AT the age of 21 conservation biologist and nature campaigner Ruby Free landed her dream job on an RSPB reserve. But this position wasn’t for the faint hearted – it meant moving from her home in Cornwall to live on Rathlin Island, off the Co Antrim coast.
Over the course of the last three years, she has been compiling the ups, downs and often seabird related antics which come with living in one of the wildest and most biodiverse corners of the UK and Ireland, culminating in her debut book Rathlin, A Wild Life, Island Living, Seabirds and Extraordinary Gifts from Nature.
“It was almost like an accidental book,” she laughs.
“While I was on Rathlin things kept happening that I just thought were too amazing not to jot down somewhere so I kept a diary and a ridiculous amount of notes pages on my iPhone just full of encounters and memories.
“But it was only when I got off the island that some friends, family and colleagues at RSPB said, ‘This could be a book’.
“So, I almost immediately started compiling all of these anecdotes together and the book came quite naturally out of that.”
Predominantly focusing on Ruby’s experiences working on the reserve it also addresses the profound impact living on Rathlin has had on her.
“There are a few seabird characters. I call them the big five - you have puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars,” she explains.
“I picked out a breeding couple of each of those species and followed them the whole summer I was there. The book follows all of their different stories and little bit of my own story too.”
From swimming with seals and late-night trips to hear the call of the corncrake, to spotting dolphins from her front door, Ruby admits that her time on Rathlin has completely changed her perception of wildness.
“Being on Rathlin really changed the course of the rest of my life and inspired me to do what I’m doing now.”
In addition to writing the book she is also responsible for the design on the front cover as well as all the additional drawings inside.
“I was the first author with Blackstaff that requested to do all of the illustrations and the cover myself because usually they have a person in their team that does all of that,” she recalls.
“But as someone who loves drawing and illustrating, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by.”
Heartfelt, impassioned and full of joy, Rathlin, A Wild Life is a love letter to the island, the people and of course the wildlife, but it’s also a call to action; a reminder of everything we stand to lose if we don’t change.
“As well highlighting the absolute joys of watching and enjoying nature and the importance of that the book also highlights the emergency that we’re facing in relation to nature decline and climate change.
“People don’t have to feel powerless when it comes to these topics, we can all do something to make a difference.
“By making changes to the places where we live and work, we really can turn things around and Rathlin is great example of that community conservation work.
“I really hope people feel inspired from reading it – that’s my main aim.
“The book is such a massive piece of my heart, brain and part of my life as well – it’s absolutely everything to me.
“I’m so excited for people to read it – it’s nerve wracking but amazing.”
