“It’s about love of land” – Holly Ebony
TOTNES: Devon singer-songwriter Holly Ebony has released a foot-stomping folk anthem called ‘Follow Your Feet’, written and recorded in celebration of Right To Roam, with all proceeds from the song donated to that movement.
Wild Camping
“I love Dartmoor’s glorious tors, bouldered rivers and epic night skies,” says Holly Ebony, “That’s why I marched last January, with my daughter, to preserve the right to wild camp. Access to nature is vital for anybody with a sense of wonder, and a desire to look after our fragile ecosystems. But that right to access is under threat.”
Holly recorded the song – a rousing, richly poetic call to arms – at Sorting Room Studios in Dartington with fellow folky and banjo player Anna Anise, cellist Clarissa Carlyon, drummer Oli Haines and bassist James Stewart.
Holly was also inspired by The Book of Trespass: Crossing The Lines That Divide Us, a Sunday Times Bestseller by artist and nature writer Nick Hayes. The book, through skilful writing and haunting illustration, picks apart the unfairness of English land law, under which vast tracts of England have been hoarded in wealthy private hands since William the Conqueror’s day, kept up by empire, violence and slavery. Currently, most of us share only 8% of the land on these islands, the rest is all in the hands of big landowners.
Shocking
“Nick Hayes’ book was shocking,” says Holly, who reached out to Nick and asked to use one of his beautiful illustrations as cover art for ‘Follow Your Feet’ – and he kindly agreed. “I must admit to doing a very buoyant, happy dance when Nick generously said sure, you can can use my artwork for the cover of the single,” says Holly, who hopes her song and campaign will not only raise funds, but encourage people to stand up to any unscrupulous landowners who would try to keep them off Dartmoor. “When we marched last year, it was so moving to see 3,000 people,” says Holly. “The best thing is that the overwhelming feeling wasn’t about anger, or injustice, or selfish entitlement. It was about love of the land, love of the moss, the ferns, the river Dart, the incredible lush biodiversity.”
Right to Roam
“In Devon we’re phenomenally privileged. I think if more people had access to nature, the kind of access we’re striving for, more people would love and respect the environment. The more time you spend on the land, the more you fall in love with it.”