Retired Cornwall Teacher Publishes Environmental Storybook for Children

Published On: 17 December 2025Last Updated: 17 December 2025By CornishStuff

A retired Cornwall teacher has written a new environmental storybook designed to help children learn about compassion, conservation and global citizenship.

The Rimba has been authored by Jane Griffiths, who spent her career teaching in Cornwall. The book blends lyrical poetry with narrative storytelling and follows the journey of a wise orangutan who acts as the guardian of the rainforest, rising to protect her home and the creatures that depend on it.

Inspired by the environmental spirit of The Lorax, the story encourages children to explore themes of kindness, cooperation and the impact their choices can have on the natural world.

A Passion Sparked by Palm Oil

Jane is particularly passionate about raising awareness around palm oil, sharing the message that avoiding it altogether is not always the best solution, and that choosing sustainable palm oil can make a real difference.

As Jane explains:
“The destruction caused by the palm oil deforestation is heartbreaking and led me to examine my buying habits. However, I knew this wouldn’t be enough to make a real impact so, after much research, I gave talks at local schools, met with managers at Newquay Zoo, and helped Newquay to become a sustainable palm oil town. It became a passion and led to the creation of ‘The Rimba’.”

Praise From Wildlife and Conservation Voices

The book has received praise from a number of well known voices in wildlife and conservation.

Wildlife TV presenter Michaela Strachan said:
“The Rimba is a beautifully written book, evocative, poignant and heart breaking but has a powerful message of hope about sustainable palm oil growing. I hope, with all my heart, that the message in this poem, about palm oil becoming deforestation free, becomes a reality.”

Conservationist Michelle Desilets, founder of the Orangutan Land Trust and former leader of Borneo Orangutan Survival UK, added:
“‘The Rimba’ is a must have for every home with children and every school library. It magically weaves a poetic story and richly atmospheric illustrations with a thought-provoking lesson on your shared responsibility to protect the planet and the species that call it home. The message that ‘The Rimba’ imparts captures my own feelings as an orangutan conservationist.”

Supporting Conservation Through Sales

All proceeds from The Rimba support carefully selected orangutan charities, including Cornwall based OVAID. Schools and families purchasing the book directly contribute to real world conservation while also supporting local authors and illustrators.

The book has been illustrated by orangutan scientist and digital illustrator Emma Lokuciejewski, whom Jane met through a mutual connection linked to the Borneo Nature Foundation.

An excerpt from the book reads:
“She’s the soul of the forest – she speaks for the trees
She speaks through the leaves – and she speaks through the breeze.”

Designed With Schools in Mind

Created specifically for classrooms, The Rimba includes a free Education Pack with a complete lesson plan, printable activities, discussion prompts and cross curricular links to literacy, science and social studies. These resources are designed to help teachers integrate the book into existing lessons while encouraging environmental awareness and critical thinking.

Where to Find the Book

The Rimba is available now through major online bookshops, including Amazon, as well as retailers such as Waterstones and Foyles.

More information can be found on the official website at www.the-rimba-book.com.
The book can also be followed on Instagram at @TheRimbaBook and on Facebook at TheRimba.

Book Details