Meet The Judge: Beth Collier

Meet Beth Collier, judge for the 2026 Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing.

Nature Allied Psychotherapist, naturalist and CEO of Wild in the City, Beth shares why stories help us reconnect with the natural world, the importance of hearing more diverse voices in nature writing, and why belonging in nature should be for everyone.

Beth is also an ethnographer who leads the Nature Therapy School, training psychotherapists to work in alliance with nature, exploring human experiences as part of nature and inter-entity relationships between people and nature.

How does it feel to be a judge on this year’s Wainwright Prize?

I’m delighted to be a judge on this year’s Wainwright Prize. I’ve admired the prize for many years, and it’s a privilege to be involved. It’s wonderful to have the perfect excuse to make time to immerse myself in this year’s outstanding shortlist.

What do you think has been the biggest challenge and change in nature/conservation writing in the last 10 years?
One of the most positive changes has been hearing from a wider range of voices, although there are still more I’d love to hear from. Writing a book is a demanding undertaking for anyone, but having the financial security and time to write remains a significant barrier. If we want nature writing to truly reflect the breadth of people’s relationships with the natural world, we need to support writers so that economic circumstances don’t determine whose stories get told.

Why do you believe nature/conservation writing is so important, both for yourself and others?

My own work sits within an oral tradition; nature knowledge has been passed down between generations from mouth to ear, but it relies on being in relationship with people with lived experience and practical knowledge. Writing plays a vital role in preserving that wisdom, making it accessible to wider audiences, and helping people find one another through shared curiosity and care for nature.

Do you have a favourite nature/conservation book that you’ve read previously that’s deepened your understanding of the natural world?

I’m drawn to books which capture the oral tradition and allow readers into conversations and traditional lore they otherwise wouldn’t be privy to. I’ve enjoyed Country Remedies: The Survival of East Anglia’s Traditional Plant Medicines, by Gabrielle Hatfield. It gathers lived memories of natural cures and healing practices from before the creation of the NHS and the standardisation of modern medicine, preserving knowledge that might otherwise have been lost.

Do you have a place you visit that feels intrinsic to your connection with nature?

I have a deep love of wide horizons, from growing up in Suffolk on the edge of Breckland. Expansive skies and dramatic sunsets were a big part of my sense of freedom. I feel most at home in broadleaf woodland and am fortunate to spend much of my professional and social life beneath the canopy of oak trees.

What’s your hope for the next 10 years, either for the nature publishing sector or the wider planet as a whole?

I hope that the understanding that we are part of nature (not separate from it) and depend on healthy habitats for our own survival becomes normalised. If this perspective becomes embedded in our culture, it has the potential to transform how we care for both the natural world and one another.