Sneak preview of George Monbiot's 'Feral' in our Book Club

Annabella Macris

14 February 2013

I'm very excited by next week's Friends of the Earth book club on 20 February 2013, 1-2pm, at our London office. 

George Monbiot, environmental journalist and activist, is coming in to give us a sneak-preview of his forthcoming book Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding, to be published on 30 May 2013 by Allen Lane. It explores the idea of recreating wilderness on a massive scale - he calls it re-wilding. I have a feeling it's going to be a lively discussion.

Re-wilding involves letting land lie unmanaged, tearing down fences, blocking drainage and re-introducing lost species such as wolf, beaver and wildboar.

Monbiot wants to see re-wilding take place on a vast scale to include unused agricultural land (where farmers cannot afford to continue farming). The purpose of re-wilding is to allow the ecosystem to restore itself. George Monbiot argues that exposure to wilderness is also essential to our own wellbeing.

Monbiot's book offers a bold new manifesto. Never shy of courting controversy, this could be his most radical idea yet.

Monbiot is so convinced of the importance of re-wilding that he says he'll devote much of the rest of his working life toward achieving this aim. It goes far beyond simply trying to slow down environmental destruction. It has already stirred-up farmers and even some conservationists.

Should we try to control nature or leave it alone to do its thing?

Re-wilding sounds right to me in relation to our depleted oceans - but what about re-wilding closer to home?

Stop for a moment and think about the society we live in. We go to pieces whenever a wasp flies into a room, we treat most wild animals as pests, and in a week when a fox mauled an infant in London, re-wilding isn't going to be an easy ride.

Hear George talk about his book

This may yet be our most controversial book club so far - will you join us? Email to reserve a place - [email protected]

Join the discussion

What do you think about re-wilding? Do you have a question for George? Post your comments below.

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