"Our fate flows with that of rivers, and always has" ....Robert Macfarlane

I have just returned from my travels to the island of Sao Miguel, the largest of the Azorean islands, 900 miles off the coast of Portugal. If sea pools warmed by thermal volcanic springs, fabulous food, costing a fraction of standard european city prices, and views to take your breath away is your vibe then add The Azores to your bucket list.

Apart from all of the above the one thing that stood out on my return to the Cotswolds was the water! I am quite sure I need not tell you the appalling state of our local rivers, the bitter taste of our running water and the despicable behaviour of giants like Thames Water. There are over 90000 kilometers of rivers in the UK and every one is crucial for freshwater habitats, wildlife, and human use.

Every river I came across on Sao Miguel was gin clear, of course they have their issues, Sao Miguel is home to a great many pasturelands but there appears to be a care and a lack of greed that allows the rivers to flow and contribute to the islands lush landscape and diverse wildlife habitats.

Change is needed and if it does not come soon our own beautiful landscape will be changed for the worse. If you are interested in joining the debate then the above book by celebrated writer, Robert Macfarlane is an excellent place to start. It is both informative and perspective shifting and answers a resounding yes to the question in the title.

At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings – who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Inspired by the activists, artists and lawmakers of the young ‘Rights of Nature’ movement, Macfarlane takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.

This book may be one of the most important titles to be published this year. We are delighted that Robert has agreed to sign 10 copies for The Madhatter Bookshop, you can reserve your copy by calling 01993 822539.

Post script: this very short film resonated with me personally and I wanted to share it with you.

Click to Watch