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Wildlife watching: 'The best form of meditation I can imagine' Wildlife watching: 'The best form of meditation I can imagine'
(35 minutes later)
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spent most of my twenties working in cities, with little time for wildlife. I'd spent most of my 20s working in cities, with little time for wildlife. I'd
hate to think of embracing nature as equivalent to tuning into Radio Two but hate to think of embracing nature as equivalent to tuning into BBC Radio 2 but
when I was in my thirties I felt increasingly alienated from nature, and when I was in my 30s I felt increasingly alienated from nature, and
anxious to return to it. So I decided to resurrect my childhood passion:anxious to return to it. So I decided to resurrect my childhood passion:
butterfly spotting.butterfly spotting.
MostMost
of us have to discard a bit of emotional baggage when we go wildlife watching.of us have to discard a bit of emotional baggage when we go wildlife watching.
For me, the problem was that badge of geekery, binoculars. Putting onFor me, the problem was that badge of geekery, binoculars. Putting on
binoculars but shrugging off that teenage self-consciousness about what theybinoculars but shrugging off that teenage self-consciousness about what they
symbolised was the first step to enjoying time out in nature.symbolised was the first step to enjoying time out in nature.
II
set myself a goal (I'm not obsessed with ticking things off but it helped atset myself a goal (I'm not obsessed with ticking things off but it helped at
first to have a focus for spending time in nature, something that got me out offirst to have a focus for spending time in nature, something that got me out of
the door – listening to nightingales, following a barn owl, watching badgers,the door – listening to nightingales, following a barn owl, watching badgers,
or recording bumblebees. Deeper pleasures then took over) to find all 59or recording bumblebees. Deeper pleasures then took over) to find all 59
species of British butterfly, and this hunt defined where and when I went. Itspecies of British butterfly, and this hunt defined where and when I went. It
forced me to seek out areas I knew nothing about, and in this way I encounteredforced me to seek out areas I knew nothing about, and in this way I encountered
my first revelation.my first revelation.
FocusingFocusing
on one small area of nature helps us make connections and interpret interestingon one small area of nature helps us make connections and interpret interesting
behaviour because we soon acquire a bit of expertise. Some people just lovebehaviour because we soon acquire a bit of expertise. Some people just love
birds of prey, others obsess over orchids or a limited group of insects.birds of prey, others obsess over orchids or a limited group of insects.
Butterflies are ideal for any beginner because there are only 59 species inButterflies are ideal for any beginner because there are only 59 species in
Britain; others swear by dragonflies (57) or bumblebees (24).Britain; others swear by dragonflies (57) or bumblebees (24).
At first, At first,
my identification skills were rusty (I mistook moths for butterflies andmy identification skills were rusty (I mistook moths for butterflies and
spent ages trying to identify a common "cabbage" white) and my mission spent ages trying to identify a common "cabbage" white) and my mission
was a bit embarrassing. Soon, however, the pleasures of lingering in was a bit embarrassing. Soon, however, the pleasures of lingering in
sunny meadows in scrappy corners of London and more conventionally sunny meadows in scrappy corners of London and more conventionally
beautiful nature reserves surpassed any lingering discomfort about beautiful nature reserves surpassed any lingering discomfort about
explaining to passersby what I was doing.explaining to passersby what I was doing.
I met some lovely fellow I met some lovely fellow
obsessives but most of my joy was a more solitary communion with the obsessives but most of my joy was a more solitary communion with the
countryside. By the end of the summer, I tracked down all 59, which was countryside. By the end of the summer, I tracked down all 59, which was
very satisfying but it wasn't really the point: my knowledge and feelingvery satisfying but it wasn't really the point: my knowledge and feeling
for Britain's wild places was drastically enlarged – butterflies had for Britain's wild places was drastically enlarged – butterflies had
open all kinds of symbolic and literal doors into nature.open all kinds of symbolic and literal doors into nature.
AfterAfter
my sunny butterfly mission I set myself a contrasting task: to explore themy sunny butterfly mission I set myself a contrasting task: to explore the
countryside at night and watch badgers properly for the first time. During onecountryside at night and watch badgers properly for the first time. During one
of my early fruitless badger hunts, I realised that my struggle with the gloomof my early fruitless badger hunts, I realised that my struggle with the gloom
was awakening long-dormant senses. I suddenly had an odd premonition I waswas awakening long-dormant senses. I suddenly had an odd premonition I was
being watched, turned around, and saw a tawny owl, gazing at me like one ofbeing watched, turned around, and saw a tawny owl, gazing at me like one of
those stone ornaments in the little-visited corners of a garden centre. Mythose stone ornaments in the little-visited corners of a garden centre. My
awareness felt like an echo of an era when an awareness of predators and preyawareness felt like an echo of an era when an awareness of predators and prey
was not merely a recreation.was not merely a recreation.
ThereThere
is no harder-to-get-to-know common mammal than the badger and yet watching oneis no harder-to-get-to-know common mammal than the badger and yet watching one
sett regularly over one summer soon gives you intimate knowledge of the habitssett regularly over one summer soon gives you intimate knowledge of the habits
of one clan of badgers; watchers who invest a lot of time in a sett are oftenof one clan of badgers; watchers who invest a lot of time in a sett are often
“accepted” by this notoriously shy species, and the badgers will even“accepted” by this notoriously shy species, and the badgers will even
scent-mark the boots of someone they come to recognise, if not as a friend thenscent-mark the boots of someone they come to recognise, if not as a friend then
at least as part of the furniture of their evenings.at least as part of the furniture of their evenings.
OurOur
lack of knowledge about nature sometimes means that wild places arelack of knowledge about nature sometimes means that wild places are
intimidating. Like taking up running, or swimming, however, it's surprising howintimidating. Like taking up running, or swimming, however, it's surprising how
quickly we improve with relatively little effort. Even without tuitionquickly we improve with relatively little effort. Even without tuition
(although I recommend some trips into nature with local conservation groups or(although I recommend some trips into nature with local conservation groups or
experts first as the quickest introduction; self-taught knowledge is alwaysexperts first as the quickest introduction; self-taught knowledge is always
harder won), we can piece together fragments of lost memories or instinctiveharder won), we can piece together fragments of lost memories or instinctive
understanding of nature, and begin to find meaning in what is unfolding beforeunderstanding of nature, and begin to find meaning in what is unfolding before
us.us.
ThereThere
are so many joys to be gathered watching wildlife and one of the greatest isare so many joys to be gathered watching wildlife and one of the greatest is
when we feel we have blended into the landscape and become part of the day,when we feel we have blended into the landscape and become part of the day,
night, or ecosystem. Our pursuit of the little details of nature – a species ofnight, or ecosystem. Our pursuit of the little details of nature – a species of
moth or a type of birdsong – are intrinsically pleasurable but they are alsomoth or a type of birdsong – are intrinsically pleasurable but they are also
sense sharpers, that bring us alive to the possibilities in a landscape: thesense sharpers, that bring us alive to the possibilities in a landscape: the
muntjac standing quietly behind us, the crackle of autumn leaves, the pong ofmuntjac standing quietly behind us, the crackle of autumn leaves, the pong of
the honey fungus.the honey fungus.
They give us an excuse to loiter in a landscape, to standThey give us an excuse to loiter in a landscape, to stand
still and simply be. They are a pathway to a much broader experience. On mystill and simply be. They are a pathway to a much broader experience. On my
nights out, I realised I was not really badger watching at all, I was dusknights out, I realised I was not really badger watching at all, I was dusk
watching, listening to the creatures of the day as they were superseded by thewatching, listening to the creatures of the day as they were superseded by the
creatures of the night, with their rustles and screams and unfathomable signalscreatures of the night, with their rustles and screams and unfathomable signals
which I did not comprehend but could still savour.which I did not comprehend but could still savour.
PerhapsPerhaps
it's not for everyone, but the sense of rest in the countryside between sunsetit's not for everyone, but the sense of rest in the countryside between sunset
and darkness is the best form of meditation I can imagine. It is a kind ofand darkness is the best form of meditation I can imagine. It is a kind of
peaceful exhilaration. Maybe people raised solely in the city would be immunepeaceful exhilaration. Maybe people raised solely in the city would be immune
to such pleasures. But I don't believe they would remain so for long. We onlyto such pleasures. But I don't believe they would remain so for long. We only
have to make time for nature, give it a chance to unfold, semi-naturally,have to make time for nature, give it a chance to unfold, semi-naturally,
before our eyes, ears and nostrils and it repays us, many times over, for ourbefore our eyes, ears and nostrils and it repays us, many times over, for our
modest investment.modest investment.
WeWe
need to feel we belong to human society, and sometimes nature watching can makeneed to feel we belong to human society, and sometimes nature watching can make
us feel we are eccentrics on the margins of conventional life. But we also atus feel we are eccentrics on the margins of conventional life. But we also at
some fundamental level need to feel we belong to the natural world. Being insome fundamental level need to feel we belong to the natural world. Being in
nature, allowing the near or distant wild to seep into us, is wonderfullynature, allowing the near or distant wild to seep into us, is wonderfully
liberating. We see ourselves as we truly are, a small living thing, part ofliberating. We see ourselves as we truly are, a small living thing, part of
much grander and older forces all around us. It's an appreciation for somethingmuch grander and older forces all around us. It's an appreciation for something
that in other eras people might have called God. I don't call it that (althoughthat in other eras people might have called God. I don't call it that (although
I've no grudge against people who do) but I worship this greater society ofI've no grudge against people who do) but I worship this greater society of
living things of which we are but one small part. It makes me feel much betterliving things of which we are but one small part. It makes me feel much better
about myself and much fonder of the world around me.about myself and much fonder of the world around me.
Tomorrow: Psychologist Oliver James on ecotherapy and wilderness programmes.Tomorrow: Psychologist Oliver James on ecotherapy and wilderness programmes.
Patrick Barkham is a natural history writer for the Guardian and the author of Patrick Barkham is a natural history writer for the Guardian and the author of
The Butterfly Isles - A Summer in Search of Our Emperors and Admirals The Butterfly Isles - A Summer in Search of Our Emperors and Admirals
and Badgerlands, published by Granta on 3 October 2013. Follow him on Twitter @patrick_barkham.and Badgerlands, published by Granta on 3 October 2013. Follow him on Twitter @patrick_barkham.
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