An Ecological Vision of Earth

 

W.H. Hudson (1841−1922) should need no introduction to Richard Jefferies' followers. Hudson was born in Argentina and spent his boyhood and youth on the pampas of La Plata, largely engaged in natural history. He came to England aged thirty-two. His books such as Green Mansions and A Shepherd’s Life have become classics, whilst Hudson has been widely acknowledged as a pioneer ecologist, as well as a prose-poet of the English landscape and its wildlife. 

Brian Morris, a Richard Jefferies Society member, has written a new biography of Hudson titled An Ecological Vision of Earth: The Life and Thought of W.H. Hudson (Norfolk: Reuben Books, 2026). Jefferies’ name crops up more than one hundred times in the book that includes a section on both writers. The crossovers with Jefferies’ writing, thoughts and life are many. 

An Ecological Vision of Earth is both readable and scholarly and offers an introduction to this remarkable naturalist.  It can be purchased via Paypal at Reuben Books (UK postage only).

ISBN: 978-1-9993172-8-7, 276pp., softback, £17 (incl UK postage).

New meeting room for the Richard Jefferies Museum

 Please help towards funding a new meeting room at the Richard Jefferies Museum. 

Artist's impression of the proposed building.

Richard Jefferies' birthplace in Coate, Swindon has hosted a small museum, in his memory, since 1960. It has grown from strength to strength but there is a desperate need for a meeting room and creative arts centre.  

For more information about the project and to donate go to https://www.richardjefferies.org/caw

Richard Jefferies Society AGM and Spring Lecture

This year's Annual General Meeting and Spring Lecture take place at the Richard Jefferies Museum on Saturday 18 April 2026. 

There will be a gentle stroll around Coate Water, following in the footsteps of Richard Jefferies, starting from the museum at 10.45am. and led by Roy Cartwright. Open to all, 

The AGM takes place at 1pm for members only.

Rebecca Welshman will be giving a talk at 2.30pm. titled 'Imagining Disaster at Coate: The role of extreme space weather events in Jefferies' early conception of After London.' Open to all. 

Richard Jefferies Award Shortlist for 2025 Nominations

 The Richard Jefferies Award is given annually to the author of the publication considered by the judging panel to be the most outstanding nature writing published in a given calendar year. The winning work must reflect the heritage and spirit of Richard Jefferies’ countryside books.

Congratulations to the following 2025 nature-writing books and their authors that have been shortlisted for the latest Richard Jefferies Award:

About the Society

 

The Richard Jefferies Society was established on 13 June 1950 and now has members in all parts of the world. It is a registered charity (No. 1042838) managed by an Executive Council of volunteers.   

The Society aims to promote interest in, and respect for the life and works of Richard Jefferies (1848-1887).

Newsletters, with information about the writer, planned events, meetings, outings, publications and services are circulated to members twice a year along with an annual report.   In addition members receive a copy of the Society's Journal containing hitherto unpublished writing by Jefferies, new articles, research and book reviews. 

The Society has a special concern for such places in Wiltshire as the writer's birthplace at Coate that houses a Museum dedicated to his memory and is managed by the Richard Jefferies Museum Trust (a separate charity).

along with Coate Water (the setting for Bevis)

Liddington Hill -- "the labour of walking three miles to it ... seemed to clear my blood of the heaviness accumulated at home ... I began to breathe a new air".

and the memorial stone on Burderop Down with its iconic quote "It is eternity now. I am in the midst of it. It is about me in the sunshine." 

Other places of pilgrimage are at Surbiton, Sydenham and Eltham near London, and at Brighton, Crowborough and at his final home at Goring by Sea, Sussex where he died at the age of 38.  Richard Jefferies' grave is in Broadwater cemetery at Worthing.

‘To the honoured memory of the Prose Poet of England’s fields and woodlands’

Meetings are held in the winter months by Zoom and the Spring Lecture and Annual General Meeting take place at the Richard Jefferies Museum. 

A Bursary is available for projects that promote a new understanding of the writings of Jefferies.

The Society awards a yearly literary prize for excellence in nature writing in association with the White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough. There is a dedicated website.

The Society holds extensive archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. Download a catalogue of our archives held there.

The Society is a member of the Alliance of Literary Societies. 

The Society hosts a Facebook page, BlueSky, X, Instagram and You Tube channel. 

The Society has issued a PrivacyStatement with regard to the use of 'cookies' on this website. 

For further information contact the Richard Jefferies Society

by email.