Ben Goldsmith is a British environmentalist and financier. Ben is a leading light in the rewilding movement in Britain and Europe, as well as a pioneer of green investment. Ben and his wife are rewilding their farm in Somerset, and Ben has helped to establish a number of environmental initiatives, including the Environmental Funders’ Network, the Conservative Environment Network, Rewilding Britain, Beaver Trust, and the Conservation Collective, a global network of locally focused environmental foundations. Ben was a Director at DEFRA for five years, successfully advocating for a series of ground-breaking environmental restoration policies during his tenure, including the new Environmental Land Management scheme, the Nature for Climate Fund and the Species Reintroductions task force. The Iris Project was established by Ben Goldsmith and Kate Rothschild in partnership with the Global Greengrants Fund in loving memory of their daughter, Iris Goldsmith, a young environmentalist who loved the natural world. @bengoldsmith
From the deepest sorrow, the highest hope. Intensely readable, poetic, truthful, wise and wonderful, this will live with me for a very long time. -- Stephen Fry An event of unimaginable trauma is transformed into a message of beauty and optimism through Ben’s passion for nature, which acts as his nurse, teacher and redeemer. -- Joanna Lumley Stunningly beautiful, immensely sad, immensely uplifting, this is a book of grief and joy and wonder and renewal. -- George Monbiot An extraordinarily powerful and moving journey through the darkest of griefs to the enduring love, hope and renewal of the natural world. A book of universal wisdom. -- Benedict Cumberbatch Beautiful and deeply moving, this will resonate with and inspire so many people. -- Isabella Tree Goldsmith has written an extraordinary book, God is an Octopus, about his journey through grief and his exploration of the afterlife. -- Audrey Ward * The Sunday Times * Ben chronicles the unfathomable tragedy of his daughter’s death with the profound love and compassion of a bereft parent. -- Richard E. Grant A compelling journey from the very heart of loss to the sanctuary and hope that only the natural world provides – emotive, raw and captivating. -- Benedict Macdonald, Winner of the Wainwright Prize for Global Conservation