Hazel Press newsletter
Why books shouldn't cost the Earth
Every business has a role to play in limiting global warming and publishers are no exception.
This week the Society of Authors launched Tree to Me, a campaign to add authors’ voices to efforts to achieve net zero in the publishing industry. Hazel Press has supported this campaign since its inception last year.
While the publishing industry is beginning to work towards better practices, change isn’t happening fast enough. From deforestation to produce paper, to packaging and carbon-hungry transportation and shipping, the current manufacture and supply chains are unsustainable. The paper and pulp industry alone accounts for the same annual level of greenhouse gas emissions as aviation.
As readers become increasingly environmentally conscious, authors and publishers need to up their game. The true environmental impact of books can often seem opaque. At Hazel, we have always believed that sharing information helps raise awareness, educates, and promotes change in publishing.
Tree to me is not an adversarial campaign. It is not about authors accusing publishers of bad practice. Quite the opposite, the campaign will give authors and publishers the opportunity to celebrate where sustainable practices are happening.
The SoA has suggested ten questions to ask publishers - read them here.
Ruth Padel on BBC Radio 3 The Verb
The Verb was watery and wild last week, flowing though chalk streams, the ocean, a baby's bath water, and birth waters when Ian McMillan was joined by Ruth Padel, Vik Sharma, Caroline Bergvall and Will Burns. Ruth and Vik shared their sound-art collaboration 24 Splashes of Denial, which combines an apprehension of loss with vast and delicate beauty, Will Burns read a new commission for The Verb on his experience of chalk streams (a globally rare habitat) in Buckinghamshire, and Caroline Bergvall opened a door in our watery imagination, tracing the idea of refuge in extracts from her project Nattsong.
Listen here as Ruth talks about working with Hazel Press on her water poetry and how it became her new collection, Watershed.
As countries are engulfed by floods and rising seas, Watershed, celebrates the numinous power of water while exploring the depths of our capacity to deny the climate crisis. You can order copies direct from us at Hazel Press.
Hazel is born!
One of this year’s new-born pedigree Exmoor pony foals born near Porlock has been named Hazel, partly after Hazel Press.
Westwilmer Hazel was born on 30th March in a heavy rainstorm on one of the most remote parts of the moor. The little filly was seen shortly after birth when she was covered in mud, very wobbly and too close to a rising stream. But she survived those first perilous hours and is now looking furry and robust, often dashing in circles around her dam.
Back in February on the Hazel Blog, Tricia Gibson contributed words and photographs about her work walking twenty or more miles a day checking on the free-living Exmoor ponies that roam the slopes of Dunkery. We were amazed and honoured when Tricia emailed to tell us about the new Hazel.
New on the Hazel Blog
… which leads us on to say that the blog for April is three stunning “sono-poems” by Italian poet and sound recordist Ilaria Boffa. Hear more here.
Make Me Ready
Make me ready
for the arrival of the rain
which is expected heavy
but needed.
Show me
what I can get rid of
pruning shrubs
along the fluvial corridor.
And if we must leave
the fourth industrial revolution behind
this augmented social reality
to repair our notion of mortality
help me not to falter.
We may remain one day
one last day.
Ilaria Boffathank you for reading,
Daphne and Sara