Hm, it seems that the general election has inspired me to write! As well as writing my Vision for Nature blog post, I’ve finally got round to writing an e-mail to Red Magazine concerning some thoughts of mine on their recent issues. I know that there are more articles on the website (I particularly like this one about Political Women To Watch in 2015), but in the e-mail, I am just writing about their magazine.

It’s not a perfect e-mail and, having sent it, I can see where I could’ve expanded my views or written more clearly. But the point is, I’ve done it.

I always say I’m going to write a letter/e-mail about my thoughts (be it customer service, pot holes, etc), but aside from TripAdvisor reviews, this is the first time I’ve actually done it! Concerning one of my favourite topics – conservation! And what with the election just now, the minimal mention of politics in their magazines!

I wonder if they will respond? I’ll keep you updated of course!

Good afternoon,
First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on your Anti-Apathy feature in May’s Issue. As a young woman in my mid-twenties who is keen to help make the world a better place, it was inspiring to read about such fantastic role models.

However, I felt a bit let down – where was nature? You may argue that Thomasina Miers “The Pig Idea” represented this aspect of activism, but I would have preferred an additional piece on conservationists, there are plenty of female role models out there who are all making a difference:

• Lucy McRobert – Co-Founder and Creative Director of A Focus On Nature
• Miranda Krestovnikoff – President of RSPB
• Stephanie Hilborne – Chief Exec of the Wildlife Trusts
• Brigit Strawbridge
• Kate Humble
• Michaela Strachan
• Rosie Woodroffe
• and many more!

Nature and environment are intricately linked to humans – mental wellbeing, economic growth, and so on. I feel that conservation should feature more in Red overall if I’m honest. For one thing, many readers will have children, and our most recent generations have been suffering from nature deficit disorder.

Onto a separate issue, I was very disappointed by the minimal amount of politics in your recent issues. We’ve just had a general election! Whilst I’m not saying your whole magazine should have been devoted to politics – there should’ve been more discussions on each parties views on the matters close to your readers hearts – housing, maternity leave/rights, etc etc. I look to Red as a magazine with interesting articles, but recently I feel it has been lacking and I hope that you up your game.

I could write more about the lack of technology featured, the language used to describe women (the descriptions about Christina Hendricks’ body when it wasn’t being discussed by her!), my personal view on the excessive amount of advertising (mostly on brands and objects – when you’ve recently featured an article on not spending money on objects!), but I feel that they are for another time.

Yours sincerely,
Ms Megan Shersby

Note – Red Magazine do have an online article on the Conservatives Manifesto (though no mention in the article about the environment, hmph!). I hope that something similar (with nature/environment included) appears in their next issue!!