Leach Press and Oakist Press
Newsletter – Issue 7
15 July 2026
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the seventh Leach Press and Oakist Press newsletter.
The aim is simple – once a week, I'll send a short update covering new books, new videos, events, projects and life at Oakwood.
Thank you for subscribing and supporting independent publishing.
New Oakist Press Books
Three new books have recently been released through Oakist Press.
Living on the Road, Waterways or Off-grid in the UK
Dicky Dread
A practical guide to alternative living in the UK, covering vanlife, boats, off-grid living, traveller culture, legal realities and the many different ways people choose to live beyond conventional housing.
Nature Boy's Magical World
Steve Andrews
A personal testimony of a life shaped by a profound and enduring connection with the natural world. Steve reflects on nature, spirituality, creativity and the experiences that have shaped his remarkable journey.
Physics, Consciousness & Reality
Dicky Dread and Nigel Adams
An exploration of some of the deepest questions in science and philosophy. Drawing together ideas from physics, cosmology, consciousness studies and systems thinking, the book examines the relationship between mind, matter and reality itself.
New Leach Press Book
Paddy's Lost His Stash
Dicky Dread
When Paddy loses his legendary festival stash, the Cuckoo Crew launches a wildly chaotic international search spanning festivals, airports and continents – discovering friendship, madness and misadventure along the way.
New Videos This Week
Living on the Road, Waterways or Off-grid in the UK
Four new episodes were released this week:
- Why Small Changes Become Big Problems | Living on Land UK
- Why Working the Land Isn't Enough | Living on Agricultural Land UK
- What Tipi Valley Really Teaches | Off-Grid Living UK
- The Dale Farm Lesson | Britain's Biggest Traveller Planning Battle
One-off special
Why Travellers Attract So Much Criticism | The Full Story
These episodes explore the realities of canal life, off-grid living, planning law and the continuing challenges faced by travelling communities in the modern UK.
Physics, Consciousness & Reality
Four new episodes were released this week:
- Do We Really Choose? | The Free Will Paradox
- Can Justice Exist Without Free Will? | Crime, Choice and Responsibility
- Why We Still Care | Motivation Without Free Will
- Why We Suffer | The Western View Explained
These videos continue our exploration of consciousness, altered states, perception and the nature of reality.
Off-grid Skills with Dicky Dread
- Can You Really Live Off-Grid With Solar Power? | The Truth About Solar
- How I Find Cheap and Free Solar Panels
- Battery Sizing Made Simple for Off-Grid Living
- MPPT vs PWM – which solar controller should you buy?
- 12 V Lighting | Off-Grid Living & Energy
Oakwood Rewilding Project
Work continues at Oakwood in Llanbrynmair.
My mate Dave Ash gifted us several varieties of willow to plant around the Pond-a-Rosa.
I have also applied to a cricket-bat willow supplier for more trees. They provide the trees for free, maintain them and then share the eventual profits. I have also applied to the Woodland Trust for additional trees. Fingers crossed.
The polytunnel is ticking along, and I have given it a good mulching with wood chip.
The Bracken War is still under way, although I have given up on the far bank. It won.
We obtained four tonnes of wood chip from local tree surgeons. We have continued strimming around the new trees and adding mulch, although the heat has made this difficult.
We have started sourcing trees for a cider orchard, but still need to find tart apple varieties on M25 rootstock.
The six-metre yurt for Erika's therapy practice is now on hold until spring next year. We may build a tipi in the meantime using larch from the site.
There has been no progress on stripping out the caravan for Erika's art space. It has been too hot.
We continue to maintain the paths around the site. This will be helped by a friend giving us use of his ride-on mower and by me beginning a running regime around Oakwood.
The battle with the dock continues. Justyn and I each spend about an hour a day working with the strimmer and hedge cutter. I reckon we now have about half of it down.
We really need some rain.
DJ News
One new set is available online:
The Dicky Dread Show
6 July 2026
Listen on Mixcloud →
Live appearance
Mini Kipper Alldayer
Saturday 25 July 2026
I'll be playing live in Newtown alongside Smoke Like a Fish, Cartoon Violence, The Red Bastards, Skalinskis, Packet Racket, Zipstyle and Vesna.
The event takes place at Hafan Yr Afon in Newtown. Admission is £10.
View eventComing Soon
Work continues on a number of current and future projects, including:
- Further episodes of Physics, Consciousness & Reality
- Further episodes of Living on the Road, Waterways or Off-grid in the UK
- Further videos on off-grid living, continuing with solar power and charge controllers
- New Oakist Press releases
- Books from Marge Hunter, Saz Denny and Alan Brown
- Resources and the Future – An Anarchist Perspective
Forthcoming release
Crime, Justice and Punishment
An Anarchist Perspective
The book is at the final proof stage and should be released soon.
Here is another preview of the cover design.
Stay Connected
Thank you again for your support.
Until next week,
Dicky Dread
Leach Press & Oakist Press