New Wildernesses : Lost Histories and Recovered Nature

Over the centuries, land and buildings have, in various ways, fallen out of use. In New Wildernesses, Chris Dodd explores fourteen unique places across Britain, discovering how, after being abandoned they have naturally rewilded. Once left alone, these landscapes have become wildernesses with rich habitats and wildlife. What can we learn from them?

From Wigan’s subsiding coalmines that created a region of lakes, to a Suffolk coastline facing rising sea levels; and from Pennine textile mills, now like overgrown Mayan ruins, to a Scottish dune-field that overwhelmed farmland, each has a unique story of its history and nature. During his explorations Chris meets a quietly inspiring cast of characters, including rangers and volunteers who now help protect these sites.

In this celebratory study of nature’s resilience, Chris offers up a different way to see the world around us, to ‘slow-explore’, and some simple actions we can all take: a way forward. New Wildernesses is uplifting, restorative and poetic in its power, proclaiming that positive change is always possible.