the sacred nature initative
if we take care of nature, nature will take care of us
AN URGENT NEED, A PRESSING PRIORITY
England is one of the world's most nature depleted countries.
What passes for nature are swathes of monoculture spruce plantations, manmade lakes, stately homes and a few remnant patches of old oak woodland. It’s a country where horses and cows pass for wildlife. Where sheep farms pass for national parks. Where upland moors are devoted to grouse shooting. Where history and heritage is celebrated – because there is so little else!
The loss of our natural landscapes is a major contributor to climate change and demands our urgent attention.
English wildlife?
Our Mission
Inspire
Through the power of stunning photography, film and narrative, we aim to capture people's hearts and souls and inspire them to respect, value and connect with nature in all its glory. Ours is a landscape scale ambition.
Educate
We depend on nature for everything. In destroying it, we destroy ourselves. In protecting it, we secure our future. There is an urgent need to bring people on board with what is obvious to us, in the light of the multiple challenges we all face.
Conserve
We seek to play a catalytic role alongside other conservation agencies in helping to protect and restore our wild spaces, and particularly to prevent further loss. Protecting individual species only makes sense if we also protect their ecosystems.
A new brand of advocacy
While many people intuitively value nature, decision makers too often fail to prioritise a sustainable nature in their quest for development and growth. The Sacred Nature Initiative employs a unique brand of advocacy to influence people – leaders and citizens – to prioritise nature and wildlife conservation. We want to identify and create novel mechanisms that will change our way of thinking about and interacting with nature. We want to change the way people value nature and wildlife and how they regard land as an inexhaustible resource.
We've struggled to find images of England's natural landscapes because they are so few! It's time to protect and restore our wild spaces and wild species for the sake of our health, our sanity, our future – and our very survival.
Steve Shelley, SNI Chair
ABOUT US
An idea born amid the great ecosystems of East Africa, where nature is still sacred.
The Sacred Nature Initiative was founded by authors, photographers and film makers Jonathan and Angela Scott and is run in the UK by Steve Shelley. SNI is privileged to have a high profile board of advisors, many of whom are renowned conservationists.
“Take it personally: this is your world that’s being destroyed, your children’s future that’s being compromised. Get angry and get active.”
Mary Robinson, former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
JOIN US
If you care passionately about nature and would like to be involved, please get in touch.