Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

Book SynopsisVolume Two of Gerald Durrell's beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time''A lot of frolic, fun and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable'' - The New York TimesAnother tiger-golden day lay ahead of us. It was as though England had never really existed'The Durrell clan's escapades on their Greek island home resume with the second volume of the Corfu Trilogy. Budding zoologist Gerald continues to explore the natural wonders around him, enjoying a night fishing trip, receiving a donkey as a birthday present and accidentally bringing a bear home for tea. Here too are more stories of the eccentric creatures he calls his family, including Margo's ill-advised foray into spiritualism and what becomes known as Mother's Great Romance'. Ending as the Second World War is declared, Birds, Beasts and Relatives is an enchanting return to a magical place.

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Book SynopsisA must-have reference for any nature lover: The most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the mushrooms of North America, updated for the first time in decades to reflect the impact of climate change and the advancements in DNA sequencing that have radically altered the classification process.Whether marveling at species like the shaggy rose goblet and dead man's fingers, or getting to know the miraculous forms that take root in the backyard, readers will come to rely on this work of remarkable breadth, depth, and elegance. Created by the world’s most trusted name in nature field guides, this handsome volume is the result of a collaboration among leading scientists, scholars, taxonomic and field experts, photo editors, and designers. An indispensable resource, with nearly 2,900 full-color photographs, it reveals the astounding variety of forms, colors, and conditions of 668 species of mushrooms that can be found all throughout North America.<

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Book SynopsisNeil Ansell''s THE LAST WILDERNESS is a mesmerising book on nature and solitude by a writer who has spent his lifetime taking solitary ventures into the wild. For any readers of the author''s previous book, DEEP COUNTRY, Robert Macfarlane''s THE OLD WAYS or William Atkins THE MOOR.Shortlisted for the 2018 Wainwright Golden Beer Book PrizeShortlisted for the 2018 Highland Book Prize ''Ansell has the rare skill of combining vividly the intimacy of detail and the astonishing grandeur of this North West coastline of Scotland. Through his keen eyes we look again at the familiar with a sense of wondrous revelation'' Madeleine Bunting ''Beautiful...a testimony to reticent courage'' Daily MailThe experience of being in nature alone is here set within the context of a series of walks that Neil Ansell takes into the most remote parts of Britain, the rough bounds in the Scottish Highlands. He illustrates the impact of Trade ReviewAnsell's beautiful memoir of his walks through the Scottish wilderness makes the case for being truly a part of nature rather than outside of it * Observer *Ansell has the rare skill of combining vividly the intimacy of detail and the astonishing grandeur of this North West coastline of Scotland. Through his keen eyes we look again at the familiar with a sense of wondrous revelation -- Madeleine BuntingThe Last Wilderness is a moving and mesmerising book. Ansell's quiet, respectful immersion in the landscape rewards with some startling encounters with the natural world. He is a knowledgeable and generous guide to the unique flora and fauna of this beautiful corner of Scotland -- James Macdonald Lockhart, author of RAPTORNeil Ansell is a genuine creature of the wild. His knowledge of remote places, and his love for them, come from deep and sustained immersion. He writes in prose which is entirely right for its subject - unshowy, level-headed, quietly surprising. The Last Wilderness is a wonderful experience which tingles with all the sensations of being out on the hill, in all weathers, alone -- Philip MarsdenA beautifully-written account of the author's journeys to some of the most remote parts of Britain in search of solitude and solace * Choice *Beautifully charts the challenges and solaces of being alone and part of nature * Bookseller *Lyrical, thought-provoking * Scotsman *A love letter to Scotland . . . how I wish I could go back to Arisaig and the Small Isles. How much I missed, but how glad I am to experience it now with this wonderful writer * My Weekly *Beautiful...a testimony to reticent courage * Daily Mail *[A] captivating memoir...vivid as photographs, yet sketched with something more profound than simple reportage. Beneath the measured, knowledgeable, unfussy voice is a meaningful, and even important record: not just of a changing landscape, but of a man such places have shaped. -- The HeraldThe Last Wilderness is a beautiful read; rich in descriptive detail... his passion for the environment and his sublime prose make it a book to be savoured. * CultureFly *A hauntingly beautiful memoir on nature, solitude and hearing loss * Waterstones Website, Best books to look out for *He captures the landscape and the sense of adventure exquisitely: enough to make me feel I've been there but leaving me longing to make a trek of my own * The Pool *[A] haunting, lyrical memoir * Simple Things *

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Book Synopsis'A call to arms for everyone' Steve Backshall'Eye-opening' New ScientistThe diversity of life on earth is astounding, with each species perfectly adapted to its environment. Sharks can navigate the ocean using electromagnetic fields; sloths use algae as camouflage; albatross can fly for hours without beating their wings; and orca pods each have unique cultures and languages. But every hour, three species disappear. Our incredible world is at risk.Megan McCubbin reveals the stories of the scientists, rangers and conservationists who are fighting to save these extraordinary creatures from extinction. An Atlas of Endangered Species shows us that the battle is on for their survival - and we all have a part to play.'Joyful and heartbreaking, an inspiring celebration of some of our planet's most endangered species and those who champion them' - Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth'A powerful, passionate plea for a wilder future' - Sophie Pavelle, author of Forget Me NotTrade ReviewNot only is Atlas of Endangered Species a fascinating, immersive exploration of iconic and overlooked species, but most importantly it's a powerful, passionate plea for a wilder future alongside nature. Her rigorous research and friendly tone carves a clear, hopeful path towards a more harmonious relationship with the nature world. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful book! -- Sophie Pavelle, author of Forget Me NotBy turns joyful and heartbreaking, an inspiring celebration of some of our planet's most endangered species and those who champion them -- Dave Goulson, author of Silent EarthBeautifully written, capturing the wonder and personality of each creature, big and small perfectly. Megan's words make you befriend and root each of the animals she describes and gives you hope for a better future -- Dr Amir KhanAn inspiring journey... From the early naturalist to the experienced adult, this book will fascinate and inspire -- Benedict Macdonald, award-winning author of Rebirding'An antidote to any eco-anxiety , here are the people and the creatures who are fixing planet earth' -- Chris PackhamThis is a lovely book, well written and beautifully illustrated. With a third mass extinction on our doorstep, it's also very timely, and I'm delighted to see that it's been written by one of the foremost of the generation of new, young naturalists that are helping to change our perception and appreciation of the natural world. More power to their elbows! -- Iolo WilliamsPacked full of wonderful pictures and deep insights into the lives of the beautiful plants and creatures the planet is in grave danger of losing - don't miss this book! -- Dale Vince, OBE, UN Ambassador for Climate Change and Founder of EcotricityA truly inspiring and timely piece, one which should be imperative reading and on everyone's shelves -- Hannah StitfallMegan's enthusiasm is catching . . . An Atlas of Endangered Species weaves a narrative of hope and champions nature's underdogs, and instils a deep love for nature and people alike * Lucy Lapwing *An elegant blend of science, exploration, insight and optimism. Much like her presenting style, Megan McCubbin's writing has an effortless appeal to a diverse audience, from the curious child to the most seasoned of conservationists. An Atlas of Endangered Species is a masterpiece of scientific communication -- Dr Ruth Tingay, Co-Director, Wild Justice

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller 'Within two pages, nature writing feels different and fresh and new ... This book demands we find the eyes to see and the heart to love such things once more. It is a very fine book indeed, truly full of wonder' - James Rebanks, author of Pastoral Song 'Unusual and captivating ... a thing of wonder, the book that most took me by surprise this year' - Jini Reddy, author of Wanderland Aimee Nezhukumatathil has had many homes, but wherever she was - however awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape - she found guidance and perspective in nature. The axolotl smiles, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shakes off unwanted advances; the narwhal survives its hostile environment. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. Warm, lyrical and gorgeously illustrated by Fumi Mini Nakamura, this book ranges through joy and pain, encountering love, motherhood and heritage, racism and the destruction humans can wreak. In all those things, it shows that if you listen carefully, if you open your eyes wide, the world is full of wonders.Trade ReviewWithin two pages, nature writing feels different and fresh and new. Nezhukumatathil has written a timely story about love, identity and belonging ... We are losing the language and the ability to see and understand the wondrous things around us. And our lives are impoverished by this process ... This book demands we find the eyes to see and the heart to love such things once more. It is a very fine book indeed, truly full of wonder. -- James Rebanks * New York Times Book Review *An unusual and captivating memoir ... Nezhukumatathil exudes a rare zest for life, and her inherent love for the natural world shines through. World of Wonders is a thing of wonder, the book that most took me by surprise this year -- Jini Reddy, Wainwright Prize-shortlisted author of WanderlandA restless search for identity and belonging finds a warm welcome in nature's details. Nezhukumatathil's writing is like coming home. -- Gillian Burke, biologist and presenter of BBC2's Springwatch and WinterwatchAimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders is the first book to make me feel like a firefly as much as it reminds me I'm still a black boy playing in Central Mississippi woods. The book walks. It sprints. It leaps. Most importantly, the book lingers in a world where power, people, and the literal outside wrestle painfully, beautifully. This book is a world of wonders. This book is about to shake the Earth. -- Kiese LaymonAimee Nezhukumatathil gives us the world in technicolour. Astonishing nature burgeons all around her as she shows what it means to find wonder in a wilfully dull world -- Katherine MaySometimes we need teachers who remind us how to be flabbergasted and gobsmacked and flummoxed and enswooned by the wonders of this earth. How to be in stupefied and devotional love to the wonders of this earth. How to be in love with this, our beloved earth. Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders is as good and generous a teacher as one could ever ask for. This book enraptures with its own astonishments and reveries while showing us how to be enraptured, how to revere. Which, again, is showing us how to be in love. I can think of nothing more important. Or wonderful. -- Ross Gay, author of The Book of DelightsFrom its gorgeous illustrations to its unusual combination of lyrical nature writing and memoir, World of Wonders is hands-down one of the most beautiful books of the year. -- NPR "Best Books of 2020"In thirty bewitching essays, Nezhukumatathil spotlights natural astonishments raining from monsoon season in India to clusters of fireflies in western New York, each one a microcosm of joy and amazement. With her ecstatic prose and her rapturous powers of insight, Nezhukumatathil proves herself a worthy spiritual successor to the likes of Mary Oliver and Annie Dillard, setting the bar high for a new generation of nature writers. * Esquire *Should the wonderful David Attenborough ever retire, my hope is someone at BBC has read the work of Aimee Nezhukumatathil ... What a lovely book this is, gentle in its pacing, well-illustrated by Fumi Nakamura, and quietly subversive in the way she channels its gusts of joy. * Literary Hub *Nezhukumatathil's investigations, enhanced by Nakamura's vividly rendered full-color illustrations, range across the world, from a rapturous rendering of monsoon season in her father's native India to her formative years in Iowa, Kansas, and Arizona, where she learned from the native flora and fauna that it was common to be different ... The writing dazzles with the marvel of being fully alive. -- Starred Review * Kirkus Reviews *An unusual and beguiling blend of cultural memoir and Nature writing ... [Nezhukumatathil's] irrepressible spirit and zest for life shine throughout * Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine *These are the praise songs of a poet working brilliantly in prose. Each essay compresses a great deal of art and truth into a small space, whether about fireflies or flamingos, monkeys or monsoons, childhood or motherhood, or the trials and triumphs of living with brown skin in a dominant white world. You will not find a more elegant, exuberant braiding of natural and personal history. -- Scott Russell Sanders, author of The Way of ImaginationThe nature writing we have been exposed to has been overwhelmingly male and white, which is just one reason that Aimee Nezhukumatathil's latest essay collection, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments is a breath of fresh air ... What makes her work shine is its joyful embrace of difference, revealing that true beauty resides only in diversity. * San Francisco Chronicle *World of Wonders is a stunning union of biography, poetry, philosophy, and science; it is imbued with a love for her readers and for the natural world, and with a hope that people of color will feel more seen in nature writing . . . With a sense of amazement for the creatures around us, Aimee makes an ardent and artistic case for a compassionate ethics grounded in a deeper understanding?and love?of nature. * The Rumpus *Reading World of Wonders, it's clear that Nezhukumatathil is a poet. These essays sing with joy and longing?each focusing on a different natural wonder, all connected by the thread of Nezhukumatathil's curiosity and her identification with the world's beautiful oddities ... It's a heartwarming, poignant, and often funny collection, enlivened by Fumi Nakamura's dreamy illustrations. * BuzzFeed *Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders is a gorgeous collection of essays that ruminate on flora, fauna, and what they can teach us about life itself. Moving between vignettes from Nezhukumatathil's life and her ponderings on nature, World of Wonders is a one-of-a-kind book you won't want to miss this year. * Bustle *Nezhukumatathil applies her skill as a poet to a scintillating series of short essays on nature. She takes up topics that fascinate her - the bizarre-looking potoo birds of Central and South America; corpse flowers, with their rich colors and acrid odor - and connects them to her own experience of the world ... Throughout, she vividly describes sounds, smells, and color - the myriad hues of a 'sea of saris' from India - and folds in touches of poetry. Fumi Nakamura's lush illustrations add to the book's appeal. Readers of Terry Tempest Williams and Annie Dillard will appreciate Nezhukumatathil's lyrical look at nature. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisFrom mountain to sea and bog to forest, this perpetual diary shows the ebb and flow of life on our beautiful island. Alongside Carsten Krieger’s photographs of spectacular landscapes, flora and fauna from across the country, the reader has space to mark birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates or simply journal their thoughts as the seasons change. From the author and photographer behind many books including Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Islands, Ireland’s Ancient East and this year’s Wild Ireland: A Nature Journey from Shore to Peak.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 'I loved this book' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path'Utterly absorbing' Lucy Jones, author of Losing EdenWishing to leave behind the quiet isolation of her Orkney island life, Amy Liptrot books a one-way flight to Berlin. Searching for new experiences, inspiration and love, she rents a loftbed in a shared flat and looks for work. She explores the streets, nightclubs and parks and seeks out the city's wildlife - goshawks, raccoons and hooded crows. She looks for love through the screen of her laptop.Over the course of a year Amy makes space hoping for the unexpected. And it comes with an erotic jolt, in the form of a love affair that obsesses her.The Instant is an unapologetic look at the addictive power of love and lust. It is also an exploration of the cycles of the moon, the flight paths of migratory birds, the mesmerising power of Neolithic stonework and the trails followed by a generation who exist online.Trade ReviewA slim, luminous account of living and loving in Berlin, picking up where The Outrun left off * * Sunday Times * *I loved this book, such an intimate portrayal of emotional landscapes and the pull of the moon - it's one I'll return to often -- RAYNOR WINNBrilliant on the addictive bliss of romance . . . [The Instant is] a parable about the quicksands of internet dating, and a survivors' handbook 'for the heartsick' * * Telegraph * *Intoxicating, generous and refreshingly original. The way Liptrot weaves her inner life with the natural world and the digital world is utterly absorbing. This book is so alive and so wild -- LUCY JONESBeautiful . . . brilliant . . . The truest thing I've read in a long time. It feels revelatory to read serious, thoughtful writing on the sorts of experiences that so rarely receive it. . . The Instant is the most elegant examination of the internet's distance pain I have ever read -- EVIE WYLD * * New York Times * *Elegant, melancholic and deeply yearning, The Instant captures something vital about our age: its strange dislocations and connections. I drank it in -- KATHERINE MAYEnthralling and instinct-sharpening * * New Statesman * *A book of rare power. Part heartbreaking love story, part pin-sharp exploration of relationships in the digital age, The Instant is an intense and intensely beautiful book about connection, longing and the gravitational power of nature, and human nature, on the heart -- ROB COWENWildness lurks in the edges of this book - nature in its more feral state, and unashamed eroticism. I gulped this slim, powerful, ravishing little book down in one -- CAL FLYNThe Instant is magical, it is sexy, it is redolent of the natural world and it is all the things that makes Liptrot one of the most unique voices writing today . . . We simply cannot get enough Liptrot in our lifetimes. I want her to write a book every year * * Caught by the River * *

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Book Synopsis'Modest, down to earth and full of humour, this is one of the best books about filming I've ever read.' MICHAEL PALIN'Extraordinary: Gavin's easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it.' JOANNA LUMLEY'[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant!' ALAN TITCHMARSH_________From Gavin Thurston, the award-winning Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II cameraman with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough comes extraordinary and adventurous true stories of what it takes to track down and film our planet's most captivating creatures.Gavin has been a wildlife photographer for over thirty years. Against a backdrop of modern world history, he's lurked in the shadows of some of the world's remotest places in order to capture footage of the animal kingdom's finest: prides of lions, silverback gorillas, capuchin monkeys, brown bears, grey whales, penguins, mosquitoes - you name it he's filmed it.Come behind the camera and discover the hours spent patiently waiting for the protagonists to appear; the inevitable dangers in the wings and the challenges faced and overcome; and the heart-warming, life-affirming moments the cameras miss as well as capture. What other readers are saying about Journeys in the Wild: 'It's touching, it's thought provoking and its emotional...Go pick it up. It's an absolute inspiration of a book.' Goodreads'Full of unbelievable anecdotes from decades of work, some absolutely hilarious, this book left me in complete wonder.' Goodreads'An amazing read and I would heartily recommend it to everyone I know.' GoodreadsTrade ReviewGavin's book is extraordinary: his easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it. * Joanna Lumley *Gavin Thurston's book has all sorts of strengths. His camera has captured some of the most eye-catching images of the natural world ever seen on television. And he can write. He brings the process home to us in a style that is modest, down to earth and full of humour. This is one of the best books about filming I've ever read. * Michael Palin *[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant! * Alan Titchmarsh *This is an absorbing account of a fascinating career. * BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE *His no-holds-barred memoir plunges you into the serendipities and perils of working in the remote wilderness, as he stands stock-still to 'hide' from short-sighted African elephants in Kenya, films demoiselle cranes flying 6 kilometres up above Nepal, or marvels at the hiss of Mauritania's dryland crocodiles. -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *An enlightening glimpse beyond the lens. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *

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Book SynopsisFollowing the spirit of the world’s longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out to discover the real west of Ireland. Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman. Tagging along on his meandering journey is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannán Mac Lir. For his first travel book in 1991, Paul hitchhiked the same route. Now retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way – this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot – he looks at how Ireland has changed and realises everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature. Also by this author: `The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip’ Praise for this author: “Stacks of free copies should be sent to all our tourist desks abroad.” – The Irish Times. “For sheer pleasure, nothing I read beat Paul Clements’ `The Height of Nonsense’.” – The Observer. “A compulsive, educational, laugh-out-loud read.” – Sunday Independent. "A fascinating journey around the hidden corners of Ireland." – BBC RadioTrade Review'A very enjoyable book, filled with educational, uplifting and side-splitting stories, an engaging mix of travel, nature and social commentary.' -- Damien Enright * Irish Examiner *'Clements is an affable, thoughtful guide, always alert to the small, telling detail.' * Irish Independent *'Utterly entertaining from beginning to end.' * Irish Examiner *'Engrossing portrait of western Ireland.' * Irish Mountain Log *'A good production, well designed in which the author discovers the west of Ireland, this book will appeal to a general readership.' * Books Ireland *'The author has discovered that the Wild Atlantic Way has revitalised the west and led to a newfound energy.' * Connacht Tribune *'Clements is an authority on the popular tourist route that has become the Wild Atlantic Way.' * Fermanagh Herald *'A wonderful book with inspiring insights.' * IrelandWays.Com *'The Wild Atlantic Way is far more than a tourist trail and this book charts Clements' return journey along it.' * Pol O Conghaile, Irish Independent *'A must-read book in which Clements experiences both the mythic and the human.' * Culture Northern Ireland *'An epic journey full of thoughtful observations and showing a zest for people.' * Tyrone Herald *'A distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature.' * Clare Champion *'Very visual writing that delves into the facts and fantasies of the west of Ireland.' * Irish News *'Nature's sights and aromas are all around him while the thundering wild Atlantic plays its own soundtrack.' * Leitrim Observer *'A well paced and illuminating book full of quirky stories.' * Sligo Weekender *'An insight into a changing world where wit, humour and small-town Ireland anecdotes are as warm and as endearing as ever.' * The Kerryman *'With his seamless word-tapestry, Clements has written a vibrant and honest word-picture of the rolling, rocky, craggy and compelling Wild Atlantic Way.' * Mayo News *'A delightfully varied book on the changing face of Ireland.' * Niall Delaney, Ocean FM *'An informative, colourful and engaging book.' * Shaun Doherty, Highland Radio *'Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity.' * Donegal News *'A brilliant read.' * Stephen McCauley, Radio Ulster book club *'Three hundred and forty fascinating pages and a beautiful storied book that touches the hearts and souls of the communities.' * Weeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry *'A fascinating coastal journey that starts and continues in an unhurried way. Clements discovers the marvellous in the ordinary.' * BBC Radio *'Superb idea.' -- Sean Moncrieff * Newstalk *

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories, celebrating Sir David Attenborough's wicked sense of humour and astute wisdom.David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, 'I can't believe I'm still employed'.So if he won't celebrate himself, we'll have to do it for him.Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today.Such revelations include:- There are 18 plants and animals named after him- When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be 'rude to count'*- The single thing that would improve his quality of life is 'good, workable knees'.Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the perfect gift for any fan.* He has over thirty!

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Book Synopsis“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness.” —Søren Kierkegaard Duncan Minshull has always walked and in the last twenty years has made use of it by writing and publishing books on the subject. He has described the whys, hows, and wheres of traveling on foot for various magazines and newspapers, including The Times (London), the Financial Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Vogue. He has edited two other collections on walking: While Wandering: A Walking Companion (originally The Vintage Book of Walking) and The Burning Leg: Walking Scenes from Classic Fiction. Walking and writing have always gone together. Think of the poets who walk out a rhythm for their lines and the novelists who put their characters on a path. But the best insights, the deepest and most joyous examinations of this simple activity are to be found in nonfiction—in essays, travelogues, and memoirs. Beneath My Feet: Writers on Walking rounds up the most memorable walker-writers from the 1700s to the modern day, from country hikers to urban strollers, from the rationalists to the truly outlandish. Follow in the footsteps of William Hazlitt, George Sand, Rebecca Solnit, Will Self, and dozens of others. Keep up with them—and be astonished.Trade Review'Here is a book as certain to lift the spirits as the activity to which it is dedicated: going for a walk. Duncan Minshull is fast emerging as the laureate of walking.' - Andrew Martin, Country Life; ‘This anthology gathers 36 testimonies to walking’s invigorating literary power in particular. Writers from Petrarch to Franz Kafka to Will Self have recorded their enthusiasm for “ambling, rambling, tramping, trekking, stomping and striding.” Higher-quality endorsements of the creative value of walking than these would be hard to find.’ – The Atlantic

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Book SynopsisA fascinating, inspiring gift book that helps you make the most of nature, with something to spot for every day of the year. A fascinating, inspiring gift book that helps you make the most of nature, with something to spot for every day of the year. This book proves that nature isn't something you visit from time to time; it's everywhere – even in the densest concrete jungle. You can find nearly all of the natural wonders in this book within a mile of your front door. There are 365 to look for – one for every day of year, organised by month. From mushrooms to meteors, from moths to mosses, it’s incredible what you can find when you look. With witty and lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, this is a gift book that will transform how you see the world and build a greater connection to the natural world for the rest of your life.Trade Review'Both a powerful manifesto and gentle guide to bringing the natural world into your life.' * This England *

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Book SynopsisJuliet Blaxland is an architect, author, cartoonist and illustrator. She grew up in a remote part of Suffolk and now lives on the cliff edge of the easternmost part of England. She is the author and illustrator of ten children’s books. Her cartoon series, Life in a Listed Building, was published monthly in the Prince of Wales’s architecture magazine Perspectives and won a prize at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. The Crowood Press published Nimrod, a Cavalry Black, in 2015, and The House Pony: an ABC of Horsemanship, was published in 2018. She is also a prize-winning photographer.Trade ReviewA beautiful book, eloquent and evocative. Lyrical, poignant and witty, this book is a moving testament to a still enormously vibrant but vanishing time, place and way of life.I feel like a stalker, but reading Juliet Blaxland’s The Easternmost House, I got straight into my car and drove over to stare at her home. Her wonderful book describes living on the most extreme outpost of Suffolk’s coast of erosion. * The Times *Blaxland’s writing is evocative, whether she is writing about the roar of a storm, jugs of homemade Pimm’s or the attempt to create a crop circle. She has a deep love of the coastal landscape she inhabits. * Halfman, Halfbook *Brilliant memoir about nature, landscape, food and the disconnect between town and country. * The Sunday Times *The author writes beautifully about her life in this small extremity... a hymn to a simpler life, one lived more in tune with the rhythms of the natural world, with its wonders and its perils. * Country Life *Prose that flows effortlessly with a wry turn of phrase at every corner. Plus, she’s bloody funny. In The Easternmost House you read the sound of her voice, and so the book rattles along like a good’un. * Caught by the River *Destined to be a 21st Century classic. Just brilliant. * John Lewis-Stempel, author of The Running Hare *A marvellous evocation of the Suffolk coast. It made me want to jump on the next train out of London. * Andrew Gimson, author of Gimson's Kings & Queens *

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Book Synopsis"Evocative, muscular." - Kathleen Jamie. Karen Lloyd takes us on a deeply personal journey around the 60 miles of coastline that make up ‘nature’s amphitheatre’. Embarking on a series of walks that take in beguiling landscapes and ever-changing seascapes, Karen tells the stories of the places, people, wildlife and history of Morecambe Bay. So we meet the King's Guide to the Sands, discover forgotten caves and islands that don’t exist, and delight in the simple beauty of an oystercatcher winging its way across the ebbing tide. As we walk with Karen, she explores her own memories of the bay, making an unwitting pilgrimage through her own past and present, as well as that of the bay. The result is a singular and moving account of one of Britain’s most alluring coastal areas.Trade Review“Slides effortlessly from the environment to history, to stories of others, to personal anecdote, ‘sewn together into a continuous experience’. It succeeds magnificently. The account of crossing the bay with Cedric is as evocative as Macfarlane’s description of crossing the Maplin sands. * Robin Lloyd-Jones *

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Book SynopsisThe unlikely stars of Landfill are gulls. No, not seagulls. Gulls. Over the past century gulls have been brought ashore by modernity, living in our slipstream, following trawlers, ploughs and now rubbish trucks. They are more our contemporaries than other birds, living their wild lives in towns and cities, grabbing a bite where they can. Our story is theirs too. In Landfill, Tim Dee follows gulls to rubbish dumps, meets gull-watchers, discovers ancient poets, Victorian novelists and learns how gulls continue to tell us how the wild can share our world, if we'd only listen.Trade Review'An important and entirely brilliant book...an absolute triumph.' Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk; 'A startling and truly original book.' Richard Holmes; 'A true zoological and anthropological classic.' Charles Foster

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Book SynopsisMountains Piled upon Mountains features nearly fifty writers from across Appalachia sharing their place-based fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry. Moving beyond the tradition of transcendental nature writing, much of the work collected here engages current issues facing the region and the planet (such as hydraulic fracturing, water contamination, mountaintop removal, and deforestation), and provides readers with insights on the human-nature relationship in an era of rapid environmental change.This book includes a mix of new and recent creative work by established and emerging authors. The contributors write about experiences from northern Georgia to upstate New York, invite parallels between a watershed in West Virginia and one in North Carolina, and often emphasize connections between Appalachia and more distant locations. In the pages of Mountains Piled upon Mountains are celebration, mourning, confusion, loneliness, admiration, and other emotions and experiences rooted in place but transcending Appalachia's boundaries.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""The world is full of liars, a fact brilliantly depicted in Lixing Sun’s slender but important book about cheating and deception among animals and plants, as well as that hairless bipedal species that is the biggest deceiver of them all. . . . A tour de force of evolutionary biology. . . . Fascinating."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"The accessible prose offers an eye-opening take on lying in the natural world and how evolutionary pressures to deceive impact human behavior. The smart parallels between humans and animals make for an insightful outing." * Publishers Weekly *"[An] intriguing introduction to the domain of dishonesty."---Tony Miksanek, Booklist"Buckle up for a riveting journey into the wide world of deception."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"Lixing Sun treats this topic with both a serious scientific demeanour and a welcome injection of wry humour."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"Fascinating"---Patricia MacDuff, British Naturalists Association News Bulletin"The author has managed the seemingly impossible by making quite complex theories and rules both enjoyable to read about and relatively easy to understand."---Terry Freedman, Teachwire"Through various enlightening and entertaining examples . . . Sun (Central Washington Univ.) educates readers about the biological underpinnings of deceiving—by exploiting cognitive loopholes—and lying—by altering truthful information in communication—for which demonstrating the cheater's intention is neither easy nor necessary in nonhuman species."---J-B. Leca, Choice

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Book Synopsis"Nourishment will change the way you eat and the way you think."—Mark Schatzker, author of The Dorito Effect "[Provenza is] a wise observer of the land and the animals [and] becomes transformed to learn the meaning of life."—Temple Grandin Reflections on feeding body and spirit in a world of change Animal scientists have long considered domestic livestock to be too dumb to know how to eat right, but the lifetime research of animal behaviorist Fred Provenza and his colleagues has debunked this myth. Their work shows that when given a choice of natural foods, livestock have an astoundingly refined palate, nibbling through the day on as many as fifty kinds of grasses, forbs, and shrubs to meet their nutritional needs with remarkable precision. In Nourishment Provenza presents his thesis of the wisdom body, a wisdom that links flavor-feedback relationships at a cellular level with biochemically rich foods to meet the body’s nutritional and medicinal needs. Provenza explores the fascinating complexity of these relationships as he raises and answers thought-provoking questions about what we can learn from animals about nutritional wisdom. What kinds of memories form the basis for how herbivores, and humans, recognize foods? Can a body develop nutritional and medicinal memories in utero and early in life? Do humans still possess the wisdom to select nourishing diets or has that ability been hijacked by nutritional “authorities”? Is taking supplements and enriching and fortifying foods helping us, or is it hurting us? On a broader scale Provenza explores the relationships among facets of complex, poorly understood, ever-changing ecological, social, and economic systems in light of an unpredictable future. To what degree do we lose contact with life-sustaining energies when the foods we eat come from anywhere but where we live? To what degree do we lose the mythological relationship that links us physically and spiritually with Mother Earth who nurtures our lives? Provenza’s paradigm-changing exploration of these questions has implications that could vastly improve our health through a simple change in the way we view our relationships with the plants and animals we eat. "Nourishment is a conversation between science, culture, and a greater spiritual or cosmological umbrella."—Montana Public RadioTrade Review“Through Fred Provenza’s eyes, a simple meal becomes a wondrous journey into the world, into our bodies, and into our deepest selves. Nourishment will change the way you eat and the way you think.”—Mark Schatzker, author of Steak and The Dorito Effect “In Nourishment a wise observer of the land and the animals becomes transformed to learn the meaning of life. Fred Provenza’s reflections on his long, fruitful career in behavior-based management of landscapes include his joy in observing the natural world around him.”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation“An absolutely fascinating topic, engagingly written. Fred Provenza will wholly up-end everything you think you know about what you are supposed to eat and why. Nourishment should be the first book read by every student of nutrition.”—Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Defending Beef“Once again, Fred Provenza shows he is one of the freshest and most insightful thinkers about the role of herbivores (and omnivorous humans!) in our food and land management systems. His clear evolutionary thinking is matched by his keen powers of observation of ecological interactions. This book is a landmark contribution.”—Gary Paul Nabhan, author of Mesquite and Food from the Radical Center“Fred Provenza’s Nourishment is a synergy of the essence of his lifetime of research coupled with commonsense nutritional advice to aid both animals and humans. All readers will benefit from the knowledge revealed in this book. I have long thought Dr. Provenza’s work should comprise a required course in veterinary and medical schools, and Nourishment confirms that opinion.”—Richard J. Holliday, DVM, holistic veterinarian; coauthor of A Holistic Vet’s Prescription for a Healthy Herd“In Nourishment Fred Provenza offers a rich explanation of how animals follow instinctual wisdom of nutritional biochemistry when nested in their proper ecological niche. Drawing from episodes of his years of research and the cycles of life, Dr. Provenza illuminates the fascinating mechanisms by which animals’ innate knowledge of healthy eating is passed on to their offspring and how we humans can learn from the simplicity of animals in our midst. This engaging book provides proof that animals are not mindless eaters—nor should humans be.”—Hubert Karreman, VMD, author of Treating Dairy Cows Naturally“Fred Provenza is a hero of mine. For more than thirty years, he has been a leader in applying scientific knowledge to social good. His deep understanding of how animals behave on the land—why they eat what they eat, how they stay healthy, and how they teach their young—has helped generations of ranchers, farmers, wildlife managers, and university students understand and strengthen their relationships with animals in sustainable ways. We are animals, too, and in this magnificent book, the culmination of a lifetime of learning, Fred weaves together philosophy, nutritional science, memoir, and his humble appreciation for the natural world into an inspiring meditation on our moment on Earth.”—Courtney White, author of Grass, Soil, Hope and Two Percent Solutions for the Planet“In this path-finding and paradigm-breaking book, Provenza combines a lifetime’s worth of scientific work with deep empathic insight to further extend his unique contribution to healing our ailing landscapes, our animals, and the human condition. Across five continents Provenza has led livestock managers to upend traditional beliefs about animals in grazing-browsing systems. Now, in exciting and original fashion, he extends his ideas concerning we humans—animals, after all, who also coevolved in diverse, once nutrient-filled landscapes. In an era when the false pathway of economic rationalism, aligned to industrial agriculture and its food systems, is poisoning the planet and ourselves, Provenza provides a vitally new holistic perspective of our species: a perspective that provides exciting solutions to our Anthropocene and human dilemmas.”—Charles Massy, author of Call of the Reed Warbler“Part mirror and part compass springing from a bedrock of science, Nourishment takes us on an extraordinary journey through bodies of wisdom. This book sets a new bar for how to think about the intersection of food, nature, and ourselves.”—Anne Biklé, coauthor of The Hidden Half of Nature“Fred Provenza has spent his career redefining the ways we understand livestock intelligence when it comes to diet. In this compelling and engaging book, he shares many of those lessons and synthesizes a wide breadth of research and knowledge to challenge some fundamental assumptions about diet, whether it be for livestock or humans. Provenza connects the dots like few have before, offering a new way to see the world and bringing new meaning to ‘you are what you eat.’”—Steve Gabriel, author of Silvopasture and coauthor of Farming the Woods“Fred Provenza has a brilliant, inquisitive, and open-minded spirit, the kind that should live within all of us. Nourishment is the result of a lifetime of observation, experimentation, and incredible insight by a master scientist. This is a book you will read, reread, dog-ear pages in, and tell your friends about. You will be blown away, as I have been. Outstanding!”—Bob Budd, executive director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust“Throughout his illustrious research career, Fred Provenza has taught us how animals—many of which we choose to eat—learn what they themselves should consume to maintain optimal health. He has now taken these lessons and applied them to the human situation in insightful and clever ways, concluding that we ignore our body’s wisdom to our nutritional detriment. But he goes further, tying his metaphysical ideas about the lives of plants, the nature of food, and the consciousness of cells to his fascinating life adventure. This book is sure to engage, educate, and provoke the reader.”—Gary K. Beauchamp, director and president emeritus, Monell Chemical Senses Center“I could describe this book as simply an enlightening treatise on the philosophy of life, but that fails to do it justice. Fred Provenza uses his life’s experiences as student, rancher, fisherman, researcher, teacher, hiker, cancer patient, and retiree to illustrate vividly the fundamental principles of nutrition not only of animals (including humans) but also of plants and soil. In Nourishment Provenza also offers a rich exposition of his outstanding all-embracing views of life. To read this book is to challenge many of one’s assumptions and prejudices.”—J. Michael Forbes, professor emeritus, University of Leeds; author of Voluntary Food Intake and Diet Selection of Farm Animals“Fred Provenza spent his distinguished academic career becoming a leading authority on the food habits of rangeland animals. In this thought-provoking book, he uses his deep understanding of his four-legged study subjects to cast light on our own nutritional condition in a world where we have become increasingly remote—philosophically and physically—from our food supply.”—Stephen J. Simpson, PhD, academic director, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney“Fred Provenza tells the story of the science behind how animals wisely choose to feed themselves from the variety of plants in the natural world. He integrates that story with the way we humans make food choices in childhood, why we like some foods but not others, and our propensity for addiction. Moreover he shows how animal behaviors shape the natural world and how a healthy ecosystem provides nourishment for our bodies, spirits, and intellects. Nourishment provides the keys for relinking our appetites with our health and happiness.”—William Foley, emeritus professor of nutrition and ecology, Australian National University“Fred Provenza serves up a feast for the mind, heart, and soul. Philosophical, spiritual, and rigorously scientific, Nourishment takes readers on this humble deep thinker’s life journey of discovery, sharing his insights about the nutritional and medicinal wisdom of animals, while clarifying some of our own misconceptions. Like a master mandala artist, Provenza provides perfect balance, drawing together multiple disciplines and belief systems to synthesize a paradigm shift based on wisdom that exists within each of us for eating well and staying healthy. Provenza calls on us to be responsible consumers and more compassionate visitors on this planet.”—Michael A. Huffman, professor, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

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Book SynopsisGoing to Ground is an anthology from Little Toller's online journal, The Clearing. Gathered here is some of the best and most distinctive writing about nature and place, from more than thirty writers celebrating and questioning our landscapes. Contributors include Nancy Campbell, Kathleen Jamie, Tim Dee, Tim Hannigan, Louisa Adjoa Parker.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of GROWING GOURMET AND MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS comes the only identification guide exclusively devoted to the world''s psilocybin-containing mushrooms. Detailed descriptions and color photographs for over 100 species are provided, as well as an exploration of their long-standing (and often religious) use by ancient peoples and their continued significance to modern-day culture. Some of the species included have just been discovered in the past year or two, and still others have never before been photographed in their natural habitats.

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating' - Robert Macfarlane, author of The Old Ways'Truly a thing of wonder' - Kerri ní Dochartaigh, author of Thin Places'Lyrical [and] thoughtful' - Cal Flyn, author of Islands of AbandonmentVisiting Iceland as an anthropologist and film-maker in 2008, Sarah Thomas is spellbound by its otherworldly landscape. An immediate love for this country and for Bjarni, a man she meets there, turns a week-long stay into a transformative half-decade, one which radically alters Sarah's understanding of herself and of the living world.She embarks on a relationship not only with Bjarni, but with the light, the language, and the old wooden house they make their home. She finds a place where the light of the midwinter full moon reflected by snow can be brighter than daylight, where the earth can tremor at any time, and where the word for echo - bergmál - translates as 'the language of the mountain'. In the midst of crisis both personal and planetary, as her marriage falls apart, Sarah finds inspiration in the artistry of a raven's nest: a home which persists through breaking and reweaving - over and over.Written in beautifully vivid prose The Raven's Nest is a profoundly moving meditation on place, identity and how we might live in an era of environmental disruption.Trade ReviewA deeply thoughtful, vivid, enquiring, genre-traversing book, closely attentive to the people and the landscapes with which it dwells. It asks hard questions - and offers no easy answers - about what it means to belong to a place, and to live well upon a part of the earth. Sarah's writing - crisp in its details, patient in its rhythms - draws its readers northwards and inwards upon a fascinating journey. * Robert Macfarlane *Sarah Thomas' lyrical, thoughtful prose takes us on a journey, both physical and emotional, to the far north. * Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment *An insightful, intuitive introduction to Icelandic culture, folklore, mysticism, language and nature. * Times Literary Supplement *A quiet, generous and beautifully written meditation on what it means to try to belong to a singular culture on the 'edge' of Europe. * Literary Review *Thomas' writing is the stuff of dreams - not in any whimsical way - rather, in the way of bones and stones; light and dark; hopes and fears. She leads the reader through various portals - from a place of unknowing - to one of hope. This book maps the self, the world and the spaces in between with such tender care. Truly a thing of wonder. * Kerri ní Dochartaigh, author of Thin Places *A metamorphic book bursting with ideas and insights about belonging, acceptance, and supernatural joy. A chronicle of Iceland's ever-strange, prismic beauty and the myriad ways it works on the heart. * Dan Richards, author of Outpost: A Journey to the Wild Ends of the Earth *The Raven's Nest asks what it means to belong to a place from which we do not originate. Anthropological and tender in detail. * Abi Andrews, author The Word for Woman is Wilderness *The Raven's Nest is a candid yet beautiful memoir, an homage both to Iceland and a rapidly changing way of life, and a meditation on the constantly shifting nature of human identity. Thomas's evocative prose leaves striking images which glow in the memory long after the reading has ended. * Katharine Norbury, author of The Fish Ladder *Sarah Thomas evokes characters and the culture, a sense of time and the landscape in beautiful prose which makes my brain do cartwheels. * Nancy Campbell, author of The Library of Ice *The Raven's Nest is about a meeting of worlds. Sarah arrives in Iceland with a 'guest's clear eyes', as Icelanders say. A sincere and perceptive book that explores love, adventure and the search for connections in a big world. * Andri Snær Magnason, author of On Time and Water *A delicate cartography of emotional landscapes as well as place, The Raven's Nest is also a journey into to the heart of our planetary crisis. Beautiful, moving and fascinating. * Nick Hunt, author of Outlandish *Table of Contents1: Breaking Up 2: Landing 3: Shift 4: Tónleikar - Concert 5: Fjallafang - Embrace of the Mountains 6: Mataræði - Diet 7: Gíslholt 8: Seal Wife 9: Að smala og að slátra - Gathering and Slaughtering 10: Gos - Eruption/Gas/Fizzy Drink 11: Flytja - To Move 12: Krummi - Raven 13: Bogguhús 14: The Frozen Bell 15: A Floating House 16: Trúlofun - Engagement 17: Selur - Seal 18: Þakið - Roof 19: A Walk in My Valley 20: Göng - Passage/Corridor/Tunnel 21: Að snúa - To Turn; Snúið - Complicated 22: Innflytjandi - Importer/Immigrant 23: The Strangest Silence 24: Svartfuglsegg - 'Black-bird's-egg' 25: Hvalurinn - The Whale 26: Seljavallalaug - 'Shieling-plains-pool' 27: Herring Adventure 28: To Hell and Back 29: The Raven's Nest 30: Sjóndeildarhringur - Horizon

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Book SynopsisForest School Handbook is lively collection of activities, crafts, bushcraft skills and nature-based play which will inspire kids to thrive outside. Whether just popping out for a walk, going camping or exploring in the woods, this handy-sized book will be your essential guide for connecting with the natural world. Packed with ideas and activities for children of all ages, there are bushcraft basics, survival skills, nature crafts and ideas for both energising and peaceful outdoor play. Encouraging controlled risk taking, boosting social skills, wellbeing and a healthy resilience, this is the ultimate way to avoid battles over screen time and classroom-induced fatigue. Build a shelter from what you find around you, design a natural collage, tie useful knots, get to know a tree, light a fire, filter dirty water, make charcoal, go on a night walk, make a bug hotel, create a mini village, whittle a stick and much more. Aimed at parents, outdoor teachers or anyone passionate about getting back to basics Grab-and-go size makes it easy to pack in your outdoor kit bag Written by award-winning outdoor specialists, with detailed knowledge of Forest School practices and who are experienced leading school groups either as a thrilling woodland class outing or online Includes traditional Forest School activities and beyond. Catering for older children who are ready to explore more involved primitive skills and bushcraft Playing and learning outside in nature has been shown to benefit children in many ways, such as improved moods, concentration, confidence and self-esteem Forest School Adventure has sold c.35,000 copies and been translated into French, German, Czech and Italian Trade Review5 STAR REVIEW Forest School Handbook is a fantastic forest school guide written by two absolute experts in bringing practical learning, fun activities and survival skills to children in the great outdoors. The book is packed with information, ideas and explanations that cover a huge range of bush craft skills. Outdoor play and experiences are at the forefront of ensuring the wellbeing and positive mental health of our children and this book is an excellent resource to use. It helps adults and children safely and confidently immerse themselves in nature themed learning and fun. It is a glossy, useful and delightful book - with obvious expertise and enthusiasm behind it. -- Jennifer Caddick, teacher * Reading Zone *This handy-sized book, easy to fit in your jacket pocket or rucksack, is perfect for taking on adventures outdoors with the kids! It includes over 75 activities for children ages 5 to 11 on how to build simple but effective shelters and dens, how to tie an array of useful knots, how to collect and filter water, how to forage safely and a multitude of other outdoor crafts that will give them confidence and a life-long love and appreciation for nature and enjoying it responsibly. * Right Start Online *Altogether a smashing little book that deserves to be in every family and class collection. -- Jill Bennett * Red Reading Hub *This little book is super handy to take outdoors and to get inspired in the nature classroom… It’s packed with exciting collection of activities, crafts, bushcraft skills and nature based play to inspire children to thrive outside. * @the_treasure_outdoors *From beginner to expert, there's ideas here for everyone: nature awareness activities using the senses, crafts, den building and knots as well as skill building and survival ideas, such as fire lighting, water filters, first aid, foraging, cooking and primitive skills (perfect for a Stone Age topic). I can't wait to start using this brilliant book at home and school. I'd recommend a bit of planning before trying some of these activities, but it's the perfect size to pop in the rucksack so you're always prepared for an outdoor adventure! * @mrsbrownsbookbox *This is a wonderful book, I love the size of it too, fits nicely into my bag to take out and about! It’s full of lots of interesting activities to do with nature in particular forest school! * @the_little_adventurer_ *If you’re wondering what Forest School looks like, for activity inspiration or basic knots, this Forest School Handbook may be useful to you! It’s full of fantastic outdoor and nature activity ideas and inspiration, wild food knowledge, fire safety and tips, camp craft, primitive skills and more. From two highly knowledgeable practitioners, who specialise in bush craft and Stone Age skills, it’s rather valuable! * @homeplayexplore *BRILLIANT and full of activities, crafts, bushcraft skills and nature based play which will inspire kids to thrive outdoors! * @growingthroughplay *Do you enjoy being outdoors? Or are you looking for a book to inspire your kiddos to step away from screens and embrace nature? If so, The Forest School Handbook is the perfect summer read. It is packed with activities, crafts, and nature-based play. * @picturebookrecommendations *A remarkable compendium of fun, safe, and educational DIY outdoor activities, the "Forest School Handbook" will be an enduringly valued and appreciated resource for parents and teachers wanting to offer children attractive alternatives to their computer, phone, and television screens. "Forest School Handbook" is a critically important and valued addition to family, preschool, elementary school, middle school, and community library Nature Crafting & Activities collections. * Mid-West Book Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Playing in nature Nature Awareness Mini beast hunting Night vision Muddy tracks Sit spot Stalking walks Flour trail tracker Observation stations Get to know a tree Camouflage hands Outdoor games Outdoor crafts Bird feeder Bug hotel Playing with clay Leaf and flower plaques Natural collage and sculptures Goblin villages and mini dens Nest building Storytelling stones Leaf printing Nature weaving Shadow painting Leaf watercolour Nature journal Leaf bunting Stick boats Things to do with conkers Useful knots Knot terminology Clove hitch Double half hitch Sheet bend Siberian hitch Timber hitch Prusik Square lashing Slippery guy line Canadian jam knot Sledge knot Hanking cord Shelters and dens Lean-to shelter A-frame shelter Baker’s tarp Tarp bender Fire Safety Sources of tinder Firewood Lighting a fire with a fire steel Fire lays Making charcoal Making char cloth Carrying fire Group bow drill Water Collecting water Birch tapping Bottle filter Camp craft Cordage Giant grass rope Knife safety Sharpening a knife Carving a butter knife Leather tinder pouch Wilderness survival Making stretchers Signal fire Plants for first aid Primitive skills Slate arrow Pine pitch glue Atl atl and spear Fat lamps Nut lamps Grass mat Natural clay Cave art and natural paints

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling authors of Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura comes a nature book like no other—a dazzling, over-the-top collection of the world's most extraordinary wild species that takes you to all seven continents and beyond. It's more than a field guide–it's an adventure.  From the curious minds of Atlas Obscura, authors of #1 New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes an unputdownable celebration of the world's living wonders. Learn how dung beetles navigate by the stars, and trees communicate through their roots. Meet one of the strongest animals in the world: the puny peacock mantis shrimp. Pay your respects to a 44,000 year old shrub, float along flying rivers, and explore a garbage dump overseen by endangered storks. Examine old examples of bird song notation written on sheet music. Also, first p

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Book SynopsisAn exquisite, lovingly crafted meditation on plants, trees, and our place in the natural worldTrade Review“With . . . tender attentiveness to the non-human, [this] narrative speaks of more compassionate and resilient modes of existence than those devised by the perennially agitated makers of history.”—Pankaj Mishra, The Guardian, “Summer Reading”“Sumana Roy has written—grown—a radiant and wondrous book, which roots and branches in complex, provocative ways, helping us recognize trees for the ‘strange strangers’ they are, companion-citizens with which we think and remember, yes, but also alien beings that draw love, hate, indifference, and even lust from us humans.”—Robert Macfarlane, author of The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot“This is one of the most original, delightful, inspiring books I have read in a long time. It will enchant and move the reader with its unique imaginative mindset, its humorous touches, and its defiance of convention.”—Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale University“A poetic, probing meditation on how trees are, to paraphrase Lévi-Strauss, ‘good to think with.’ Sumana Roy gives us a fresh and surprising look at a topic as old as the Epic of Gilgamesh, or to put it another way, almost as old as the oldest living trees.”—Robert Moor, bestselling author of On Trails: An Exploration“A genuinely exceptional work that is as poetic as it is scholarly—quirky, enlightening and enriching.”—Chandak Sengoopta, Birbeck College, University of LondonPraise for Sumana Roy: “A one-of-its-kind meditation. . . . Deliciously engaging.”—Supriya Sharma, Hindustan Times “Sumana Roy’s writing brims with rare originality.”—Areeb Ahmad, The Medley “An ode to all that is unnoticed, ill, neglected and yet resilient. . . . Roy’s true spiritual ancestor . . . is Annie Dillard. . . . Both Roy and Dillard craft remarkable, poignant sentences. Both have the ability to make mundane situations lead up to profound, even apocalyptic consequences.”—Rini Barman, Wire India “Sumana Roy’s book shimmers like silver poplar leaves.”—Sylvia Straube, Frankfurter Rundschau “A book like a jungle: from the wide sky to sticky leaves and unsightly thorns, everything is included.”—Susanne Billig, Deutschlandfunk Kultur

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Book SynopsisHigh in the Canadian Rockies is a small limestone quarry formed 530 million years ago. Called the Burgess Shale, it holds the remains of an ancient sea where dozens of strange creatures lived - a forgotten corner of evolution preserved in incredible detail. In this book Stephen Jay Gould explores what the Burgess Shale might tell us about evolution and the nature of history.The Darwinian theory of evolution is a well-known, well-explored area. But there is one aspect of human life which this theory of evolution fails to account for: chance. Using the brilliantly preserved fossil fauna of the Burgess Shale as his case study, Gould argues that chance was in fact one of the decisive factors in the evolution of life on this planet, and that, with a flip of coin, everything could have been very different indeed.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of analysis and imagination...It centres on a sensational discovery in the field of palaeontology - the existence, in the Burgess Shale... of 530-million-year-old fossils unique in age, preservation and diversity...With skill and passion, Gould takes this mute collection of fossils and makes them speak to us. The result challenges some of our most cherished self-perceptions and urges a fundamental re-assessment of our place in the history of life on earth * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsisonly after childhood ended was he aware of the price the adults had paid for life in this most romantic of settings.Navigating family tensions and the trials of growing up, Will describes the close-knit community of North Yorkshire and his family's place within it: the shepherd probing the head-high snowdrifts for his flock;Trade ReviewA love letter to a family defined by a desire to make beauty and a gift for telling stories. The Wolf Pit has more quietly desperate heroism than any book I’ve ever read. -- Brian Morton * Sunday Herald *Persuasive, atmospheric writing. A love letter to a past world * Sunday Times *Bittersweet * The Times *The book takes on an existential desire to understand who we really are * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisDr Chris Thorogood is a botanist at the University of Oxford, and an illustrator and public speaker. Chris's research areas include the evolution of parasitic and carnivorous plants and taxonomic diversity in biodiversity hotspots, such as the Mediterranean Basin. Chris won a scholarship in 2005 to carry out his PhD research on speciation in parasitic plants at the University of Bristol, for which he was awarded a Faculty Commendation, and the national Irene Manton Prize for best thesis in botany in 2009. Chris is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and a Junior Research Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the world's birds, their homes, and their eggs in this gorgeously illustrated, entertaining, and educational guide.Did you know that the tailorbird sews leaves together to make its nest? Or that hummingbird eggs are the size of jellybeans? Birds are some of the world's most beautiful and interesting creatures, and their nests and eggs are no exception, displaying a stunning diversity of shapes, sizes, functions, and materials. In Nests, Eggs, Birds, celebrated artist and author Kelsey Oseid explores the fascinating ins and outs of where and how dozens of avian species--robins, birds of paradise, crows, owls, penguins, and more--make their homes and lay their eggs. Full of striking naturalistic art and fun scientific facts, Nests, Eggs, Birds will delight bird lovers of all ages.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1789, this is a study of the flora and fauna of the parish of Selborne in Hampshire. This volume also includes the author's correspondence with the two distinguished naturalists, Thomas Penant and the Honourable Daines Barrington.Trade Review'A bibliographic treat, both editorially and pictorially … a book of authority and charm' - House & Garden'Would make the perfect seasonal gift for anyone who wants to shake off the winter blues and stray out into the spring fields and woods' - Independent

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Book SynopsisDiscover the fascinating world of Ireland's diverse and astonishing collection of native wildflowers. This new edition reflects the many changes to our botanical knowledge since The Wildflowers of Ireland was first published in 2014. There's updated information on the distribution of native wildflowers, along with more than 90 additional species, all beautifully photographed by the author.For ease of identification, the species are divided into colour categories and within each category the species are grouped by, for example, the number of petals in the flower or whether the species carries its flowers in a cluster or a spike.In easily understood terminology, focus is put on the main identifying features of each plant, by colour, size, shape of flower, leaf, habitat, flowering season, and where in Ireland it might be found.This is a must for enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience.

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Book Synopsis In the years since we first published All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat , with over 2 million copies in print and the fastest-selling book in Workman’s history, one thing hasn’t changed—people are still starved for wisdom. Few oracles have dispensed as much common-sense truth as Binky, Suzy Becker''s cat. 'It''s O.K. to wear the same thing every day.' 'Know all the sunny places.' 'Flaunt your hair loss.' 'Get mad when you''re stepped on.' Life lessons such as these and dozens of others propelled the book like a champagne cork to the top of The New York Times bestseller list. Now, to celebrate the book''s double-platinum milestone, there''s a new edition: the original book, in a fresh cover, plus 48 new pages, including the Are You a Cat Person? quiz. The cat, Binky, is perspicacious and profound; the artist, Suzy, is utterly delightful; and the combined effect is one of immense and irresistible charm. Every cat fancier will recognize

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Book SynopsisNews for dogs and dog lovers to smile about: The irresistible bestseller is now even more irresistible with a 4-by-6-inch “chunky” format. As quirky, colorful, and giftable as ever, 97 Ways to Make a Dog Smile is now fresher and more appealing. Developed by Jenny Langbehn, a veterinary nurse who has a gift for making dogs happy, here are 97 foolproof methods and tricks for putting any dog into a state of pure pleasure. Enhancing each entry is an adorable, full-color photograph of the guaranteed result—a smiling dog. Give these a try: Lower-Ear Noogies. The Thumper. Lazy Man’s Tetherball. The Hansel and Gretel—“For an afternoon of fun, scamper about the house leaving a trail of plain popped popcorn in your wake.” Or “Subliminal Game,” which works by sneaking a favorite word like “cookie” into otherwise boring jabber.* The tricks require no fancy props or special talents—jus

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Book SynopsisFind out whether your dog or puppy has anxiety, and learn what you can do to help Dog anxiety is common among all breeds, but different dogs can show different symptoms. Dog Anxiety For Dummies is for the millions of dog parents (and dog-parents-to-be) who want to help improve their pets' quality of life and relieve their suffering. With this helpful resource, you can recognize common signs of anxiety in dogs, discover what triggers their anxiety, learn to use training and play to ease anxiety, and find professional help when you need it. You'll also get tips for dealing with specific situations like separation anxiety, fear aggression, noise-sensitive pups, and addressing trauma in rescue dogs. Calm dogs of all ages with the expert tips inside! Recognize your dog's anxiety symptoms and triggersUnderstand treatment options for dogs displaying anxious behaviorsImplement daily routines and training solutions to help alleviate anxietyHelp your dog feel comfortable about strangers, cope wi

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Book SynopsisA transformative book that opens hearts and minds to the unseen wonders of Ireland's natural world as it invites us to exchange eco-overwhelm for a Wild Embrace!

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Book SynopsisFrom the deep forests of the Canadian Northwest to the red-rock deserts of the American Southwest, North America offers a myriad of opportunities for hiking, camping, trekking, and simply enjoying the abundance of the natural world. This opulent volume highlights 41 of those wilderness locations.Filled with authoritative maps, data-driven graphics, awe-inspiring photographs, and thoughtful essays, this vivid book will feed the soul of everyone who loves wild places. Six lush chapters take readers from the eastern woodlands to the central plains, from the northern wilderness to southwestern desert lands—including key wilderness areas in Canada and Mexico. You’ll discover the fascinating history of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, learn about fossil remains on the Upper Missouri River, gaze through the rainforest canopy of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, and experience Grand Canyon Parashat’s Dark Sky Park. A special section rich inTrade Review"For on-the-go vacationers aswell as armchair travelers,…National Geographic: Atlas of Wild America...provides a picturesque super-dive into spectacular horizons. Written by Jon Waterman, a former park ranger and veteran guide, with a foreword by environmental historian Roderick F. Nash, this hefty tome, with 308 photos and 262 maps, applauds both well-known majestic favorites and off-the-beaten-path intimate finds, unveiling intricate details and data galore. Be awed by nature-loving secrets and surprises."—Laura Manske, Forbes"This gorgeous coffee table book chronicles 41 of the most spectacular public lands across North America from wilderness areas to state parks, seashores to trails. Filled with stunning National Geographic photography, essays, graphics and maps you’ll discover new places to add to your bucket list." —Outside's Yosemite National Park Trips

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Sparrows is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.Sparrows are often considered familiar to the point of invisibility, but the recent steep decline in numbers of both native British species is a reminder that these unassuming chatterboxes deserve a little more attention. Of all the true sparrow species found worldwide, only two occur in the British Isles. Globally, the story of the House Sparrow is one of dramatic expansion: from humble origins in the Middle East where they spread, along with agriculture, to become the most widely distributed bird on the planet. The smaller, more active Tree Sparrow has also spread extensively, following the domestication of rice rather than wheat, and both species have been heavily persecuted in recent years.In Spotlight Sparrows, Amy-Jane Beer examines the causes behind the decline of these familiar species, and exploTable of ContentsMeet the Sparrows Global Citizens Sparrow Bodies Daily Dramas It Takes Two Circle of Life Sparrows in Culture From Persecution to Conservation

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