Author’s Note: In 2013 I wrote about the following story in my blog.

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We have no other world but this one. If we damage it irreparably we damage and destroy ourselves and what it means to be truly human.
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales

I was honoured to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening at the Universal Hall, celebrating the Findhorn Foundation’s role as a global force for positive change. We were celebrating three individuals—including myself—whose lives were shaped by our time here.

The historic evening was a report-back on WILD10, the 10th World Wilderness Congress (WWC), the longest-running international conservation project. It also marked 30 years since the 3rd World Wilderness Congress officially opened the Hall back in 1983.

From Findhorn to the Wild

The event highlighted the remarkable journey of Vance Martin, long-term president of The WILD Foundation, who lived in Findhorn for a decade and worked closely with the co-founders.

Vance shared that the community was always understood as a ‘preparatory school’ for ‘world work’. He said, “The 10 years at Findhorn gave me a base of experience, knowledge and vision… especially the understanding of working with inner allies and the effectiveness of collaboration, or community. These days we refer to it as subtle activism.”

Sharing the stage was Alan Watson Featherstone, who joined the Community in 1978 and founded Trees for Life, dedicated to restoring the Caledonian Forest.

Alan perfectly captured the connection, saying: “Findhorn’s pioneering work of cooperation and co-creation with Nature forms the heart of our project, as our project… is all about enabling what Nature is seeking to do in the Highlands herself.”

At WILD10, Alan noted the significant presence of our community: seven of us who have lived, or are still living, at Findhorn were among the 1,000 delegates.

Alan WF and Vance Martin photo Geoff Dalglish

Alan Watson Featherstone and Vance Martin in Salamanca

My Trail to Salamanca

I, the ‘Petrolhead turned Pilgrim,’ had the privilege of walking the Trail to Salamanca as an ambassador for WILD10 and its theme, ‘Make the World a Wilder Place.’

My epic 2,500km, 124-day trek along the Great Mountain Corridor followed the spoor of migrating wolves across six countries. The idea was to investigate the return of wildlife, including iconic predators like the grey wolf and brown bear, in the wake of land abandonment in Europe. I was lucky enough to see both, along with the bearded vulture.

“My walk gave me a glimpse of possibilities and introduced me to so many amazing conservationists and caring individuals who personify the greatness and generosity of the human spirit,” I reflected. “WILD10 was a wonderful gathering of hearts and minds that will spark many important conservation initiatives.”

The Prince’s Challenge

In a welcome message to WILD10 delegates, The Prince of Wales spoke of the terrifying downsides of seeing Nature as a force to be conquered.

“The loss and degradation of so many wild places … has hastened climate change and it is increasingly having a damaging impact,” he warned. Crucially, he added: “As we do away with wild places so we deprive the human spirit of an essential source of inspiration and solace.”

He concluded with the necessity of protecting and restoring wilderness – “quite literally the lungs of the world” – if our grandchildren are to have a manageable future. He reiterated the challenge that rings in my mind still: “We have no other world but this one. If we damage it irreparably we damage and destroy ourselves and what it means to be truly human.”