Julia Hailes MBE

Sustainability Pioneer

Calling new Archbishop to lead on protecting nature (Oct25)

We’ll soon have a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Normally, this would pass me by — I’m an atheist and not interested in religion. But I’ve been sent a campaign letter from Rewild Church Land that struck a chord. The campaign calls on the Church of England – one of the UK’s top ten landowners – […]

We’re wasting our Poo! (Sep25)

Humans produce around 1 million tonnes of poo every day and at least 80% of it is wasted. Aargh. On a finite planet, this is yet another example of how we squander precious resources. My son, Connor Bryant, recently highligthed the absurdity of almost every country measuring success in GDP, which essentially means that governments […]

Barbed Wire is a Killer – it should be banned (aug25)

This deer is looking a lot perkier than the one we found…. The faun was squealing in pain and distress as we approached. One of its hind legs had been snagged on barbed wire – the foot was hanging by a thread. I had to twist it off to free the poor animal. My son […]

How Do You Poo? Shortlisted for the Sustainable Story Awards (Aug25)

Have you ever really thought about poo? Why is it that wild animal poo can be wonderful for the planet but human poo has become such a problem? That’s the question at the heart of How Do You Poo?, a new children’s book I’m co-authoring with the brilliant Elsa Kent — an inspiring young educator […]

Have You Noticed an Insect Bonanza in 2025? (jul25)

Bugs are back – let’s fight to save them… Our garden is humming and buzzing with life this year – and it’s glorious. Every step through the wildflower meadows brings a flurry of movement. Bugs of all sorts dart between the grasses, butterflies spiral upward, bees bury into blooms. In the golden light of early […]

Cafe Bridge Bridport – our 2025 plans

WE’RE BACK! This will be our third year running Cafe Bridge in Bridport, and we can’t wait to welcome you again. The event will take place on Sunday 16th November 2025. Last year we hosted an incredible 160 players, making it the largest EBU club pairs event outside London — a record breaker! August 7th […]

No more Wilding Weekends – but Wilding is on the Rise…(jun25)

Have you ever seen a hedgehog, a hare or a barn owl? Heard the song of a nightingale or the unmistakable call of a cuckoo? Have you stood in a summer meadow and listened to the hum of insects? Many people haven’t. And what’s worse – many don’t realise what’s missing. These sights and sounds […]

What do you do with dog poo? (Jun25)

I was walking with a friend not long ago when she casually lobbed two dog poo bags into the hedge. My first thought was: Can I just ignore that and keep chatting? But of course I couldn’t. “Are you going to come back and collect those?” I asked, rather tentatively.“No,” she said. “They’re biodegradable. So […]

Consumers hoodwinked by Gillette ‘recycling’ scheme! (May25)

Here we go again — another shiny new recycling initiative promising to solve a minuscule part of our vast waste problem. This time, it’s Gillette’s razor blade recycling programme, offered in partnership with TerraCycle. It might sound noble: send back your used blades (any brand!) through the post and feel good about “doing your bit.” […]

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, the foundation has expanded his innovative ideas and principles, bringing them to communities around the quarry and across other parts […]