waste? If not you should be! Over half

In conversation with Isabella Tree (Nov23)!!

The Electric Palace in Bridport was packed. The Bridport Literary Festival or Bridlit had

Why do scything & wilding go hand in hand (oct23)

Our scything day was joyous. Watching the scythers sweep through the grass

Isabella Tree’s Wilding film is spectacular (Oct23)

Wilding Weekend Video (Sep23)

Watch the video of our Wilding Weekend, held in June 2023 –

Our Wilding Weekend Was Wonderful! (Jun23)

It was tremendously exciting to get such positive feedback from visitors to

Come to Cafe Bridge in Bridport, West Dorset on Sunday 19th November, 2023

AUGUST 2024 UPDATE: Bridport Cafe Bridge 2023 was a great success with

COME TO OUR WILDING WEEKEND ON 17TH & 18TH OF JUNE 2023

During the weekend there will be guided tours, talks, exhibitors and stalls

Dorset Life interviews me! (Jun23)

I loved being described as ‘probably the most effective person you’ve never

No Fence Farming in Romania (May23)

We cycled for over 100 miles and didn’t go through a gate.

We’re going to the Big One – Friday 21st April 2023

The invitation is for everybody to Unite to Survive at ‘The Big One’ –

Sheep are like locusts (Apr23)

A flock of sheep will eat pretty well everything in their path

Our Wilding Weekend in June 2023 (Mar Update)

On 17th and 18th June 2023, my husband Jamie Macdonald and I