What is Inkcap?

Some FAQs on pitching, subscribing, and more.

Jan 06, 2021

What is Inkcap?

Inkcap is a newsletter on nature, ecology and conservation in the UK.

There are two editions every week: a piece of original journalism a digest of the week’s news. It comes out on Wednesday and Friday.

What does Inkcap write about?

Inkcap focuses on nature in the UK – how we are destroying it, and how we can protect it. Themes include rewilding, rivers, farming, oceans, forests, soil, people, culture, and more. It’s a topic that can be approached from almost any direction.

So much environmental journalism focuses on the international picture; we forget, sometimes, about the catastrophic loss of habitats and biodiversity in our own country. To have any credibility abroad, we need to demand accountability at home.

But Inkcap is also a place for creativity. Journalism can be as elegant and moving as any other genre of writing, and true stories as compelling as fiction. Nature in the UK is complex and varied; different people see the land in different ways. How we write about the environment should reflect that.

Who runs Inkcap?

Inkcap is run by Sophie Yeo, a writer from Wales who is now based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Sophie has been writing about the environment since 2013. Her journalism has appeared in publications including the Guardian, the Washington Post, National Geographic, Nature, BBC Future, Pacific Standard, and more. You can browse some of her work on her website, or follow her on Twitter.

How much does it cost to subscribe?

Inkcap is currently free.

However, some readers choose to make a monthly £5 donation by signing up as a free subscriber. Substack, which hosts Inkcap’s newsletters, is unable to make this sum flexible – sorry about that. These donations make up 100 percent of our funding, and Inkcap is extremely grateful to anyone who chooses to contribute.

Can I pitch a story?

Yes! Inkcap is starting to publish a small number of stories from journalists and writers. We are interested in reported features, interviews and essays. Pitches should reflect Inkcap’s focus on the UK environment: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We particularly like pieces that engage with thorny issues at the heart of nature conservation, tackle issues of social justice, or tell an unexpected story. We like articles on humans, habitats, plants and animals. And we welcome diverse voices and perspectives.

We pay between £100-400 per story, depending on its complexity and the level of reporting involved.

Please send pitches to editor@inkcap.co.uk with the word PITCH in the subject line.

Do you publish comment pieces?

We occasionally publish articles from academics and conservationists discussing their work, but, as a general rule, we do not pay for these. If you have a story to tell, send your pitch to editor@inkcap.co.uk.

Can I republish Inkcap’s stories?

Maybe. Email editor@inkcap.co.uk if you would like to discuss syndicating our work in another publication.

I have a story tip. Do you want it?

Yes please. Send it to editor@inkcap.co.uk.

Can you put this thing in the Friday digest?

Maybe. The Friday digest is a round-up of articles and essays that have been published online within the past week. There must be something that is new, and the information about it must be available online, so that readers can explore the topic in more depth if they wish.

We appreciate emails from readers alerting us to interesting articles. Bear in mind that, if it’s in the Guardian, the Telegraph or the Times, we’ve probably already seen it. But if it’s in a non-mainstream publication, particularly one that doesn’t routinely cover the environment, then please tell us!

How many subscribers does Inkcap have?

Inkcap currently has around 4,500 subscribers, including politicians, civil servants, conservationists, scientists, publishers, journalists and writers. You can join them here: