Watch: Dare to Be Wild

I contemplated whether I should be adding this movie onto my blog or not, but I decided to add it because it talks about the something so big, encompassing bees altogether.

With abysmal ratings on Rotten Tomatoes (18%, 64%) and IMDb (6.5) this is not a piece of art, as far as cinematography or acting are concerned. It is a very simple story line, very basic acting and obvious characters and plot. But I was willing to accept it because the setting and message were not just beautiful, they were incredible and spoke directly to my heart.

The movie is based on the true story of the youngest gold medalist of the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, the Irish gardener, Mary Reynolds. What was even more impressive was that the winning garden design was the opposite of what you would expect Florists to present: it was slice of ancient, wild forest in the middle of London. Mary wanted to bring the magic of these wild places to London, to remind people of the importance of their protection.

As if this was not enough wild for couch dwellers, throughout the film, we are transported to Ethiopia, where deforestation has caused the wild to disappear. This part refers to (true) conservationist efforts, largely orchestrated by the famous Christy Collard, to reforest large areas that have been turned to deserts, due to the high deforestation rates. This (virtual) trip to Ethiopia and back, was a stark reminder of the importance of protecting the wild and how we, as humans, are so intrinsically connected to the rest of nature around us. Cue the most important quote of the movie and the message that I am here resounding:

“People travel the world over to visit untouched places of natural beauty, yet modern gardens pa little heed to the simplicity and beauty of these environments… those special places we all must preserve and protect, each in his own way, before they are lost forever.”

– Mary Reynolds, Dare to Be Wild

Although this movie is not directly related to bees, it has a very strong correlation to their protection. The protection of wild places, such as forests and meadows, is in its own merit protection of bees and all other species that depend on them because wild places nurture wild flowers, bees best friend. They also allow nature to “breathe” and find its own balance, away from human interference (referring to intensive farming, logging, hunting, etc).

I strongly believe the more we can build on our authentic experiences of the wild, the more we will feel in touch with the magic of these wild places and the life that is surrounding us, because we are all part of nature and we can, if wanted to live harmoniously together.