My name is Steve Jones. I have worked in UK and international wildlife conservation for around fifteen years.
In this blog, I’ll be writing about wild nature – in other words, those parts of the world we chose to leave aside for nature to do its thing. Hence the title – Natural Areas.
There’s a passionate debate, often heated, about how best to keep or make space for nature.
Some argue that it’s best to acknowledge that the human enterprise has spread across much of the planet’s land and sea surface, and that we should look to accommodate nature within these humanised land and sea scapes.
Others argue that we should concentrate human land uses in some areas and set aside and protect other areas for nature.
I argue that we actively pursue both approaches and should continue to do so. But, having worked to accommodate nature in farmed and urban areas for much of my life, here I’ll focus more on those areas set aside, where nature takes priority.
I have strong opinions about how best to conserve wild nature, and I’ll be expressing them in this blog. You may well not agree with all or some of what I say, and I encourage you to challenge me, because I love a good debate!
You may come across links to Amazon on my blog similar to those below. These are my Associate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something from Amazon after clicking such a link, I might earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Some links to useful stuff:
Being at the start of my author and video-making journey – more of a gruelling hike really – I’m in need of frequent caffein hits. Please consider buying me a coffee to satisfy my need for caffein here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stevejwildwriter
Sign up to my email list here for (ir)regular updates: https://steve-jones-wild-writer.ck.page/055fa825b6
I use the wonderful Draft2Digital to format my ebooks and printed books and to distribute them widely. Go explore how you can publish with Draft2Digital at my affiliate programme page here: https://www.draft2digital.com/stevejonesd2dfriends
Find my books at my Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/3EmQ79k
View Ventnor videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXsfprjfB6v38q136mWyTVerKFtKwVj39
The gear I use (all Amazon affiliate links from which I can earn a small commission):
– My binoculars: https://amzn.to/47hBVeB and https://amzn.to/49Jzdjt
– I use the iPhone Mini 13 to shoot all my videos (Amazon link): https://amzn.to/3q8dYpz
– I use the dji microphone set to record audio: https://amzn.to/44ZjOZp
– I edit my videos on an iPad Mini: https://amzn.to/3NWby5e
My books (Amazon affiliate links from which I can earn a small commission):
– Read more about bird watching on Ventnor Downs in my booklet, Bird Watching around Ventnor, Isle of Wight, here (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3QjRbSy
– My book about wildlife watching around Ventnor: https://amzn.to/3EeAKjf
– My book about nature writing: https://amzn.to/455q6Xo
– Creating species-rich grassy-shrublands: https://amzn.to/3qeDUQB
– Writing and publishing books on your smartphone: https://amzn.to/3DIxrAA
– Creating a location-independent lifestyle during 2023: https://amzn.to/3KpTr6Z
My van life-related reading list:
My favourite, from Romana Startfield: https://amzn.to/3RLCBDS
Hudson’s vanlife book: https://amzn.to/3LMMw8y
Odom’s minimalist van lifer book: https://amzn.to/3Q7cBlu
Kristine’s vanlife book collection: https://amzn.to/3PZSzcl
Some of my favourite books on the craft of book self-publishing:
How to make a living from your writing: https://amzn.to/47oHdo8
How to market a book: https://amzn.to/478aW4T Let’s get digital: https://amzn.to/478anrT
Strangers to superfans: https://amzn.to/3MEBZga Wide for the win: https://amzn.to/3SAJ5WJ
From zero to four figures: https://amzn.to/3QQxly6
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Natural Areas 