Cafe Conversation on Nature: how can we help nature thrive in the Borders?

“We are part of nature, it makes us feel good, connected, grounded. Nature is not something separate from us – we are part of it, constantly shaping it, in partnership with all the other species with whom we share our planet” is how I would sum up my feeling when I came out of Chris’ meeting room at the Wynd in Melrose. 

For most of us, our love-affair with nature started in our early years, at school, in our parents’ gardens, the plant collections, the outdoor groups …a passion some of us managed to convert into a professional career, both locally and further afield.

There is a lot happening in support of nature across the region, from individual or local community projects to larger civil society-led endeavours and statutory body interventions, such as Nature Scot. Highlights include enabling local communities to create their own natural spaces, interconnecting existing natural spaces to create wildlife corridors; providing a place for local communities to grow food in a nature friendly way; celebrating our connection with nature through art; maintaining and creating new areas of woodland and working with land users to manage areas adjacent to protected areas – see the full meeting report for details.

This is not to say that all is well. Despite all the green we see around us, there are very little truly ‘wild’ spaces left in the Borders. The way we manage land in general is still very unfriendly towards the other species with whom we share this part of the world and many of us feel at a loss as to how to make a real difference. Some thought that legislation is a key element and that there was a case for land-value taxes as a possible incentive for more nature-friendly land uses. And that residents and organisations should lobby their respective Members of the Scottish Parliament to give nature a voice in national policy processes. 

All in all, a very positive and enjoyable evening, with a lot of information and ideas for future actions, and new friendships made.

This then ends our current season of conversations about climate, food and nature. The focus now is on analysing the main messages and feedback before planning our next season. Watch this space!