It’s very strange writing a book during a pandemic – especially when it’s your first one. For me, Forget Me Not’s journey has been made unforgettable thanks to the people along its path (of which, I’m delighted to say, there were many). The weird thing is that I’ve barely met any of them. As you’ve read, most interaction was remote. And yet, I cannot express how grateful I am for their time, care and unrelenting interest in helping me navigate these complex stories. These 10 species had the power to bring people together during a crazy time, and I think that’s quite something. Safe to say, many a wine is owed.
As I outlined in the introduction, this book is my tribute to the science and research that is keeping our planet alive. In no particular order, I would like to especially thank the following people and organisations for their invaluable work and contribution to this book: Jo Poland, Dr Caroline Bulman, Rachel Jones, Holly Dunn, Dr Hanna Nuuttila, Dr Richard Lilley, Evie Furness, Jake Davies, Jack Merrifield, Dr Orly Razgour, Craig Dunton, Dr Holger Goerlitz, Heather and Alison Duncan, Rory Crawford, Dr Elizabeth Masden, Dr Daniel Johnston, Chris Jones, Issy Tree, Charlie Burrell, Darren Mann, Penny Green, Mary-Emma Hermand, Rebecca Varney, Eleanor Lewis, Dr Janina Gray, Denise Ashton, Dr Jamie Stevens, Peter Cairns, James Shooter, Dr Marketa Zimova, Dr Isla Hodgson, Dr Scott Newey, Jack Baddams, Dr Alex Lees, Mike Price, Indy Greene, Ed Drewitt, Jamie Dunn, Dr Matt Stevens, Professor Dave Goulson, Dr Beth Nicholls, Mike Edwards, Dr Isaac Brito-Marales, Dr Andrew Read, Dr Anna Sànchez Vidal, Dr Margaret Kadiri, Professor Richard Unsworth, Sten Asbirk, George Monbiot, Back from the Brink, Butterfly Conservation, The Wildlife Trusts, Salmon and Trout Conservation, Wild Trout Trust, Rivers Trust, Mammal Society, Sea Trust Wales, the RSPB, the BTO, Hawk Conservancy Trust, Project Seagrass, Knepp Wildland Safaris, North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, Trill Farm, Woodland Trust, The National Trust.
A special thanks to all the universities and institutions that have conducted the research on which this book leans so heavily. Particular thanks to Cross Country Trains and Great Western Railway for safely carrying a tired, anxious Sophie around Britain.
Thank you to Dr Ruth Tingay for lifting me away from the dreaded imposter syndrome and consulting so diligently on a couple of chapters. Thank you to Ben Macdonald, who advised me at a crucial, exhausted moment to, ‘channel my inner Djokovic’. To Rachel, Lucy, Harri, Briony, Joe, Hannah (Gina), Nina and all my wonderful friends, the people I’ve worked with and those on social media who I have never met - thank you all for your kindness, brilliance and humour.
Thank you to my Beaver Trust family for your unending love and support. To Agent Sabhbh and Curtis Brown for coming on board so gallantly in the middle of the madness. To Abby Cook, who has brought our 10 species to life. And, of course, I have infinite gratitude to the magnificent team at Bloomsbury. Not least to Julie, my fierce, incredible editor, for giving me the freedom to write the way I wanted to (and for teaching me not to write like Yoda). Thank you to Jim for taking a chance and changing my life on that dark January day. I’m still pinching myself.
I genuinely couldn’t have written this book without my family. To Tom, Beth and the boys for bringing me so much joy. Also, thanks to my wider family for your support – Donna and Nev, in particular.
Parents – you are both an inspiration. Thank you for being the best friends I could have asked for throughout all of this. Love you so much. This one is for you.
And finally, thank you, Jacob. Since we met on a minibus in a car park 11 years ago, you have stood by my side as we’ve grown up together. I couldn’t be luckier.