Author Archives: David Key

Diversity in Unity

Different does not mean inferior. Non-human does not mean further from the divine. The unity of wild nature will always, ultimately, prevail. Continue reading

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The Truth is Out There

The main problem, with the ‘environmental’ problem, is that it’s so energy-sappingly depressing. All those mind-numbing statistics about species extinction, escalating Parts Per Million of atmospheric carbon, another landscape racked by deforestation. A read through the “Jo’berg memo” for example, … Continue reading

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An Act of Prayer

A 13th Century map shows the whole world radiating out from Jerusalem. The holy city of the Judeo-Christian faith positioned dead-centre… the axis of the known universe.

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Flight of Fancy

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, Jun. 2002. In the 17th Century, women were publicly weighed to assess if they were lighter than they looked. Those who failed this diabolic weight-watching test were, obviously, witches.

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Dive into the Deep End

In my work running eco-education courses, I often witness intense discussions about ecology. As you can imagine, many of the people who would sign-up for an eco-education course are highly motivated and often passionate about environmental issues.

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Wild at Heart Conference 2003: Stating the Obvious.

On the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of May 2003, a conference took place at Glenmore Lodge in the Scottish Highlands on the psychology and philosophy of wild places. The event was organised by Footprint Education, Glenmore Lodge and … Continue reading

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Less is More

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, Jan. 2003. Back in the 1980’s there was a trend to blame the ecological issues facing the world on one simple cause – overpopulation. The story went like this… Current environmental problems are … Continue reading

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Zen and the Art of Minimum Impact

There’s something beautiful about the simplicity of a wild camp. Fetching water from a stream, lighting the stove, making a bed and preparing food. The well-planned wild journey will include plenty of time for such camp craft – for the … Continue reading

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The Philosophy & Psychology of Wild Places

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, May 2003. Since this date the conference mentioned was successfully convened and a report about it can be read here. Arne Naess, whose 90th Birthday was honoured through this conference, died on 12th … Continue reading

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What’s it Worth?

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, Oct. 2002. Last week I found myself 200 miles off the coast of Lands Ends in a small boat. A curious situation to be in and certainly one that was new to me. … Continue reading

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A Fugitive in the Wilderness

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, Issue 29, Dec. 2002 ‘The human mind’, writes educator David Orr, ‘is a product of the Pleistocene age, shaped by a wildness that has all but disappeared. If we complete the destruction of … Continue reading

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The Tree of Life

First published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, Sep. 2002. I’ve been wandering and working in wild places for over twenty years now. Growing up in the heart of the Peak District, with the ‘Eliminate’ face of Curbar Edge looming down … Continue reading

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