articles - Environment

The truth about life in a 'green' house
When Sanjida O'Connell moved into a pioneering eco-development in Bristol, she hoped it was the house of her dreams. Then she realised she'd have to weed the 'living' roof...
The Independent, Wednesay 26 November 2008

Can wearing fur be guilt-free?
It's brutal and bloody, yet some designers are trying to rebrand animal pelts as the latest eco fashion must-have. Sanjida O'Connell reports on an unlikely alliance
The Independent, Thursday 18 September 2008

Where the wild things are:
You don't need to go far to see animals up-close - you just need a tent
The Independent, Thursday 21 August 2008

Summer by the pool: Where keen rockpoolers should cast their nets
August's low tides bring a chance to see sea anemones, crabs and even starfish up close
The Independent, Thursday 7 August 2008

Is keeping sheep to make your own jumper a step too far?
You recycle your rubbish, grow your own veg and eat organic. But is keeping sheep to make a jumper a step too far? Sanjida O'Connell takes up the shears to decide for herself
The Independent, Thursday July 31 2008

It's sew chic: The designer who has turned recycling into an art form
Why buy throwaway fashion when a needle and thread can transform what you already own?
The Independent, Thursday, 12 June 2008

Back from the dead: Could wolves and wild boar roam Britain again?
Sanjida O'Connell reports on the lost species now set to make a return
The Independent, Thursday, 10 April 2008

Green shoots of engagement
Attracting volunteers to conservation projects can have a positive impact on marginalised groups as well as on the environment
The Guardian, Wednesday April 9 2008

Hedgehogs: Over the hedge
As their traditional habitats disappear, hedgehogs are in a prickly predicament. But in city gardens, their future looks rosier. Sanjida O'Connell finds out why
The Independent, Thursday, 8 November 2007

Recipe for success
A combination of Jamie Oliver and farmers' markets has resulted in a tasty lunchtime spin-off for children in rural schools
The Guardian, Wednesday, 24October 2007

Seeking sanctuary
The isle of Rum has for 50 years been a nature reserve, so why does Scottish Natural Heritage now want more people to live there?
The Guardian, Wednesday, 17 October 2007

What life is like inside an eco-friendly community
If developers had got their way, Ashley Vale would be just another faceless estate. Sanjida O'Connell meets the Bristol residents who joined forces to create a unique, eco-friendly community
The Independent, Thursday, 4 October 2007

Nature's greatest spectacles: Where to feast your eyes on Britain's wildlife
The Independent, Thursday, 26 July 2007

The wild bunch: Britain's eco entrepreneurs
Fields, woods and beaches are a rich source of income for the growing number of businesses turning a living from nature's harvest. Sanjida O Connell meets Britain's eco entrepreneurs
The Independent, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Helping hands
Whether it's dry-stone walling, planting trees, making bird boxes or clearing overgrown paths, more and more of us are becoming conservation volunteers. Sanjida O'Connell reports from the field
The Guardian, Thursday May 3 2007

Bushcraft training: I will survive
Can a city girl used to the throwaway culture learn to live off the land in just two days? Sanjida O'Connell goes wild in the Sussex woods
The Independent, Thursday, 26 April 2007

The best places to watch wildlife in Britain
From the volcanic moorlands of Lundy Island, to the arctic mountains of the Cairngorns and verdant Lee Valley, Britain is a wildlife-lover's paradise. Sanjida O'Connell of the BBC's new 'Nature Calendar' series travelled the length and breadth of the nation in search of the best places to watch the wilds go by
The Independent, Friday, 24 November 2006

Crocodile farms: is it cruel to keep these wild creatures captive?
Britain's first crocodile farm has just opened. But should these creatures be kept in captivity? And should we be eating them anyway? Sanjida O'Connell reports
The Independent, Thursday, 5 October 2006

Born to be wild?
Some say that keeping animals in zoos is cruel. Others maintain that it's vital for conservation. Sanjida O'Connell reports on a beastly issue
The Independent, Thursday, 24 August 2006

Organic farming: Fields of dreams
Forget vegetable box schemes. One idealistic group of residents has gone a step further - they've clubbed together and bought shares in their local organic farm. Sanjida O'Connell reports
The Independent, Thursday, 17 August 2006

Harming the environment: Jean Greenie
We all love our denims. But few of us realise that indigo dye - a by-product of the oil industry - is environmentally destructive. Now a natural alternative has been found, and you'd never know the difference. Sanjida O'Connell reports
The Independent, Thursday, 10 August 2006

Why farmed ducks endure worse conditions than battery hens
To stay healthy, they require access to ponds and space to roam. But many thousands of birds farmed in Britain for their meat endure appalling conditions. Sanjida O'Connell investigates
The Independent, Thursday, 6 July 2006

Humans and bears: not so different after all
Charlie Russell set up home with grizzlies in the wild, and found himself the 'mother' to three orphaned cubs - all to prove that bears can coexist with humans
The Independent, Thursday, 25 May 2006

Saving the red squirrel
With their tufty ears and bushy tails, red squirrels beat their grey cousins in the beauty stakes - but are losing the battle for England's forests. Could a mass cull of greys save this English icon from extinction? Sanjida O'Connell reports
The Independent, Monday, 10 April 2006

How to save the whale
The true cost of eating a sandwich
Oil on troubled water
Satisfy your appetite for natural products
Through the heart of darkness
The Wildlife interview – Steve Leonard
The death song of the seas
The Wildlife interview – Sigourney Weaver
Living the eco-life in Cornwall
Why we need to build more ponds