Natural and wild gardening Books
The Crowood Press Ltd The Value of Weeds
Book SynopsisWeeds are wild plants that have survived in the face of centuries of hostility. Many gardeners who are unfamiliar with the versatility of weeds think of them as a nuisance. They can be good, bad, dangerous or beautiful. Above all, they are tough. This essential guide explores the virtues of good weeds, including how they can protect soil and add to soil fertility; act as companion plants in gardens; provide food for farm livestock; support wild life; provide herbal remedies for minor ailments; yield vegetable dyes and finally, give us weed cuisine: nutritious food and drink for free.
£9.49
Ebury Publishing Westonbirt Arboretum’s Tree Spotter’s Guide: The
Book SynopsisIn the depths of the Cotswolds, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, lies one of the most beautiful tree gardens in the world, known as Westonbirt Arboretum. Here you can find around 15,000 trees, each one lovingly labelled. They offer the perfect, picturesque setting for escaping from the pressures of everyday life.Now, for the first time, 100 of the most popular British trees form the basis of this beautiful pocket guide. Illustrated with artwork depicting the tree and leaf, this covetable little book will educate and entertain with wonderfully concise text by one of the world’s leading tree experts from the Arboretum. Pop this book in your pocket for a great day out spotting some of the most celebrated features of our landscape!Trade Review[A] gorgeous, pocket-sized book. . . [A] handy little aid for a family day out. -- Natasha Harding * The Sun *[I]deal to take on a woodland excursion. * The English Garden *[...] information and illustrations of 100 trees you might see when out and about in our parks or countryside [...] handily pocket-sized. * My Weekly *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co Forage: Wild plants to gather and eat
Book SynopsisForage is a beautifully illustrated celebration of edible plants that can be found throughout the world.Anybody can enjoy the increasingly popular back-to-nature activity of foraging. In some countries these plants are now forgotten as food, but in others they are still celebrated for their value as nutritious, delicious ingredients and cooking with wild plants is increasingly being adopted by mainstream restaurants.Journeying through 50 globally populated edible plants, Forage explores the culture and history of our wild food. Stunning botanical illustrations by artist Rachel Pedder-Smith accompany each plant, alongside recipes inspired by the regions of the world where they are most celebrated.
£16.99
David & Charles Wildlife garden: Create a home for
Book SynopsisThe threat of global mass extinction of bees, and the alarming decline in many native bird species, are key topics of discussion today. The main causes of this situation is intensive cultivation of monocultures, and the wide-scale use of pesticides, that in turn lead to destruction of traditional habitats and the various food sources they provide. We know that if just one species in a food chain is lost - and thus no longer able to perform its particular function - this will inevitably lead to the extinction of further species, and a reduction in the stability and productivity of the entire ecosystem. The preservation of biological diversity is guaranteed only if pollinators are able to survive - and each of us can contribute to supporting and strengthening them by creating a natural garden that welcomes and sustains these species, providing what they need to flourish. The spirit and magic of a natural garden stems from the fact that it is not created by human hands - at least not in the usual sense, with a great deal of effort and expenditure. A natural garden is about creating an ecologically balanced slice of nature - one that is not shaped by external forces, but works with what is already there. Turn your garden into a wildlife wonderland - and help to save the environment!Trade ReviewUrsula Kopp’s Wildlife Garden entices you to create a native European garden.- Geelong U3A Dog Handling Skills Class --- an easy to follow guide showing how to create a home for garden-friendly animals, insects and birds. - RAF News
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group RHS Weeds: the beauty and uses of 50 vagabond
Book SynopsisRHS Weeds gathers together 50 untamed and beautifully wild plant species, illustrated with exquisite botanical images from the Royal Horticultural Society's archives. Their natural untamed beauty, ability to thrive under challenging conditions, and the attraction of growing species native to their surroundings have all taken weeds from undesirable to covetable. These subversive species no longer need to be seen as 'plants out of place'. In the modern garden, where harmony with nature is key, weeds are finally getting their moment in the sun.RHS Weeds highlights the delicate charms of some of the most fascinating vagabond plants around. Beautiful botanical illustrations from the Royal Horticultural Society's collections and captivating profiles by RHS author Gareth Richards provide key information for the modern gardener on the characteristics, usefulness and cultivation of 50 unsung heroes of the plant world.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Fifty weeds • References • Index.
£13.49
Profile Books Ltd Working with Nature: Saving and Using the World’s
Book SynopsisFrom cocoa farming in Ghana to the orchards of Kent and the desert badlands of Pakistan, taking a practical approach to sustaining the landscape can mean the difference between prosperity and ruin. Working with Nature is the story of a lifetime of work, often in extreme environments, to harvest nature and protect it - in effect, gardening on a global scale. It is also a memoir of encounters with larger-than-life characters such as William Bunting, the gun-toting saviour of Yorkshire's peatlands and the aristocratic gardener Vita Sackville-West, examining their idiosyncratic approaches to conservation. Jeremy Purseglove explains clearly and convincingly why it's not a good idea to extract as many resources as possible, whether it's the demand for palm oil currently denuding the forests of Borneo, cottonfield irrigation draining the Aral Sea, or monocrops spreading across Britain. The pioneer of engineering projects to preserve nature and landscape, first in Britain and then around the world, he offers fresh insights and solutions at each step.Trade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Purseglove's Taming the Flood: 'Jeremy Purseglove has a gift that is increasingly rare in these days of scientific specialization - of joining practical wisdom about working with nature and the land to an imaginative appreciation of their place in our history and culture.' -- Richard MabeyA pioneering and counter-culture work -- Oliver RackhamIt is a celebration of life in and around the water and it is an eloquent plea to water engineers, to farmers and to Government to respect that life * BBC Wildlife *
£9.49
O'Brien Press Ltd Make Your Home a Nature Reserve
Book SynopsisInsects, birds, bats, foxes, badgers, shrews. These beautiful and fascinating creatures need somewhere to live, as their own natural habitats become more and more endangered. Learn how to make your space from a windowbox to a suburban garden to a farm inviting to nature. And learn all about Ireland's wildlife, from tiny plants to large mammals.
£17.09
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd Old Wives' Lore for Gardeners
Book SynopsisPacked full of the age-old wisdom and expertise of generations of gardeners, who used their down-to-earth and practical experience to create beautiful, productive and useful gardens without spending a fortune.Behind every beautiful garden is the skill and experience of the gardener who tends it. How do you know which plants will thrive in your patch, given the bewildering array on offer? How do you know what soil and location they will like? And what do you do about all those pests just waiting to tuck in, not to mention the fungal diseases that suddenly turn your rose leaves from glossy green to blotchy yellow and coat other leaves with a powdery white dust? Just how do you tackle these gardening challenges, while being eco friendly at the same time? This is where Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners comes in. Packed within its pages is all the age-old wisdom of generations of gardeners, people who knew a thing or two about plants. They lived before the days of chemical pesticides and concocted kitchen-cupboard remedies to treat pests and diseases. They gardened organically – although they wouldn’t have called it that – because there was no other choice on offer. With a wealth of savvy and cost-effective tips and advice, intriguing facts, snippets of history and quotes, Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners is not only a fascinating read but also an invaluable guide to the gardening practices of old, which are as relevant today as they have ever been.
£9.49
Octopus Publishing Group Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul: How to Nurture
Book SynopsisDiscover the joys and health-giving benefits of nurturing a gardenWe have long been aware of the positive effects of spending time in nature and how it can be a powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life. Science now tells us that cultivating a green space of our own can be restorative and even transformative for our physical and mental well-being, with a proven ability to reduce depression and anxiety, boost our happiness levels and provide a feeling of balance and calm.Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul will help you:- Explore which plants release scents to help uplift and soothe.- Discover the ways gardening can boost physical and mental well-being, and promote feelings of balance and calm.- Learn about birdsong and how it can boost happiness and creativity.- Experience the wonders of growing plants from seeds, and how it teaches us to slow down and appreciate the simple things.
£11.69
Octopus Publishing Group Feel-Good Gardening: How to Reap Nature's
Book SynopsisFeaturing simple tips, practical advice and inspiring ideas, this book will help you discover how to reap the mental, physical and spiritual benefits found in natureWe all know that our environment is critical to our well-being, so when seeking a boost to our happiness, where better to look than the garden? Whether you're hoping to cultivate a calmer mindset, nurture your physical strength or connect with your community, the restorative powers of gardening can help you flourish.With valuable information, actionable tips, creative project ideas and feel-good gardening facts, this book will help you discover the all-round health benefits that can come while honing your green fingers.Inside you will discover:- How the aromas, colours and sounds of plants and nature can both relax and invigorate you- Why gardening and its therapeutic actions are beneficial for your mental health- How to energize your body, tone muscles and improve flexibility for overall fitness- The plentiful spiritual aspects to be found through breathwork and grounding exercises- How and why gardening can plant you within your community and encourage teamwork and cooperation
£11.69
Troubador Publishing The Guilty Gardener: A memoir of love, waxwings
Book SynopsisWracked by guilt for breaking a childhood bond with her naturalist father and fearful for the future of the planet in light of the catastrophic impact of climate change, Annabel sets out on a personal journey of redemption. She seeks to reconnect with nature and wildlife in the one place she knows she can make a real difference – her own, barren, neglected garden. Guided by her eccentric, octogenarian neighbour, and with the ghost of her late father never far from her thoughts, Annabel begins to rediscover the therapeutic art of wildlife gardening. Her moving and often very funny green odyssey travels from an idyllic nature-filled childhood of hay meadows, hedgehogs and waxwings in the 1970s to the present day where biodiversity loss is reaching crisis point. The Guilty Gardener neatly blends quirky memoir with pertinent observation of our natural world while showcasing the key to successful wildlife gardening. Illustrated with exquisite line drawings, it reminds us of the simple necessity and beauty of nature and how rewilding can restore love, hope, even life itself. “This book is a lovely demonstration of the importance of gardening for wildlife and enjoying all the benefits this brings, both for our natural world and also for our own wellbeing.” Estelle Bailey, CEO, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
£13.49
Troubador Publishing Natural Emergence Gardening an Awakening
Book SynopsisThis book reveals the wisdom in garden ecosystems on a practical wildlife gardening and permaculture level; explores how we emotionally disconnect from nature when we see things as pests'; applies the wisdom observed to our own healing and spiritual development.
£12.59
Batsford A Wilding Year
Book Synopsis Follow Hannah Dale''s deeply personal journey as she returns her Lincolnshire farm to nature, celebrating the return of an astonishing variety of wildlife. Hannah Dale, the artist and founder of the award-winning nature-centric gift company Wrendale Designs, takes you through a year on her farm in rural Lincolnshire where, alongside her husband, she has undertaken an ambitious rewilding project. Together, they are attempting to return the land to nature and increase the number of species their land is able to support. A Wilding Yearexplores how one family have been able to embrace the beauty to be found in untidy landscapes, heralding the return of skylarks, meadow pipits, hobbies, polecats and many more species to their farm. The land was originally claimed from marshy wetlands, and leaning into the land''s natural inclination to be wet has also yielded amazing ponds and pond life. This rewilding journey has also provided Hannah with new sources of inspiration for her paintings. A Wilding Yearis both a journal and a sketchbook, in which Hannah keeps a visual record of the incredible variety of species she finds on the farm. This fascinating account of a year spent in nature brings to life the beauty and power of wildlife in every season.
£14.96
Permanent Publications Trees and Shrubs that Heal: Reconnecting With The
Book SynopsisWhat are the amazing healing effects of trees and shrubs? How does tree bark effectively reduce inflammation? How can fruits and leaves help recovery and build resilience? Discover therapeutic benefits of trees and shrubs, ranging from forest bathing to soothing remedies, from painkillers to stressbusters. Anne Stobart draws on her direct experience as a medical herbalist, and shares how to recognise useful trees and shrubs and then harvest and create a range of herbal supplies, from fir needles to jujube fruits. Anne includes profiles of 80 trees and shrubs suited to temperate climates with recommendations on their uses. Learn the abundant and sustainable sources of healing available from trees and shrubs and how they can be safely used within a range of settings, from gardens and food forests to woodlands and permaculture projects. Ideal for foragers, gardeners and growers, walkers and wilderness lovers, agroforesters and forest schoolers, and anyone interested in herbal medicine. The book is laid out in two parts. Part One introduces the potential of the medicinal forest for therapeutic use, remedies for common complaints, medicines for repair and recovery from illness, and how these healing plants can be grown and used for the health of people and planet. Anne explains the importance of reconnecting with medicinal trees and shrubs through sustainable use and the benefits for environmental concerns. Part Two incorporates a directory of 80 woody species, from large trees to small shrubs, offering a range of plants for any sized growing space. Each profile comes with illustrated and accessible content on identification and habitat, medicinal parts and uses, safety advice, suggested preparations alongside a suggested recipe for each medicinal tree or shrub.Trade Review"Anne Stobart offers us another sumptuous insight into the majestic contribution trees make towards enabling healthy human life." Julian Barker, author, botanist and medical herbalist
£21.25
Permanent Publications The Seasoned Gardener: Exploring the Rhythm of
Book SynopsisAward winning author and self-sufficiency practitioner Liz Zorab takes readers on a highly entertaining and joyful celebration through the seasons. Following on from her hugely popular debut book, Grounded, Liz returns with The Seasoned Gardener, inviting you on a personal and yet totally relatable journey of growing and learning through the gardening year. Illustrated with a delicious selection of Liz's own photos, The Seasoned Gardener provides an abundance of friendly advice and hundreds of top tips on what to and what not to do as she inspires gardeners of all levels to have a go at growing tastier and healthier food for themselves and to benefit the natural world. The Seasoned Gardener inspires you to connect with your garden and surroundings and explains how the veg garden sits within the wider context of the landscape, highlighting the importance the seasons, weather, microclimates, water cycles and light levels play on growing successful and healthy crops. Liz's down-to-earth writing style has been likened to having a helpful neighbour chatting over the garden fence. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and every chapter is filled with plenty of advice on what to grow, when to seed and plant out, what pitfalls to avoid - having learned from her own mistakes - and how to be creative with what you have around you.
£15.00
Birdwatchers Garden The
Book Synopsis
£11.24
Capall Bann Publishing Wildlife Gardening
Book Synopsis
£10.40
ACC Art Books Water Lilies: and Bory Latour-Marliac, the Genius
Book SynopsisWater lilies are inextricably linked to the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome, Egypt and the Far East, where they were highly valued, just as precious metals or gemstones, their properties were thought to be medicinal, spiritual and purely aesthetic; they have been represented in architecture, printed textiles, religious paintings and illustrations, cited in mythology, folklore, mysticism and the creative imagination. This volume meticulously records our enduring love affair with the most beautiful and exotic of plants, the water lily. It is a comprehensive and detailed account of their introduction into European culture, largely through the passion and devotion of one man, Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac (1830-1911), whose lifelong work in the field of propagation, cultivation and commercialisation of water lilies inspired a generation of horticulturists, artists and poets to create the words and images that are deeply embedded in our culture today. Claude Monet, for example, used lilies from Latour-Marliac's nursery to create his garden in Giverny. The work Latour-Marliac did gave rise to development of specialist lily nurseries and growers across Europe and North America; in fact, Latour-Marliac's nursery still exists today, owned by Robert Sheldon, an American who shared Latour-Marliac's passion for water lilies and water gardening and has been the force behind the nursery's continued success today.Trade Review[Water Lilies] is a must have book for those seeking garden history from the late 19th and early 20th century, an understanding of Monet's water lilies, and/or the methods of growing water lilies provided by the experts at the Latour-Marliac Nursery. -- Joyce E. Brobst, Past President, The Herb Society of America
£25.50
I-Go-Books Bring nature back to your garden: A wildlife
Book SynopsisThis book motivates gardeners to adopt a completely different mindset: instead of growing foreign plants and killing perceived pests, gardeners can benefit from planting indigenous vegetation with the object of actually attracting insects and other garden wildlife. It illustrates how easy it is to work with nature instead of against it. Not just another gardening book, it encourages gardeners to help preserve and restore our fast-disappearing natural heritage. In this way they can contribute to conservation right on their own doorsteps, while deriving great pleasure in the process. Virtually every aspect of environmentally-friendly gardening is covered, making it a complete "how to" guide and debunking some long-held myths. Winner of a University of KwaZulu-Natal book prize, the first edition was out of print for several years after all 15 000 copies had been sold. This is the Western Edition, for the western half of South Africa that the original didn't pertain to. The book is lighthearted and entertaining whilst avoiding the technical terms, thus making it an easy read. The book is enhanced by delightful humorous drawings that emphasise points made in the text. A must for all nature-loving gardeners, the large amount of information is almost encyclopedic and will also be more than useful to conservationists and anyone with an interest in the natural sciences.
£14.36
Orphans Publishing Diary of a Modern Country Gardener
Book Synopsis
£18.00
Transworld Publishers Ltd No Nettles Required: The Reassuring Truth About
Book SynopsisIn 2003 a MORI poll for the Royal Horticultural Society revealed that an extraordinary number of us are interested in attracting wildlife into our gardens. It also indicated, however, that many of us have no idea how to go about it. Information is sparse, and public opinion seems to suggest that gardens that are plentiful in wildlife are unattractive, expensive to upkeep and hard work to maintain. But this couldn't be further from the truth.In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson explains that encouraging wildlife is actually entirely compatible with ordinary gardening, costs next to nothing and is almost completely effortless. Packed with helpful hints and tips, the book shows us how easy it is to fill our gardens with everything from foxes, frogs and mice to butterflies, ladybirds and literally thousands of fascinating creepy-crawlies. Why should we? Because we'll be promoting the biodiversity of the UK, we'll be reconnecting with nature, getting more from our gardens, and we'll be doing our plants a favour.Trade ReviewA well-researched gem. I love it. Buy it and read it. -- Cleve West * The Independent *BOOK OF THE MONTH...Attractive and highly readable follow-up to his excellent An Ear to the Ground * The Telegraph, Gardening supplement *A good read: informative and well-explained. * Bob Flowerdew, Gardener's Question Time *A cheerful hand grenade of a book...fantastic science writing for a lay audience. * New Scientist *I finished this book torn between wild feelings of omnipotence and a nagging sense of guilt for poisoning the mice in my garden shed...he guides us around the millions of varieties of insects that most of us either ignore or abhor...even slugs, the gardener's most persistent foe, are given respect. -- Ludovic Hunter-Tilney * Financial Times *
£10.44
Brambleby Books Making Garden Meadows: How to Create a Natural
Book SynopsisMaking Garden Meadows is a practical guide to creating a beautiful native wildflower meadow or a colourful area of cornfield annuals in even the smallest of gardens.
£9.49
Brambleby Books Making Wildlife Ponds: How to Create a Pond to
Book SynopsisThis third guide in the 'Gardening with Nature Series' gives step by step advice on where, when and how to create a pond to enrich the wildlife in your garden.
£9.49
Vintage Publishing The Garden Farmer
Book SynopsisSelected as a Book of the Year 2017 in You Magazine'A lavish monthly guide to getting the most from your garden' Daily MailA punnet of plums from your tree, a handful of gooseberries; home-grown nuts and herbs, and a few freshly laid eggs from your hens – all enjoyed in your own small plot. What could be more satisfying?The Garden Farmer is an evocative journal and monthly guide to getting the most out of your garden throughout the year. Whether you are a keen gardener looking for inspiration, or just starting out and wanting to rediscover and reclaim your patch of earth, Sunday Telegraph garden-columnist Francine Raymond lays the groundwork for a bountiful year of garden farming. Maybe you would like to get outside more, grow a few essential vegetables, some fruit trees or bushes for preserving, and create a scented kitchen garden to provide for you year round. Or perhaps you will raise a small flock of ducks or geese, or even a couple of pigs? Could this be the year you decorate your home with nature’s adornments, encourage wildlife back to pollinate your trees and plants, and spend celebratory hours in a haven of your own creation? Each chapter of The Garden Farmer offers insight into the topics and projects you might be contemplating that month, along with planting notes and timely advice, and a recipe that honours the fruits of your labour. With just a little effort and planning, every garden can be tended in tune with nature, and every gardener can enjoy a host of seasonal delights from their own soil.Keep up-to-date with Francine's gardening adventures on her blog at kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk.
£18.00
Jeremy Mills Publishing The Yorkshire Organic Gardener
Book Synopsis
£22.07
HarperCollins Publishers Plants for Free: Seeds and Cuttings to Fill Your
Book SynopsisIn this book, Sharon Amos explains how to design and create a beautiful garden for little or no money, offering tips on bartering for clippings, getting a bargain at garage sales or neighbourhood fairs, digging up suckers or adapting wild species and controlling them in a garden environment. She provides a comprehensive directory of 80 plants including detailed advice on where and how to grow a wide variety of garden favourites, from snowdrops to poppies. With beautiful illustrations, Plants for Free is the perfect gift book for cultivating your garden on a budget of next-to-nothing.
£9.49
Triarchy Press the garden of equal delights: the practice and
Book SynopsisForest gardens are much in the news as an exemplary form of resilient, sustainable, small-scale agriculture and plenty has been written about them already. But little has been written about the role of those who 'look after' them. A forest garden is edible, fertile, abundant and beautiful because it functions as an ecosystem. The forest gardener is an integral part of this ecosystem - which raises the question of what exactly the forest gardener should be trying to do. This book answers that question. At the heart of a forest garden is the unique relationship between the garden and the gardener. The 'garden of equal delights' after which this book is named is Anni Kelsey's forest garden high on a wet and windy Welsh hillside. Rejecting control and a regimen of planned interventions in favour of a more intimate, knowing and connected relationship with her garden, Anni describes how she learned to garden as an intrinsic - and equal - part of the ecosystem. She uses her years of experience to formulate and explain in very practical terms a set of principles that other forest gardeners can follow in their own preferred way. So this is a challenging and inspiring story for experienced, new and would-be forest gardeners and for anyone with a love of nature and a longing to engage with it on a deeper level. A forest garden is a different garden which needs to be gardened differently by a different gardener.Trade ReviewThis is a book about how to be a forest gardener. It is not a 'how to' garden book. The emphasis is on being and becoming, rather than doing. Anni shows us that forest gardening is a different type of gardening from the horticultural norm; one which requires a different type of gardener. Her book shows how the garden and gardener can grow together in a process of co-creativity in which an abundant ecosystem emerges. The job of the forest gardener, suggests Anni, is largely one of learning to keep out of the way; to sit on ones hands. To watch, and wait, and learn from the garden about how it wants to grow. The gardener may then make gentle, informed interventions - a nudge here, a suggestion there - without being wedded to the outcome. But this isn't necessarily as easy as it sounds; it takes practice. By telling the story of her own garden, Anni shows us how she developed this practice. The work of the forest gardener, she suggests, shifts from traditional tasks of digging and weeding, to more observational 'tasks' of watching, waiting, and learning how the garden develops as an ecosystem. She acknowledges that watching and waiting can be uncomfortable, as the gardener gives up their enculturated urges to tidy or weed and lets the garden run rampant. The gardener allows this to happen. Their job is to watch carefully as an ecosystem slowly develops that no longer requires pest management, weeding, or added fertility. Only once the forest gardener begins to understand this ecosystem, and the many interactions occurring within it, can they begin to gently intervene.Table of Contentspreface introduction tribute to all gardeners part 1: a different garden 1 a different garden 2 how does the forest garden? 3 gardens of delight 4 principles of forest gardening 5 fertility, health and abundance part 2: is gardened differently 6 stop 7 don't do anything until you have to 8 the twin story of watching and waiting 9 only do the minimum 10 gardening with the forest 11 polyfloral polycultures 12 life cycle gardening 13 nature's transformational magic 14 harvest only enough 15 beauty and joy part 3: by a different gardener 16 polyculture learning 17 appreciation 18 the polyculture path to the heart of the garden 19 welcome the wild 20 gardening with life appendices 1 trees and plants in the garden of equal delights 2 discussion - David Holmgren's principles of permaculture
£16.12
HarperCollins Publishers Wild Gardens
Book Synopsis ‘Garden Book of the Year’ – Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Discover Britain’s most beautiful and inspiring wild gardens, and how you can make your own. Winner ‘Best Garden Book of the Year’ Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Despite our best efforts, and no matter how much we prune, tidy and shape our gardens, they are inherently wild. In fact, it is often the most unrestrained and untamed areas that add drama and romance. In this glorious celebration of exuberant, naturalistic planting, we take a walk on the wild side. Be transported to lush valleys and tropical jungles with exotic gardens shaped by Victorian plant hunters. Wander through beautiful bluebell woods, blossoming orchards and magical wildflower meadows, and explore prairie-style gardens inspired by North American grasslands. Discover special places influenced by natural landscapes, and sustainably managed spaces designed with wildlife in mind. You’ll find out how wild play areas can help children to connect with nature and how immersing yourself in quiet woodland can immediately benefit your sense of well-being. A helpful guide also offers advice and tips on how to create and manage your own wildlife-friendly garden so that you can attract birds, bees, bats, bugs and many other wild and wonderful creatures.Trade ReviewFrom the orchid-studded wild flower meadows of Stowe and the artful gardens that Dan Pearson recently designed around the picturesque ruins of Lowther Castle, to the tree fern glades of Trengwainton in Cornwall, the exotic “jungle” of Glendurgan (also in Cornwall), and the “nature on steroids, visual suckerpunch” that is Bodnant, Mahon paints a vivid, immersive picture of these “wild” gardens and how they support a complex, biodiverse range of vulnerable habitats. The Irish Times
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers How to Grow the Flowers: A sustainable approach
Book SynopsisGrowing flowers to cut and enjoy at home can sharpen our awareness of the world around us and make us more attuned to nature. We find it impossible to walk anywhere without spotting a prized rose in a front garden, a brassica gone to seed on a neighbouring allotment plot or a weedy verge in a carpark and considering its potential for cutting. ‘Tuning into the flowering seasons, observing and being compassionate to nature and seeking beauty in the unexpected not only makes us better gardeners but custodians of the planet.’ – Camila and Marianne Like the food revolution that focuses on provenance, locality, climate and sustainability, Camila and Marianne use these principles to address the flower market. With not much space, it is possible to use the flowers from your garden to decorate your home as well as giving bunches to friends and family instead of buying cellophane wrapped flowers from the shops that may have been covered in pesticides and travelled many miles to get to you. Flowers are something we are irresistibly drawn to and turn to at the milestone moments of our lives, at births, marriages and deaths, to connect with an estranged friend, to send love or say we’re sorry. They colour our most formative experiences and are our gateway to finding our own personal relationship with the planet we inhabit. No matter the size of your garden, this practical, but approachable guide will instill the confidence in you to grow flowers to bring into your home and enjoy all year round.Trade ReviewHow to Grow the Flowers is ‘practical and informative, and the emphasis is on seasonality and sustainability, all hand in hand with an invitation to enjoy the beauty and share the joy of flowers.’ Rachel de Thame, The Times 10 Best Gardening Books of 2022 ‘My word it is gorgeous! A book that is both beautiful and informative.The photos are stunning, and the text is highly informative’ – Charles Dowding ‘A joy of a book in every way. I long to fill my garden with flowers with this book as my guide.’ – Anna Jones
£19.80
Pimpernel Press Ltd The Science of Garden Biodiversity: The Living
Book SynopsisYou step out of the back door into the garden. There may be a few birds flitting around, perhaps butterflies or bumblebees on the wing, but often the garden can seem very still. However, if you look beyond the superficial inactivity there is an ecological web of wildlife to explore, to understand and then to encourage more biodiversity. The Science of Garden Biodiversity: The Living Garden shows how data and science can help to dispel myths, such as that wildlife gardens are great for wildlife (and other gardens aren’t), that a garden fit for wildlife must be ‘wild’ and that you must grow native plants. It also provides an understanding of how diverse life can be in gardens and how gardens work. And along the way there are scientific ‘signposts’ to better wildlife gardening. Julian Doberski explains the role of 'small things' - microorganisms and invertebrates - that are fundamental to the ecological functioning of gardens. Learning more about the ecology of a garden helps us understand what makes a garden a refuge for wildlife and how following the science may lead to a more thoughtful and constructive approach to gardening, garden design and garden planting.Trade Review"Brings an informed, academic element that will satisfy serious growers and nature lovers." * The English Garden *"Meticulously referenced with the latest research, this book will appeal to all gardeners who want to please the local wildlife and better know the scientific basis of what they're doing." -- Ken Thompson, plant ecologist and lecturer * The Garden *"Community ecology is so important in the garden habitat but the information in the academic literature almost never escapes into the gardening media. Julian Doberski has undertaken several small but important meta-analyses that are very revealing. It`s a terrific work, and deserves every accolade it will undoubtedly receive." -- Dr Jolyon Kirby, Garden Ecologist
£9.49
Pimpernel Press Ltd Wild Fruits, Berries, Nuts & Flowers: 101 Good
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1942 (and retailing at 1s 6d) in response to the growing use of factory-made foods and essences, Wild Berries, Fruits, Nuts & Flowers demonstrated how tasty dishes could be made using the wild fruits and flowers of the countryside. Today there is a growing interest in foraging. People have become more connected with nature and are heading into the countryside and collecting edible plants, mushrooms and fruits. This is combined with an increasing desire to eat local seasonal produce in the interests of sustainability. This timely reissue of a classic of its kind is the perfect gift for the modern forager. It features 101 recipes for using wild berries, fruits, nuts, flowers, mushrooms and seaweed. Nothing is known about the original author, but this edition has a foreword by Barbara Segall, who suggested republishing this book.Trade Review"There is a saying, 'good stuff comes in little packets' and one might say this also applies to 'little books' for a delightful pocket volume landed on my desk recently that perfectly encapsulates that phrase. The informative and entertaining foreword by Barbara Segall is a perfect introduction to what lies beyond and we are grateful to Barbara for bringing this amazing collection of recipes to a 21st century audience... delightful." * Reckless Gardener *"Useful...illustrated with attractive line drawings, the book presents recipes and suggestions ranging from bramble chutney, crab-apple marmalade and wild flower vinegars to edible seaweeds." * Garden News *
£9.49
Little Toller Books The Wild Garden
Book SynopsisThe Wild Garden is a revolutionary book which swept aside Victorian gardening conventions and formality and replaced it with a new style of gardening: naturalistic, cottage gardening. Decades ahead of its time, it remains hugely relevant today.
£12.60
Rockpool Publishing From Earth: A guide to creating a natural
Book SynopsisCreate your own natural apothecary using readily available ingredients with the easy, step-by-step instructions and straightforward advice in From Earth. Inspired by author Charlotte Rasmussen's Scandinavian upbringing and the botanicals she has discovered since moving to Australia, this is a perfect guide for anyone wanting to find a more holistic way of life. Within these pages you will discover expert knowledge tailored to your lifestyle, whether you need moisturiser for dry skin or a decongestant for your child. You will be become confident combining herbs and oils and be inspired to create your own essential oil blends to infuse your home with the perfect ambience. The heart of From Earth is about taking the natural resources provided by our planet and using them to improve your life. Instead of buying products filled with unintelligible chemicals, using this book you will be able to take control of your own skin care, fragrances and home remedies. You will be able to connect with your environment and body, restoring your health and wellbeing with a variety of homemade, naturally sourced recipes.
£17.09
St. Lynn's Press A Forager's Life: Reflections on Mother Nature
Book SynopsisTake a walk in the woods with Mike Krebill. When Mike tells you a story about his experiences with a wild plant or mushroom, you’re getting far more than guidebook data – you’re getting a lifetime’s worth of keen observing, experimenting and, sometimes, close calls.Mike is one of America’s most acclaimed foragers and wild food educators, a living encyclopedia of all things wild and edible. A Forager's Life is about a life spent in nature and in the classroom – from the thousands of wild edible forays with adults and young people, to the legendary Euell Gibbons and the first Earth Day, to the rise of today’s great foraging wave, a wave that is bringing city folks and country folks together in search of that most basic of life’s pleasures: wild foods.It's about waking up to the natural world, with the nurturing help of great mentors along the way. At its heart, it's the story of a natural-born teacher who never stopped being a curious little boy, and who knows how to appeal to the curious kid in all of us. That’s what earned him multiple awards during his long career as a middle-school science teacher, environmental educator and naturalist.Are there recipes? Yes, lots of them, all kid-tested and kid-approved. You might like to try the Queen Anne's Lace pancakes, for starters.Trade Review"When times are stressful, as these are, people instinctively do two things: take to their kitchens and go out into nature. They can also be armchair enjoyers of other people’s adventures. One of America’s most respected foragers and wild food educators, Mike Krebill, writes of a lifetime spent in nature and the classroom in A Forager’s Life. While not a traditional field guide, everything about the plants and mushrooms mentioned within is as accurate as if it were. Beyond the pleasures of foraging for edible wild plants, Krebill scatters delicious and sometimes surprising wild food recipes throughout the book. These include: Grandmother Krebill’s Hickory Nut Cake, Queen Anne’s Lace Pancakes, Mulberry Ice Cream Soda, Chanterelle Frittata, Spiderwort Soda, Clover Flower Spoonbread, Wild Grape Jelly, Hen of the Woods Jerky, Soft Persimmon Cookies, Sumac Rubber Candy and more. – Michele Atkins, The Paris Post-Intelligencer"Mike Krebill's anecdotes, useful insights, delightful recipes and helpful resources will help to explain the wonderful world of foraging. Think of this type activity as a sport or hobby, but also know as well that the ability to forage can be a survival imperative." – The Graine Thumb, Virginia Master Gardener Association"The narrative is broken up by recipes, lists, and images. In my case, I was eager to see what foraged botany starred in the 21 recipes. I own at least a dozen wild food books, and Krebill's recipes are unique to this tome. They include Queen Anne’s Lace Pancakes, Clover Flower Spoonbread, Sumac Black Raspberry Lemonade, and Hickory Nut Sandies, among others. . . . I was drawn into Krebill’s storytelling. First, about his cousin trying to defy poison ivy to reach a generous stash of hickory nuts but then finding himself hospitalized with an angry rash. And second, when a middle school class was chowing down on a particularly delicious fried puffball and suddenly discovering wriggly little creatures inside. Both serve as warnings to newbies…pay close attention to the project whether gathering or cooking." – Paris Wolfe, The Herb Society of America Blog"A Forager’s Life contains nibbles of wild wisdom from a man with an unmatched passion for teaching and discovering wild foods. Here, Mike guides us down trails of memories that have shaped his experiences in a lifetime exploring wild edibles....Mike will continue to inform and inspire countless more students to unearth their own passion for foraged flavors." – Chelsea Ewen Rowcliffe, naturalist and foraging instructorTable of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART ONE: I Was Always a Curious Kid Chapter 1: A Tennessee and Iowa Childhood Chapter 2: The Great Outdoors: Scouting, School…and a Mentor Who Changed Everything Chapter 3: At Cornell: Discovering My Future Chapter 4: The Naturalist Years: Learning and Teaching How to Read Nature and Ask the Important Questions PART TWO: Kid Tested, Kid Approved Chapter 5: Teaching Middle School Science: Let the Experiments Begin! Chapter 6: More Stories, Small Catastrophes and Cautionary Tales: In the Classroom and on the Trail Chapter 7: Old Students Check In: You Never Know Whose Life You’ve Affected PART THREE: My Top 10 Foraged Edibles and What They’ve Taught Me Chapter 8: Autumn Olive Chapter 9: Black Raspberry Chapter 10: Black Walnut Chapter 11: Dandelion Chapter 12: Morels Chapter 13: Oak (Acorns) Chapter 14: Persimmons Chapter 15: Puffballs Chapter 16: Shagbark Hickory Chapter 17: Sumac PART FOUR: Walking Softly: Practical, Sustainable Foraging Chapter 18: The Native American Way of Foraging Stewardship Chapter 19: Where to Avoid Foraging and Why Chapter 20: Foraging No-No’s PART FIVE: The Great Foraging Wave: It’s Here, It’s Happening All Around Us Chapter 21: Today’s Trends and Leaders: The Festivals, the New Mentors, the Meet-Ups, the Foodies and Chefs Chapter 22: Where This is Taking Us: a Hopeful View APPENDIX: Glossary Recommendations for Learning More (Field Guides; Apps; Foraging Instructors; Websites; Blogs; Facebook Groups; Meet-Up Groups) Foraging Events Shops/Stores Videos/YouTube singles and series WILD RECIPES: NOTE: One or more of Mike’s wild food recipes will appear at the end of each chapter: Chanterelle Frittata Homemade Wild Pizza Nicci’s Black Walnut Microwave Fudge Fruit Soup Acorn Dippin’ Sticks Clover Flower Spoonbread
£14.44
Filbert Press Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way
Book SynopsisTwenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240-hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. Part of the intention was to entice city dwellers to reconnect with nature and improve land that had been lost to intensive agriculture and this was achieved along with much more. By tuning into the physical and cultural essence of the place and applying a light touch in terms of cultivation, this world-class designer created a remarkable place which has its heart in Japan's long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting design. The bold, uplifting sweep of the Meadow Garden mixes garden plants with natives while the undulating landforms of the Earth Garden bring sculptural connection with the mountains beyond. Under the skilful custodianship of Midori Shintani, the garden has evolved beautifully to reflect principles that lie at the heart of Japanese culture: observation of seasonal changes, practical tasks carried out with care and an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things. This beautiful, instructive book allows us all to experience something of the Tokachi effect, gain expert insights into how to plant gardens that feel right for their location, and reconnect with the land and wildlife that surround us.
£30.00
Filbert Press The View from Federal Twist: A New Way of
Book SynopsisFederal Twist is set on a ridge above the Delaware River in western New Jersey, USA. It is a naturalistic garden that has loose boundaries and integrates closely with the natural world that surrounds it. It has no utilitarian or leisure uses (no play areas, swimming pools or outdoor dining) and the site is not an obvious choice for a garden (heavy clay soil, poorly drained: quick death for any plants not ecologically suited to it). The physical garden, its plants and its features, is of course an appealing and pleasant place to be but Federal Twist's real charm and significance lie in its intangible aspects: its changing qualities and views, the moods and emotions it evokes, and its distinctive character and sense of place. Monty Don commented after his visit, "it made me rethink what a garden can be and do." This book charts the author's journey in making such a garden. How he made a conscious decision not to "improve the land", planted large, competitive plants into rough grass, experimented with seeding to develop sustainable plant communities. And how he worked with light to provoke certain moods and allowed the energy of the place, chance and randomness to have its say. Part experimental horticulturist and part philosopher, James Golden has written an important book for naturalistic and ecological gardeners and anyone interested in exploring the relationship between gardens, nature and ourselves.
£30.00
Filbert Press Gardens Under Big Skies: Reimagining Outdoor
Book SynopsisThe Netherlands is steeped in horticultural history and its gardens have long been a place for innovation and progressive thinking, exemplified by iconic figures such as the landscape architect Mien Ruys and naturalistic plant pioneer Piet Oudolf. In this book, Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder explore how the particularities of landscape, history and culture in the Netherlands have given rise to distinctive gardens and demonstrates how a new generation of Dutch designers are reimagining outdoor space in such a revolutionary way. At the heart of the story is a people intimately engaged with their surroundings, as proud of the feats of engineering used to reclaim their land from the sea as they are passionate about nature and biodiversity. This creative tension is played out in their parks and gardens: a clean, pared-back aesthetic contrasts with billowing planting; water is managed and made accessible with boardwalks; and meandering paths lead to inviting outbuildings for work and relaxation. These inspiring examples of sustainable, modern, liveable outdoor spaces will appeal to forward-looking garden makers wherever they live.
£32.00
Prestel Wild: Adventure Cookbook
Book SynopsisSarah Glover loves to cook, whether it’s on the edge of a windswept cliff, in a clearing in the forest, or on a sandy stretch of beach. Although she’s made a career as a chef in Australia and New York City, her heart lives outdoors. Filled with gorgeous photographs from the shores of Tasmania and beaches of Sydney to the mountains of Australia’s east coast, this cookbook shares her recipes and secrets to inspire others to cook and eat outside. She offers tips for preparing food over an open flame as well as a list of basic outdoor cooking equipment. Anyone who thinks camping food begins and ends with coffee and toasted marshmallows will be surprised to discover how easy it is to create a stunning four-course meal with a few pots and one fire. From solid staples like tender roast chicken and potatoes to dinner-party-worthy kumquat bellinis and quail with truffles, Glover sets the stage for any kind of outdoor experience. Her recipes are simple and straightforward—often involving only a handful of ingredients—and her instructions are breezy and clear. Whether it’s a quiet retreat in nature or a dawn-to-dusk beach party, Sarah Glover has a menu that will satisfy your hunger for fresh, modern food eaten in the great outdoors.Trade Review“Her book, Wild: Adventure Cookbook (Prestel) shows off her creative creations, which range from Bone Marrow Rice and Quail Eggs to Fish on Log, a recipe calling for four tree stumps. The book contains photographs of the chef in action as well as shots of her family and friends at her frequented beaches along the country's coasts. Cue the wanderlust!” -Vogue"The gorgeous photos in this book absoutely take you away—to isolated beaches and rugged camping spots all over Australia." –HOBNOB Magazine
£28.00
Edition Lammerhuber 21st Century Garden
Book SynopsisDrowning in flowers - with perceptive pictures and quirky texts this award-winning book wants to plant in its readers a longing for beauty, harmony, for the joy of recognition through knowledge. Georg Grabherr, one of the most influential conservation biologists, has created a domestic garden and incorporated key biosphere reserve concepts. Over time, his garden has developed into an ecological gem where the idea of "nature in the garden" has been realised in exemplary manner. He guides us through the phenological seasons that divide the year by the arrival of key species, covers themes dear to the gardener's heart and engages in a dialogue with nature, thoughtfully accepting and using what is wild and spontaneous. He is asking whether the thousands of private gardens can become a Noah's Ark, suitable for rescuing threatened species. Award-winning photographer Lois Lammerhuber has captured this amazing space throughout a whole gardening year and introduces us to an unusual but convincing garden aesthetic.
£20.00
