Family Environmental History
September 4, 2026 By: Morgan Turland
My family history originates almost exclusively from England. The James side of the family, my great-grandmother’s line, were farmers from the 17th through 19th centuries. James family farms were located on the fertile rolling hills of the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire. Looking back through my family’s history, our relationship has changed significantly. My ancestors depended directly on the land for their livelihoods, while later generations experienced nature through recreation rather than work.
The Cotswolds were known for large tracts of naturally occurring limestone, which was used for building all sorts of structures, such as grand manors, cottages, and barns. The James family depended on this material to build their family homes and barns. Cotswold sheep were also famous throughout Europe during the 13th-15th centuries and were known for their heavy fleece and high-quality wool. Cotswold wool commanded a high price and the wealth generated by the wool trade enabled wealthy traders and landowners to build fine houses and churches known as “wool churches”. Farming was the way of life for James family ancestors, and they depended on the wool trade to support their livelihood. In later centuries, cattle and other crops were introduced to diversify the farmers’ incomes. At this time, many men in the family moved on to become butchers. This complemented the raising of livestock and secured the profit from meat that otherwise would be sold to independent butchers. The countryside sustained my ancestors for several centuries, and they would have had a significant influence on how it was shaped. Agriculture, grazing, settlements, roads, and stone buildings would have transformed the region over time.
My great grandmother was born in 1897 in Gloucestershire. She lived on a farm in Oddington, until her father acquired a butcher shop himself. She emigrated to Canada in 1912 and ended up moving to Roblin, Manitoba. She met my great-grandfather, Charles, and they married and moved to Winnipeg. Once they arrived in Canada, their livelihood depended less on the environment. My grandfather eventually became an Engineer and moved to Vancouver to design heating and air conditioning systems. Although they did not depend on the environment for their income, they continued to have strong ties to the environment throughout their hobbies. My grandfather’s main hobby was gardening, with a special emphasis on chrysanthemums. His favourite sport was fishing, and the Twin Cedars Lodge on Shuswap Lake was a popular destination of the family for many years. These hobbies continued in my grandfather, and then my father. Unlike the generations before them, their occupations were increasingly removed from direct interactions with the lands. However, my grandfather’s work in designing heating and air conditioning systems instead became a part of Vancouver’s growing human-made environment.
The relationship with the environment continued with my father, although like my grandfather, it was mostly recreational rather than economic. Growing up in Vancouver meant that the natural environment was always relatively accessible, even when living in a very urban area. Fishing, skiing, gardening, and spending time outdoors became a way to appreciate the environment rather than relying on it for survival or income. In this sense, my family’s relationship with nature has changed considerably from the generations who had farmed in Gloucestershire. The environment was no longer a foundation for the family’s livelihood, but it did remain an important part of how they spent their time and what they valued.
My own relationship with the environment is very similar. I have spent most of my life in British Columbia, and now in Salmon Arm, where the Shuswap Lake and surrounding mountains are a significant part of the community. This has helped to shape my own relationship with the environment, in a very similar fashion to that of my father and great grandfather. I enjoy skiing, spending time at the lake, and other outdoor activities. None of these activities are necessary for my livelihood, but they influence where I want to live and on the value that I place on the importance of natural spaces.
My ancestors depended heavily on natural resources and were actively transforming those resources and the landscape in order to survive. Their relationship was much more direct than mine, but it was not necessarily more “natural”. There is also an element of privilege in the way that my family’s relationship with the environment has changed. My farming ancestors could not choose if the environment played a role in their lives. They would have depended on the success of crops and livestocks in order to survive. Later generations had the ability to experience nature by choice, and they had the financial security and time to enjoy it recreationally.
The environment has remained important to my family over the generations, but the reasons have changed significantly. In Gloucestershire, the land and the animals raised on it provided their livelihood, where for my grandfather, father, and myself nature became something that was associated with recreation, hobbies, and quality of life. My own generation also has a different awareness of our impact on the environment. I still want to be able to ski, spend time on the lake, and enjoy the natural spaces around me, but I am increasingly aware of protecting these spaces. My ancestors helped transform the Cotswold landscape through farming and agriculture, while later generations helped build and expand urban communities. In the future, I hope that my own relationship with the environment can continue to include the recreational activities my family has valued for generations, while also ensuring that we are protecting the environment for generations to come.