JB Gill
Pop star, farmer, walker and all-round friendly, curious fella JB Gill tells us why everyone should know the countryside is for them.
IT’S A COLD, crisp winter’s morning in the Kent countryside. Pass along a particular farm track somewhere near Sevenoaks and you may get a cheery nod from the lithe, youthful farmer tending his pigs in the adjacent field.
JB Gill makes a point of saying hi to those who pass by his farm. A friendly wave and a willingness to engage is vital to his view of the world, especially when it comes to living, working and walking in the countryside.
“I love curiosity. I love connecting,” says JB. “I was very lucky to get curiosity as a gift from my mum. Being outdoors is a learning process, and it starts with just showing people that the countryside is a welcoming place.”
In addition to being one quarter of JLS (one of the most successful pop/ RnB boybands in British chart history), Jonathan Benjamin Gill is these days a farmer and a walker – and he has presented some top-quality TV shows about both of his passions.
And right now, he is keen to show that the countryside is for everyone.
“After the year we’ve been through, people have felt a real need to get outside and they’ve developed a connection to the green spaces near them,” he explains.
“I think there’s a bigger interest now in finding out more about the landscapes around us, and that’s great.”
He especially hopes that people who might once have felt that the countryside was not ‘for’ them – a sentiment sometimes expressed within BAME and LGBTQ communities – will have felt more encouraged and empowered to come exploring.
“There can be a perception that if your family hasn’t lived in this country for generations, or if you don’t fit a certain stereotype, then the countryside isn’t a place for you to go,” he says. “But it’s a misconception and we need to do away with it. The countryside is for everyone. It’s free, it’s open to all, and it’s a real shame to miss out on it.”
JB was born in South London, but his roots are in the Caribbean: Guyana (Dad Keith) and Antigua (Mum Cynthia).
JB lived in Antigua until the age of five, when his parents moved the family back to London. They instilled in young JB a burning curiosity about his new home, and a desire to experience as much of it as possible.
“I was lucky because my parents already had a connection to nature and wildlife,” he explains. “It came from Antigua, where you are surrounded by so much natural beauty that you can’t help feeling connected to it.
“London was very different but Mum still encouraged us to get out and explore places, be adventurous. We were always going to green places like Greenwich Observatory and Kew Gardens.”
But he says even if you don’t have that kind of helping hand, a sense of curiosity and a desire to connect is all you need.
“After the year we’ve been through, people have felt a real need to get outside and they’ve developed a connection to the green spaces near them.”
“It’s not like people who come to live in Britain don’t know what a beautiful landscape is, because everywhere on the planet has them,” he adds.
“Plus even if you live in our densest cities, you’re never more than half an hour’s travel from somewhere green. There is so much more to life in Britain than the urban environment. It’s about getting the best out of life.”
He says he has never thought of the countryside as hostile or inaccessible.
“If you’re friendly and curious, you’ll always feel welcomed,” he says. “I love it when people ask me questions about our animals or the work we do. It’s great when people want to know more about where their food comes from.”
JB says he’s heartened by the growth of BAME and LGBTQ walking groups, which offer confidence and a sense of community to people who might be unsure about taking their first steps. “I’m so excited by that,” he says.
“I can understand you might feel apprehensive about going out into the countryside if you don’t know a lot about it. But if you’re in a group, the other members can answer your questions and give you confidence.”
It’s a message that chimes perfectly with the launch of #walk1000miles 2021 this month. The challenge has always carried the messages that everyone is welcome and there is no such thing as a typical walker. But the difficult year gone by has made those messages even more relevant now, and JB is eager to help get them out there.
“#walk1000miles is a fantastic idea and now’s the perfect time for it,” says JB.
“Whatever community you are from and wherever your roots are, an ability to enjoy being out in the countryside is part of all of us.
“So be bold, be brave and go for it!”
ONE MAN AND HIS DOG
JB with walking companion Nala, his family’s beloved mastiff cross ridgeback. As well as walking together, the pair also promote a tick protection campaign run by tick and flea collar brand Seresto (seresto.co.uk)