They say that to be a writer, you need to read. With that in mind, I'd like to share some of my top reads each month. If you haven't heard of Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo by now, you're presumably living under a rock. The Booker Prize winner and Women's Prize shortlister is honestly everything it's cracked up to be. Please, pick up a copy. Something else that's given me all the feels this month, is Hollie McNish's Nobody Told Me. It's poetry, it's memoir, it's an absolutely bang on take on being a new parent. I'm now seven months into being a mum, and Hollie is essentially right about everything, and she says it with flair.

Now onto June's highlights. It's all about nature this month - and rather appropriately a squirrel is currently right outside my window performing aerial gymnastics to reach the peanut feeder.

Growing Self-Sufficiency in Uganda
Let's take a trip to Uganda, where the Karambi Group of People with Disabilities is tackling isolation and food security by creating permaculture gardens.
Photo: Jackson Bigasaki, caretaker at a permaculture garden created by Karambi.

Spending 30 Days Wild has Lasting Benefits
Perhaps you've been taking part in the 30 Days Wild Challenge from the Wildlife Trusts. Did you know that these small interactions with nature can have a lasting positive impact?

It's been a strange start to freelance life to say the least, locked down at home and with publishers everywhere under huge financial strain. I think I'm on my fourth banana bread bake, and my five month old probably thinks his grandparents only exist inside a phone screen.

All that aside, here are some selected pieces I've written this month:

Finding Calm in Bookshelf Memories for WHYNOW
I spent my early career working in a bookshop. Books mean everything to me, and picking one up that I've previously connected with brings all those emotions back again in a real sense of serenity.

Pandemic Parenting: I'm a New Mum on Lockdown
I feel a sense of loss for the maternity leave I'd imagined, but feel guilty too. Here's my experience.

Countries exploit Covid-19 pandemic to shut down borders and block refugees
​People around the world face more and more obstacles to seeking asylum, as borders remain closed due to the pandemic, and refugee organisations are concerned that the crisis has become an excuse for governments to limit the human rights of displaced people in the name of public health.

Shadowproof also wrote an extra feature about my report, which you can check out here.

I'm unbelievably excited to announce the launch of the all-new Lush Times magazine! After an intense few weeks leading the writing and co-editing with an amazing team, we launched our print baby exclusively in the new Lush Liverpool store. 

We've focussed this very first issue on the theme of regeneration, and the magazine is packed with stories about people regenerating the planet and social systems. These aren't pieces pointing out what's wrong with the world - they're examples of real solutions in action.

If you managed to get hold of a copy, I'd love to know what you thought! There's only a limited run in Liverpool right now, but watch this space...