"For Our Children's Earth: Building the Soil, Sustaining the Future." A talk given at Braziers Park College.

              

               "Soil is the foundation of life and friendship."

I gave a talk at Braziers Park College last Friday, to begin their Wider Community Weekend, entitled "For Our Children's Earth - building the soil, sustaining the future." 

Here is a summary: 

“Soil is the fragile living skin of the Earth. It is living because it contains an amazing number of different organisms, and a billion microbes are present in a single teaspoonful of soil. It is fragile because it is prone to degradation, principally by erosion. According the United Nations, 30% of the world's crop-land has been abandoned over the past 40 years due to degradation and desertification. 

However, we must produce 60% more food by 2050, to match a population that is predicted to increase from 8.3 billion now, to 9.8 billion, then. Thus, we are destroying the productivity of that same land from which we demand a relentless increase in production. Is disaster inevitable? 

Soil is also connected to water and energy supplies. Lose the soil, and we lose everything. Local community resilience, permaculture, and changing our education system are all critical to a thriving future. Things have to change."

The audience was enthusiastic and engaging, providing excellent questions for the Q&A session, ranging from the nature and properties of soil itself, through energy, human ecological overshoot, national and world governance, Transition Towns, and the need to transform the university system in the times at hand.

I sold a copy of my black-comedy novel, "University Shambles" to a very warm and friendly American chap who gave me £20, and said, "keep the rest as a donation for all your good work." I wrote a dedication in the book for him: “To... "Soil is the foundation of life and friendship,” which I believe is actually the truth!

He also asked me where I bought my shirts from, as he thought they were very smart and wanted some to wear himself. :-)

"Becoming Nature Positive" & "Transition Town Reading: What If a Better World Were Possible?" Film double bill, Tuesday June 9th (2026), 7 pm, Reading Biscuit Factory.

"While many of the World's problems are global – the climate emergency, resource scarcity, pollution, overconsumption and wealth inequality – the local level is becoming an increasingly potent source of adaptable, systemic change."

 

                                        

Overview.

Reading Climate Festival is pleased to bring you this FREE screening, in collaboration with Transition Town Reading and the Reading Biscuit Factory.

A double bill of short films highlighting both the global impact of the climate and nature crises, and celebrating and inspiring positive action right here in Reading.

The event will be held at the Reading Biscuit Factory, at 7.00 pm on Tuesday, June 9th (2026), 1 Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QE.

                                                   Here is the booking link

Overview of the films.

‘Becoming Nature Positive'

A new 30-minute film created by the Nature Positive Initiative and co-produced with Open Planet Studios, featuring top voices from across the global sustainability community.

The vision behind the film is to highlight the nature crisis, less visible than the climate crisis but equally dangerous and interconnected. While laying bare the importance to urgently halt and reverse nature loss and exploring solutions, the film sets out key elements of the transition to a nature-positive economy and society.

 

'Transition Town Reading, what if a better world were possible?'

In the heart of Reading, local changemakers are harnessing the power of nature and community to realise their vision of a better world.

While many of the World's problems are global – the climate emergency, resource scarcity, pollution, overconsumption and wealth inequality – the local level is becoming an increasingly potent source of adaptable, systemic change.

Our film celebrates and brings together 7 brilliant community led initiatives across energy, water, waste, nature connection and ecosystem restoration.

These include, pub dwellers rallying to restore their local marsh, a community owned hydro-power project, solar energy installed all across town, community tree planting, and Solar Punk stories of the future, writ large across public walkways.

The film is about the joy of possibility in the face of uncertainty, cultivating a deep collective sense of place, and the power of local community action.

 

Post-film Panel Q&A.

The two films will be followed by an audience Q&A with a panel of local experts and champions featured in the Transition Town film, joined by Professor Tom Oliver, Professor of Applied Ecology from the University of Reading.

This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2026. Browse the full two-week programme here.

Reading has a new framework for collective climate action, covering the years 2026 to 2030! Local organisations and volunteers can get involved here.

"Fires & Fascism", film screening plus Q&A with the film director, Dr Peter Knapp. Wednesday 27th May 7.30pm, Reading International Solidarity Centre.

 An hour’s documentary linking European wildfires and far-right politics; arguing that fires are not only because of climate change. 

Commentary from Greece, Italy, Spain & Portugal showing local communities successfully acting together to bring about change.

With Dr Peter Knapp, film director. 

Wednesday 27^th May  7.30pm  free/donations

"The Little Things That Run the World": Film screening + Panel Discussion, with Transition Town Reading, 6.00 pm on Tuesday, June 16th (2026).

"Anyone who cares about our natural world and our place in it should watch this documentary."                               

As part of the Reading Climate Festival (2026), and in collaboration with Transition Town Reading, join us for a screening of "The Little Things That Run the World", including a post-film Q&A panel discussion. To be held at the independent cinema, "Reading Biscuit Factory," at 6.00 pm on Tuesday, June 16th (2026), 1 Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QE.

                                              Here is the booking link

The Film:

"The Little Things that Run the World" introduces viewers to a diverse group of scientists, nature lovers, gardeners, farmers, and general bug enthusiasts in exploring the importance of flying insects amid rapid declines in their numbers. This most numerous group of animals on the planet by far—three quarters of all animal species—have also been called the "glue of life" on Earth. They literally hold ecosystems together.

Insects were the first animals to evolve flight nearly 440 million years ago, and they survived all five of the known mass extinctions since then. But, there is evidence that the pace of decline among insects in parts of the world today is fast approaching the levels of previous catastrophes. What this means for the rest of life on Earth, including humans, is the focus of the film.

The film documents the mysteries of the declines alongside creative and heroic human efforts to change the course of evolutionary history. What is causing this extinction crisis? What can be done to reverse the trend? The Little Things that Run the World attempts to find answers to those questions and more."


Post-film Q&A panel:

Prof Chris Rhodes, Director of Fresh-lands Environmental Actions, and Chair of Transition Town Reading.

Dr Chris Foster, Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of Reading, and University lead for biodiversity on the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

Grahame Hawker, Vice-chair of the Upper Thames branch of Butterfly Conservation, and President of the Reading and District Natural History Society.

Tricia Marcouse, environmental engineer and local naturalist, focussing on benefits of local green spaces on behalf of ECONET and RDNHS.

Evening Programme:

6.00 pm, "The Little Things That Run the World"

7.45 pm, short break

8.00 pm, Q&A panel discussion

8:35 pm, approx. finish


Film Director:

Doug Hawes-Davis

Reviews "The Little Things That Run the World is a visual treat! You'll come for the incredible insect photography and stay for the important lessons on land use, habitat disruption, native plants, and avoiding monocultures. This is an important and visually entrancing film that reminds us of the perils of ignoring the needs of our invertebrate neighbors." Chris Stelzig, Executive Director, Entomological Society of America "What a terrific and timely summary of the global status of insects! E.O. Wilson and more than a dozen other world-renown scientists provide insightful critiques of the anthropogenic causes of insect declines and what we can do going forward to protect insect biodiversity. The stunning photography, sobering statistics, and insightful interviews make the film a valuable resource for students, educators, conservation biologists, policy makers, and environmentalists looking to build a more sustainable and just future for humanity and nature." David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut "At times inspiring, at times heartbreaking, The Little Things That Run the World digs into understanding global insect decline. Today we are experiencing a new Silent Spring. The causes now are more complex and daunting, and we are moving closer to irreversible extinctions of the pollinators and ecosystem engineers that power the food webs supporting humanity. Yet this hopeful film shows that solutions are local, and that in our gardens, farms, and cities, we are far from helpless to turn the tide." Daniel Gruner, Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland "The Little Things That Run the World provides a thorough exploration of insect declines that includes historic context, scientific evidence, and examples of individuals making a difference. The film provides a great example of bringing peer-reviewed scientific literature to life. Pairing viewings of the films with readings of scientific literature referenced in the film or other scientific work by scientists featured in the film would be a great classroom activity." Elaine Evans, Extension Professor of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Author, Befriending Bumble Bees: A Guide to Raising Local Bumble Bees and Managing Alternative Pollinators "Insects are facing unprecedented decline, and we are to blame. This excellent documentary gives experts in the field of Entomology a powerful platform from which to sound the alarm. Anyone who cares about our natural world and our place in it should watch this documentary to learn what is happening and what we should be doing to fix what we have broken." Ryan St Laurent, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Curator of Entomology, Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado-Boulder "Deeply engaging...Leaves us with a sense of wonder and a gentle, optimistic call to action, inspiring us to appreciate and protect the delicate balance of our natural world. It's a mesmerizing exploration of the vital yet often overlooked role of insects in our global ecosystem...A documentary that is both scientifically rigorous and visually stunning, taking us on a journey into the intricate world of these tiny creatures, and reminding us how fundamental they are to life as we know it." Lighthouse International Film Festival Jury Statement "The Little Things that Run the World provides a balanced, complete, and current covering of insect biodiversity loss, sharing the stunning beauty and enormous diversity of insects and the passion of those who devote their lives to understand and protect them. Even though the biodiversity crisis we are experiencing is extremely worrisome and there is no one solution that can solve it, there is a multiplicity of simple (and more complex) actions that every person can do to stop it." Anahi Espíndola, Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland "Through striking visuals and content that is fully aligned with the current science, The Little Things That Run the World uncovers the essential role insects play in sustaining life on earth. With ecosystems under pressure, global experts outline the urgent threats facing insect population, and the critical steps humanity must take to halt their decline." Simon Potts, Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Director, Center for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading

“What If a Better World Were Possible?" A film made by Transition Town Reading.

"In times of great change, resilient local communities will be the bedrock of future societies."

Post-film Q&A panel (L-R): Dr Tony Cowling, Austin Jacobs, Prof. Chris Rhodes, Stuart Ward, Ramandeep Nijjar, Kathryn McCann, Guglielmo Miccolupi, Natalie Ganpatsingh.

The film premiere.

Transition Town Reading have made a film, entitled: “What If a Better World Were Possible?" showcasing some of the really great "community action" projects happening in our town of Reading (UK). The filmmaker was Liam Rooney.

The film was premiered at Reading University, Minghella Studios, this week (6-5-26), aimed particularly at students. 

There will be further screenings, both for the local community and as part of the Reading Climate Festival: dates and venues to be confirmed, and more to come (watch this space!).

Meanwhile, here is a synopsis of the film:

"In the heart of Reading, local changemakers are harnessing the power of nature and community to realise their vision of a better world.

While many of the World's problems are global – the climate emergency, resource scarcity, pollution, overconsumption and wealth inequality – the local scale is becoming an increasingly potent source of adaptable, systemic change.

Our film celebrates and brings together 7 brilliant community led initiatives across energy, water, waste, nature connection and ecosystem restoration.

These include, pub dwellers rallying to restore their local marsh, a community owned hydro-power project, solar energy installed all across town, community tree planting, and Solar Punk stories of the future, writ large across public walkways.

The film is about the joy of possibility in the face of uncertainty, cultivating a deep collective sense of place, and the power of local community action. 


From What is, to What If?

The Transition Town movement begins with a shared vision, and then works step by step, action by action, until that vision becomes real.

"It is members of the community who are the force of change. We hope the film lights the way for others to see what they might also do in their own town, village, or street. We're building the story of our future, and acting together to make it real." 

- Chris Rhodes, chair of Transition Town Reading.”