The countryside, country life: general interest Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Cabin in the Mountains: A Norwegian Odyssey
Book SynopsisThe wooden holiday cabin, or hytte, is a staple of Norwegian life. Robert Ferguson, author of Scandinavians, explores the significance of a national icon in this charming, affectionate history. Turf-roofed and wooden-built, offering fresh air, breathtaking views and peaceful isolation, the wooden cabin home – or hytte – is a crucial part of Norwegian national identity. In 2016, Robert Ferguson and his wife bought a piece of land high up in the Hardangervidda, and on it they built a cabin. As the cabin takes shape, Ferguson learns how native Norwegians have married a new-found urban affluence to their past as a tight-knit rural community-nation, and confronts his own ideas about the dream-tradition of the hytte, drawing an affectionate but unsentimental portrait of Norwegian culture, society and landscape. 'Singular and captivating: the pursuit of a dream' Professor John Carey 'Illuminating' TLS 'An uncompromising journey into the dark cold north, to reveal the warmth that comes from deep community bonds' Tim EcottTrade ReviewIlluminating... Insightful knowledge of Norway's cultural and social history' * TLS *Ferguson takes us on an uncompromising journey into the dark cold north, to reveal the warmth that comes from deep community bonds – qualities all too often lost in our modern urban lives -- Tim EcottSingular and captivating: the pursuit of a dream -- Professor John CareyPRAISE FOR ROBERT FERGUSON: 'Scandinavians is a terrific read... [It] reads like many 19th-century travel books, which also combined wonderful narrative description with bright speculation... It's this approach that makes the book so thoroughly enjoyable' Literary Review. 'Ferguson stretches wide the fabric of history, his knowledge and insights in the process bringing the varied stories of the Nordic people vividly to life' Irish Times. 'Charming, affectionate... Penetrating' -- David Aaronovitch, The Times
£9.49
Welbeck Publishing Group Countryside Contemplations: Reflections on Our
Book SynopsisIn our quest to find a place for quiet reflection, these simple but beautifully curatedbooks on the wonders of the natural world provide a place for rest and contemplation. This book features a selection of quotes, extracts and poetry on thefolklore, wisdom, and customs of the countryside.
£8.99
Unbound How to Live in the Country: A Month-by-Month
Book Synopsis'One of those enthusiasts whose enthusiasm is hard to resist . . . Always beguiling' Daily Mail'Hugely inspiring even when it is most bonkers' Sarah Bakewell, New Statesman'A combination of almanac, commonplace book and diary, this is a tasty oddity . . . Richly entertaining' IndependentAs the pandemic has caused us all to re-evaluate our lives, becoming more self-reliant and dwelling in closer harmony with nature have emerged as important priorities. Many of us have decided to up sticks and leave the city behind for a less frenetic existence in the country. Whether you've already made your move, or are dreaming of doing so one day, this is the book for you. Covering beekeeping, poultry rearing, pig farming, bread-making, wood-chopping, fire-laying, bartering and much more, How to Live in the Country is the perfect source of inspiration for old hand and beginners alike: useful, informative but also refreshingly honest and realistic. Tom Hodgkinson draws on the wisdom of an eclectic range of thinkers and writers as he guides us through each month of the year, giving lists of tasks for both garden and animal husbandry, offering tips and shortcuts, and weaving in stories about his own experience of raising a young family in rural Devon.Trade Review 'One of those enthusiasts whose enthusiasm is hard to resist . . . Always beguiling' Daily Mail 'Hugely inspiring even when it is most bonkers' Sarah Bakewell, New Statesman 'A combination of almanac, commonplace book and diary, this is a tasty oddity . . . Richly entertaining' Independent 'Every gardener and allotment holder should have a copy. It’s packed with good advice' Virginia Ironside, The Oldie 'A delightful read. Share in the exuberant joys and comic misfortunes of an eccentric who has made up his mind about the existence he wants to lead, and has gone ahead and lived it' Mail on Sunday
£12.76
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Barn: The Lives, Landscape and Lost Ways of
Book SynopsisA revelatory uncovering of a vanished agricultural way of life by bestselling nature writer Sally Coulthard. 'A gem of a book' Country Smallholding 'Engaging and filled with gentle humour and fascinating facts' Get History 'Shows us the beauty and rich history of everyday things' Country Walking Magazine Across the foldyard from Sally Coulthard's North Yorkshire farmhouse, stands an old stone barn. When she discovered a set of witches' marks on one of its internal walls, she began to wonder about the lives of the people who had once lived and worked there. Both the intimate story of a building and its hinterland, and a wider social history, The Barn explores a hidden corner of rural Britain that has witnessed remarkable changes. From the eighteenth-century Enclosures to the Second World War, the fortunes of the Barn have been blown, like a leaf in a gale, by the unstoppable forces of new agriculture and industry. Seismic shifts in almost every area of society were all played out here in miniature – against a backdrop of scattered limestone villages and the softly rolling Howardian Hills.Trade ReviewSally Coulthard's beautiful books have shown us the beauty and rich history of everyday things like sheep, bees, hedgehogs, flowers and snow – and now, the humble barn * Country Walking Magazine *A gem of a book... Not only richly informed about the troubles and tribulations of past lives lived in the shadow of the barn, but of the unstoppable forces of agriculture during a long-gone seismic period of British history -- Country Smallholding[Coulthard] works outwards from small observations and detailed research to create a web of stories, images and ideas about rural history, ancient and modern... This is a history of the 'ordinary' people, peppered with surprising facts and personalised tales * Richmondshire Today *Readable, fascinating... A very human history, focusing on the people whose lives changed over several centuries as times and technology changed around them * Shedworking *Engaging and filled with the gentle humour and fascinating facts that are an integral part of Coulthard's written style * Get History *A thoroughly interesting read * Gazette and Herald *The Dalesman's Recommended Read for February 2022 * The Dalesman *The bestselling author of The Bee Bible uncovers the fascinating history of a North Yorkshire barn from the Enclosures of the eighteenth century to the present day in a masterwork of research and non-fiction storytelling * Waterstones *An affectionate celebration of the enduring charm of rural North Yorkshire and a lost agricultural way of life * Country Living *Author and smallholder Sally Coulthard tracks the history of the ancient stone barn that stands across from her Yorkshire farmhouse and, in turn, the history of the farm, those that have tended it and the country at large across two and a half centuries * Neptune Home *
£10.44
Ryland, Peters & Small Ltd At Home with Country: Bringing the Comforts of
Book SynopsisAt Home with Country celebrates the romance of Cabbages & Roses and shows how Christina Strutt's evocative vintage style is equally at home in city apartments, rural retreats and seaside cottages. From urban high-rises to coastal hideaways, the great manor homes of England to the smallest beach house on the other side of the Atlantic, the beauty of the Cabbages & Roses brand is the gentle but highly visible vintage design. This lavish book embodies all locations – country, city and coast. Chapters encompass Classic Country, Modern City, Island Country and Outdoor Country. Homes that bring together the old and the new, evoking the atmosphere of each season, sit beside city spaces where urban living combines with vintage style – think faded florals and ticking fabrics softening an industrial space, splashes of colour to enliven it and contrasting textures to add interest. Coastal dwellings are fresh, breezy and dreamy – beautifully suited for beach living. The book shows that the country can come to the city, that the city can benefit from coastal settings and that the Cabbages & Roses style is a gentle, unassuming and, above all, beautiful asset to any home as it easily complements all environments.
£24.00
Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of Wilderness: Wild Inspiration
Book SynopsisDiscover wilderness as nature intended – the pristine places on our beautiful planet that still remain untouched by human hands. Explore the rugged mountains, clear waters and dense forests of the great outdoors, from the Himalayas to the Rockies, from icy fjord and to desert plateau and everything between.Including information on the best trails and trips to take around the globe, and inspirational quotes from explorers, conservationists and writers, this bitesize book will help wanderers of all walking speeds reconnect with the wonderful world outside their windows.SAMPLE FACT: Blaze: When wanderlusting in the wilderness, and lost, look to the trees to help you find a path. A blaze is a coloured marker, usually painted or nailed to a tree. It helps guide hikers when a trail becomes difficult to follow or makes an abrupt turn.Table of ContentsWalk on the Wild Side: It's time to pack your bag, pop on your walking boots and open the front door. A whole world of wilderness awaits. Only one question remains: where on earth are we going? Heaven on Earth: Wilderness is more than just a place you can go for a nice walk; it's a state of mind. It's a place where you can leave your troubles behind and see the world as Mother Nature intended. If there is a heaven, we'll find it here on Earth. The Great Outdoors: Out among the wilderness is where the wild things roam. From creatures great and small to trees wide and tall, and everything in between. It's all here: oceans, deserts, space, forests and wide-open lands that run free as far as the eye can see. Wide Open Space: What is wilderness? Can you define something so divine? Like all the best things, wilderness is the stuff of make believe, full of inspiring facts and stats, quotes and notes, that'll make your world spin. Blazing Trails: From humans to animals, organisms to insects, every single living creature on Earth owes everything it is to the wilderness from which it sprang. Here's how to get your boots on, pack the snacks and take a giant leap into wilderness today. Into the Wild: Welcome to the end of the trail. Thanks for coming. But the journey into wilderness is never over. Wilderness is wherever you want it to be so find it where you are.
£5.99
Swift Press 21stCentury Yokel
£11.69
Graffeg Limited Country Diary in Wales, A
Book SynopsisFrom his home near Aberystwyth, John Gilbey sets out to provide an image of the rural landscape across Ceredigion, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Gwynedd. These walks, reached by bus or train and occasionally concluding with a quiet pint, seek to capture the key notes of the season and give others an opportunity to join him on his travels.
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Wild Isles: An Anthology of the Best of
Book SynopsisThe very best of British and Irish nature writing selected by the natural history writer Patrick Barkham. The landscapes of Britain and Ireland, together with the creatures and plants that inhabit them, have penetrated deep in our collective imagination. From Gilbert White and Dorothy Wordsworth to Laurie Lee and Nan Shepherd, literature inspired by the natural world has become an integral part of our shared identity, and shaped our relationship with the islands we call home. In The Wild Isles, Patrick Barkham has gathered together a wide array of the very best of British and Irish nature writing, characterized by an arresting diversity of moods and voices. His choices are arranged under themes that range from birds, woods and coastlines to childhood, the seasons and urban nature, and juxtapose extracts from much-loved classics with passages by contemporary writers such as Robert Macfarlane, James Rebanks and Helen Macdonald. Here the reader will find joyful celebrations of landscape and the wildlife it nurtures, probing explorations of the environmental problems facing us today, as well as the fresh and vital perspectives of writers from underrepresented backgrounds. 'If British and Irish nature writing is to grow and endure,' writes Barkham in his introduction, 'it must be diverse, complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, and relevant to everyone who lives on this land.' Encompassing the bleak heights of the Cairngorms, the ancient woodlands of Essex, the storm-lashed islands of Ireland's west coast and the lush fields of Devon, The Wild Isles highlights nature's capacity to terrify and to delight, to soothe and to heal, to surprise, inspire and bring wonder.Trade ReviewA collection of wonderfully diverse, historic and contemporary attentive voices * BBC Wildlife Magazine *A brilliant introduction to nature writing, drawing together a large selection of British and Irish writing of the past and present [...] ensuring that familiarity and discovery are both on hand * Cumbria Life *What better way to start each day than by dipping into this attractive collection of prose writings that enrich our bond with the natural world? * Country Life *Many of your favourites are in there, such as Chris Packham, George Monbiot, Mark Cocker and Isabella Tree, and are many new names, too. Ideal for dipping into on a night in * Bird Watching Magazine *Readers of Wild Isles might have memories stirred, vision sharpened, wonder kindled. They might also ask what the future will look like... An exceptional addition to any nature- or book-lover's bookshelf' * Geographical Magazine *
£19.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Book of the Barn Owl
Book SynopsisFew of us know what goes on after dark, underneath the moon. Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl, one of the most mesmerising and elusive icons of the countryside. 'Fascinating insights... An endearing book for lovers of the barn owl' Daily Mail 'Enjoyable and lyrical... enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints' Country Life 'Packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know' Yorkshire Life 'This is a gorgeous little book' Permaculture Magazine With its heart-shaped face and silent, graceful flight, the barn owl regularly tops the nation's list of favourite birds. But how much do we really know about this sublime tenant of the night? Here, bestselling author Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl. Full of fascinating insights, conservation advice and the latest research, this affectionate and timely guide also tells the story of a barn owl's early life – from first pip of the shell to leaving the nest – a fascinating time in this captivating creature's journey.Trade ReviewA beautifully written book about a beautiful bird. Fact-filled, yet totally engaging -- David Ramsden MBE, Barn Owl TrustAn enjoyable and lyrical read, enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints, which really bring the book to life * Country Life *Looks set to be a bestseller... Beautifully illustrated and full of fascinating insights * Yorkshire Post *Sally Coulthard brings us another immensely readable biography of British Isles fauna... This little book packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know about one of Britain's most thrilling nocturnal creatures * Yorkshire Life *With fascinating insights and tips on how to attract them... This is an endearing book for lovers of the barn owl * Daily Mail *Coulthard's style is never less than effortlessly readable, and it is a measure of the delicacy of her touch that she is successfully able to marry the poetry of Edward Thomas with the rigorous research of a scientific study * Yorkshire Times *
£9.49
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Beautiful Gardens 2025 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Country Scenes 2025 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£12.95
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Country Wildlife 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Britains Most Beautiful Villages 2026 Square Wall
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. British Cathedrals 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Coastlines of Britain 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Country Churches 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Transworld England
Book SynopsisJohn Lewis-Stempel is a farmer and 'Britain's finest living nature writer' (The Times). His books include the Sunday Times bestsellers Woodston, The Running Hare and The Wood. He is the only person to have won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing twice, with Meadowland and Where Poppies Blow. In 2016 he was named Magazine Columnist of the Year for his column in Country Life. He farms cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Traditionally.
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd La Vie
Book SynopsisJohn Lewis-Stempel is a farmer and 'Britain's finest living nature writer' (The Times). His books include the Sunday Times bestsellers Woodston, The Running Hare and The Wood. He is the only person to have won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing twice, with Meadowland and Where Poppies Blow. In 2016 he was named Magazine Columnist of the Year for his column in Country Life. He farms cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Traditionally.
£9.49
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Britain from the Air 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Canongate Books Renaturing
Book SynopsisJames Canton's journey into developing an accessible and everyday approach to rewilding that can be adapted by anyone from the ambitious gardener to casual window-box owner
£17.09
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Heath: My Year on Hampstead Heath
Book SynopsisAn engaging portrait of Hampstead Heath – a place rich not just in natural wonders but in history and monuments, emotions and memories, people and places. 'I enjoyed every inch of the way, from Parliament Hill to the Pergola... A late-life little masterpiece' Ferdinand Mount 'A love letter, both to the Heath and to his late wife' Islington Tribune 'An affectionate book which blends personal anecdote, history and interviews' Ham & High The eight hundred acres of Hampstead Heath lie just four miles from central London; and yet unlike the manicured inner-city parks, it feels like the countryside: it has hills and lakes, wild spots and tame spots. Hunter Davies has lived within a stone's throw of Hampstead Heath for more than sixty years and has walked on it nearly every day of his London life. For him, it is not just a place of recreation and relaxation but also a treasure-house of memories and emotions. In The Heath, he visits all parts of this, the largest area of common land in Britain's capital city: from Kenwood House to the Vale of Health, from Parliament Hill to Boudicca's Mound, and from the Ladies Bathing Pond to the fabulous pergola. As he walks, Davies talks to the diverse array of individuals who frequent the Heath: regulars; visitors; dog walkers; stall holders at the weekly farmer's market; famous faces having their morning stroll; twenty-first-century hippies spreading peace, love and happiness.Trade ReviewAn affectionate book which blends personal anecdote, history and interviews with key players from The Heath and Hampstead Society and City of London Corporation, to swimmers and dog walkers * Ham & High *A love letter, both to the Heath and to his late wife... Hunter's portrait of the Heath zips by, as a warm reminder of the familiar, but introducing you to new territory * Islington Tribune *Just like taking a walk on the Heath, most of the book is familiar before pointing out something you had not noticed before * Camden New Journal *I enjoyed every inch of the way, from Parliament Hill to the Pergola... I particularly liked the way [he] gently but remorselessly undermines everyone's preconceptions... A late-life little masterpiece -- Ferdinand MountPRAISE FOR LAKELAND: 'Davies's easy, affable style makes his Lakeland a plum-pie delight of gossip, pictures and facts. This is one to treasure' WI Life. 'Nicely produced and tastefully illustrated, the whole thing enchants from start to finish' The Times 'The generous illustrations to Lakeland are by turns beautiful and quirky. Engravings by artists of the Picturesque evoke the changing past of what Hunter Davies sums up as 'a living place not a museum'' TLS. 'A beautifully produced Lake District miscellany, informed by a lifetime's enthusiasm' TGO Magazine. 'A lovely read for everyone who loves the Lakes' * Cumberland News *
£10.44
Countryside Books Bristol & Bath Year Round Walks
Book SynopsisThis walking guide contains 20 circular routes, covering the very best of Bristol and Bath's wide-ranging landscape - from high in the Mendip Hills down to the Somerset Levels; through stunning Cotswold villages and along meandering waterways right out to the shoreline of the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. Walks range in length from 3 to 6 miles, with recommendations for autumn, winter, spring and summer. Highlights include: Spring: A carpet of bluebells in Leigh Woods and Hawkesbury Upton in the Cotswolds; Summer: A seaside stroll at Sand Bay; Autumn: Dramatic colours at Westonbirt Arboretum and the deer park at Ashton Court; Winter: Wintering wildfowl along the banks of the River Severn and the starling murmuration over the Somerset LevelsTable of ContentsSPRING 1 Leigh Woods (4 miles) 2 Solsbury Hill (3 miles) 3 East Harptree (41/2 miles) 4 Hawkesbury Upton (51/2 miles) 5 The Chew Valley (5 miles) SUMMER 6 Priddy & North Hill (6 miles) 7 Sand Bay (5 miles) 8 Litton (6 miles) 9 Lansdown (3 miles) 10 Draycott Sleights (5 miles ) AUTUMN 11 Westonbirt (5 miles) 12 Monkton Farleigh (4 miles) 13 Ashton Court (21/2 miles) 14 Castle Combe (6 miles) 15 Mendip Heights (4 1/2 miles) WINTER 16 Tucker's Grave (4 miles) 17 The Severn Estuary (61/2 miles) 18 Bradford-on-Avon (3 miles) 19 The Somerset Levels (4 miles) 20 Brean Down (5 miles)
£7.77
Countryside Books The Cotswolds Year Round Walks: 20 circular walks
Book SynopsisThis guide contains 20 circular walks in the Cotswolds, covering the very best of the area's wide-ranging landscape - from the heights of Uley Bury to the tranquil beauty of the water meadows near Sherborne; through stunning villages and along meandering waterways. Walks range in length from 21/2 to 6 miles, with recommendations for autumn, winter, spring and summer. Highlights include: Spring: A carpet of bluebells in the woods near Uley and Whittington Summer: Panoramic views around Snowshill and Foxcote Autumn: Dramatic colours at Chedworth Woods and Cooper's Hill Nature Reserve Winter: The quiet lanes and picturesque villages of Cutsdean and EbringtonTable of ContentsSPRING 1. Sherborne & Watermeadows (41/4 miles) 2. The Camp (21/2 miles) 3. Uley Bury (4 miles) 4. Easton Grey (6 miles) 5. Whittington (31/4 or 5 miles) SUMMER 6 Snowshill & Lidcombe Wood (41/2 miles) 7 Sapperton & Daneway (41/2 miles) 8 Foxcote (51/2 miles) 9 Yanworth (51/2 miles) 10 Aldsworth (6 miles) AUTUMN 11 Edgeworth & Ruscombe Plantation (4 miles) 12 Lower Oddington & Bledington (43/4 miles) 13 Cranham & Cooper's Hill (4 miles) 14 Chedworth (31/2 miles) 15 Somerford Keynes (51/2 miles) WINTER 16 Guiting Wood (41/2 miles) 17 Driffield (5 miles) 18 Cornwell & Churchill (51/2 miles) 19 Hidcote Manor & Ebrington (5 miles) 20 Cutsdean (41/2 miles)
£5.99
Countryside Books Lancashire Year Round Walks: 20 circular routes
Book SynopsisThis walking guide contains 20 circular routes, covering the very best of Lancashire's wide-ranging landscape - from high in the Lancashire hills down to glorious forest and wildlife-rich moorland; through historical towns and villages and along meandering waterways. Walks range in length from 21/2 to 8 miles, with recommendations for autumn, winter, spring and summer. Highlights include: Spring: Far-reaching views from Harrock Hill and a carpet of bluebells in the woodlands of the Read Hall estate. Summer: Moorland tracks near the lost settlement of Gambleside and boat watching along the Lancaster Canal. Autumn: Exploring Pendle witch country near Barrowford and woodland colours around Hurst Green. Winter - Christmas decorations adorning the shoreline of Entwistle Reservoir and the winter wildlife around Marton Mere.Table of ContentsSPRING 1. Brookhouse (51/2 miles) 2. Chipping (4 miles) 3. Bilsborrow (8 miles) 4. Read (71/2 miles) 5. Mawdesley (4 miles) SUMMER 6. Slyne (5 miles) 7. Conder Green (21/2 miles) 8. Garstang (41/2 miles) 9. Waddington (7 miles) 10. Clow Bridge (51/2 miles) AUTUMN 11. Cowan Bridge (41/2 or 6 miles) 12. Silverdale (41/4 miles) 13. Hurst Green (61/2 miles) 14. Barrowford (51/2 miles) 15. Brinscall (33/4 or 5 miles) WINTER 16. Staining (5 miles) 17. Walton-le-Dale (5 miles) 18. Sabden (21/2 miles) 19. Foulridge (61/2 miles) 20. Chapeltown (63/4 miles)
£5.99
Countryside Books Norfolk Dog Friendly Pub Walks
Book Synopsis20 WALKS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR YOUR DOG AND GREAT PUBS WHERE THEY'RE WELCOME. This collection of tried-and-tested walks, all between 1 and 5 miles, has been written specifically for dogs and their owners, allowing for maximum off-lead time.
£9.49
Quiller Publishing Ltd Higgledy Piggledy
Book SynopsisEntertaining, informative, and packed with unusual facts. Illustrated in color throughout.
£13.49
Quiller Publishing Ltd The Decline of an English Village
Book SynopsisThis is the 45th Anniversary Edition of The Decline of an English Village. When The Decline of an English Village was first published in 1974, its appearance was greeted with immediate critical acclaim. As a young writer, born into declining village life, Robin Page’s message simultaneously struck a chord and sounded a warning. Now, after forty-five years, it reappears with a new and updated introduction, in which political activist Robin Page exposes greed, political ineptitude, and social and environmental indifference as the driving forces behind the deterioration of village life and the communities around it. Robin Page transports readers back to a time when villages were founded on the value of community, and when people still worked the land in the traditional sense. He reflects and ruminates on his own experiences of rural life, raising sensitive topics, such as the intensification of farming, over-population, and environmental degradation in some of England’s most beloved places. Robin shares his concern for the alarming loss of wildlife in England, and offers his own perspective on what he perceives to be the most pressing issues. His passion for English tradition, reflected through his involvement with the Countryside Restoration Trust, radiates from within the pages of this book, along with his enthusiasm for preserving the countryside and its wildlife. Throughout his life, Robin has observed dramatic changes in the way people live their lives. It’s in this book that he reiterates the tragedy behind a countryside increasingly misused and abused in the name of urbanisation and industrialisation. Trade ReviewRobin Page is a national treasure. This whiskery and rebarbative countryman, now in his mid seventies, has campaigned tirelessly for the cause of traditional rural life... he has shown, admirably, what even a single individual can do off his own bat by founding the Countryside Restoration Trust. The Decline of an English Village was one of Mr.Page's early books. Written 45 years ago, and now reissued with a new last chapter, it is a classic. * Country Life *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Home and Farm 2. The Village 3. God 4. Sex and Violence 5. The School 6. The Brook 7. The Shoot 8. Feathers and Feet 9. Second Thoughts 10. All Change 11. Thirty Years On 12. Forty-Five Years On Countryside Restoration Trust
£18.00
Quiller Publishing Ltd The Countryman: Through the Seasons
Book SynopsisThere is something for everyone in The Countryman. Whether you are a country dweller, an urban nature lover, an amateur historian, or a budding naturalist, the variety of subjects covered is a real treasure trove. From the toad to the bumblebee, the cuckoo to the pheasant, the life cycle of the dragonfly, the attractions of the nightjar and the dove, the development of sheep breeds and the value of the cottager’s pig – these are just some of the characters of the natural world as described by Johnny Scott. What are the origins of Oak Apple Day and when and where is it still celebrated? What do you know about Morecambe Bay shrimps or gulls’ eggs – how do they make the journey from harvest to plate? What is a hag stone and what is its connection to a horse brass? Do you know what marl is and where would you find it? Answers to these questions and so many others are to be found within these pages. The author’s acute powers of observation and fluent style enable him to convey his lifelong experiences and knowledge of the natural world in an informative but accessible way. His understanding of the origins of country customs and celebratory festivals is extensive, and his affection for them and all that the countryside has to offer shines through. Be prepared to be enlightened, amazed or amused – or probably all three!Trade ReviewSeparated into the four seasons, the reader will move through the year with Johnny's own knowledge and various stories and experiences to guide them. Not only does it focus on country sports, it looks at man's relationship with nature and how things have changed for the better. His affection for the countryside and all it has to offer shines through and will delight any reader. -- Mary Jarwood * The Countryman's Weekly *This book is simply brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. Sir Johnny’s encyclopaedia like knowledge of most things relating to the British countryside and his articulate and eloquent writing style, firmly deposits this book into my “couldn’t put it down” category. Highly recommended for country folk of all nationalities, British social historians, nature lovers and urbanites with an enquiring mind. -- Gary Creighton * British Country Sports *From cover to cover this highly readable book was rapidly digested in just over a day. As I know from frequent evenings in his company, Johnny Scott is an exceptionally fine teller and re-teller of tales and anecdotes...If you are a countryman by birth, inclination or persuasion, buy this book, you will love it. If not, buy the book anyway, you might learn something. -- Peter Brook * Baily's Hunting Directory *This is not a soapbox piece about our changing landscape and culture, but a balanced and quiet observation of a landscape and nation in flux.... This book attests to Scott's deep understanding of the British countryside. -- Hunter WorkmanMeeting people like...Sir Johnny Scott makes you realise that these individuals have a wealth of knowledge that is impossible to match in the anti-hunting/anti shooting world... provides some very useful arguments to counter the barrage of nonsense produced by those who know precisely what they want changed in the countryside but have little idea about what might follow. -- Jim Barrington * Countryman's Weekly/Countryfile Live *Forget the Met Office. It's the "...behaviour of the hefted hill ewes out on the moor..." you need to watch for incoming snow. A definite read before the Boxing Day walk - it'll answer all the children's questions... [Johnny's] passion and knowledge for rural life absolutely shine in this book. [His] writing is very accessible and engaging, and really quite poetic in places. Writing about Christmas week, he says: "I love the bleak beauty... the eerie sound of a great multitude of geese riding from their roost in a lapis lazuli dawn." -- Annette Shaw * Devon Life *One of the most readable books I’ve had the pleasure to read...a wonderful legacy. Sir Johnny is our countryside personified. It is to be read to laugh and learn. I highly recommend it, Dear Reader.Table of ContentsIntroduction________________________________ 7 Spring_ ___________________________________ 13 Toads__________________________________ 14 Easter_ ________________________________ 17 The Cuckoo_____________________________ 23 Avian Squatters___________________________ 27 Gulls’ Eggs______________________________ 31 Bumblebees_ ____________________________ 37 Bugs in May_ ____________________________ 41 The Golden Hoof_________________________ 44 Are Sportsmen Getting Soft?_________________ 50 May Day________________________________ 55 Cleanliness of Animals______________________ 59 Oak Apple Day___________________________ 63 Summer__________________________________ 67 Blind Stinger____________________________ 68 Mallard_ _______________________________ 72 Green Parakeets__________________________ 75 Luck_ _________________________________ 79 The Heron______________________________ 85 The Shepherd’s Dog_ ______________________ 88 Wild Goats______________________________ 94 Hedging________________________________ 98 Dor Hawks_____________________________ 105 A Change in the Season____________________ 109 Flankers_______________________________ 112 Medieval Pets’ Names_____________________ 115 Goose Fever____________________________ 120 Autumn__________________________________ 123 The Wheel Turns_________________________ 124 Morecambe Bay Shrimps___________________ 127 St Anthony’s Fire_________________________ 133 Weather Lore___________________________ 138 Athena________________________________ 141 Doocots_______________________________ 145 An Autumn Fish_ ________________________ 149 The Month of the Rut_____________________ 154 Hell Hounds____________________________ 157 Beautiful But Deadly______________________ 161 Hag Stones_____________________________ 165 The Cottager’s Pig_______________________ 169 Sporrans______________________________ 172 Winter_ __________________________________ 179 Tracks in the Snow_ ______________________ 180 Red Letter Day__________________________ 184 Christmas Week_ ________________________ 186 Christ’s Animals at Christmas________________ 189 Mistletoe______________________________ 195 The Holly and the Ivy_ ____________________ 199 Carving the Festive Bird___________________ 205 Dogs at Christmas________________________ 211 Keep the Home Fires Burning_ ______________ 215 The Countryman’s Zimmer_________________ 218 Hedge Pig_____________________________ 221 The Glorious Bird of Colchis________________ 225 Marl_________________________________ 228
£16.14
Quiller Publishing Ltd Land of Milk and Honey: Digressions of a Rural
Book SynopsisLand of Milk and Honey is the long-awaited sequel to Red Rag to a Bull. Author Jamie Blackett finds himself in danger of losing the family estate as his beef business encounters difficulties and the spectre of Brexit bears down on the farming community. Meanwhile he feels under threat from extreme environmentalists attacking the very concept of livestock farming and by resurgent Scottish nationalism threatening the break-up of the United Kingdom. The book is the honest and forthright account of how he copes with the crisis by following the example of New Zealand farmers in similar circumstances and successfully embracing the new creed of regenerative agriculture and switching the farm into pasture-based dairying. Through Jamie’s struggles the reader comes to understand the crossroads facing the British countryside as it attempts to adapt to free trade after eighty years of agricultural subsidies. We are also guided through the complexities and contradictions in the quest to reach Net Zero carbon and reverse biodiversity loss as he explores the current craze for re-wilding the land and puts some of its ideas into practice for the benefit of wildlife on the estate. Along the way Jamie becomes an outspoken newspaper columnist and establishes an unlikely political alliance with the maverick socialist George Galloway in an attempt to break the stalemate in Scottish politics and defeat Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP in the Holyrood election. The book contains humour, vivid passages of nature writing and numerous polemical digressions on a wide range of countryside issues.Trade Review‘Jamie Blackett crucially and eloquently stands up for real farming, real conservation and the real countryside, managing to be both lyrical and fearless at the same time.’ -- Kate Green, Country Life'a fascinating read for those interested in the countryside and the country...Well worth buying''Blackett’s engaging style and lightness of touch belie the complexity of the issues with which he must contend, and make this a compelling read.''Land of Milk and Honey is a book with great variety and change of pace. the description of rural life, its seasonal rhythms, the grandeur of nature and all its creatures are a joy to read.''another highly readable and thought provoking work from Jamie Blackett.''superbly acerbic'The author writes with admirable candour and detachment about his battle to save his farm in the face of adverse balance-sheets. As well as being an eloquent manifesto for saving the countryside from the unhappy fate that has overtaken large parts of urban Britain, this is a stirring evocation of rural life.
£18.00
Quiller Publishing Ltd The Countryman Sets Forth Again
Book SynopsisThe Countryman Sets Forth Again is a wonderful compilation of articles covering a range of eclectic rural and countryside subjects. There is something for everyone to discover from the ancient language of field sports to the treasures to be found in old barns; the history of the landscape to dryland husky racing and much more. Divided into seasonal sections and featuring more than forty-five chapters, many of the articles have appeared in The Field magazine. Here are all aspects of country life described in vivid detail, from the flora and fauna to the folklore. Descriptions of ancient customs feature alongside accounts of pigeon racing and hound trailing; and stories of exotic plant hunters from past centuries. Readers will encounter mad March hares, owls, ravens, bats, pike, eels, and the rare capercaillie. Other subjects include coppicing, ancient trees, hanging game, stoats, terriers and, that perennial British favourite, the weather. The author also takes us back to his childhood with memories of charcoal burners and of harvesting wild food. Combining his engaging writing, expert insight and immense knowledge, Johnny Scott is a master at celebrating and chronicling the countryside. In this book he continues to convey his wisdom and affection for the magic of nature and rural life.Trade Review‘This book would be as entertaining and informative to those who already know the countryside well, as it would to someone who wants to learn more.’ -- Simon Lester, Country Life Magazine
£18.00
Quiller Publishing Ltd Red Rag To A Bull: Rural Life in an Urban Age
Book SynopsisAuthor Jamie Blackett arrives home from the Army to take over a small family estate on the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway, and finds a rapidly changing countryside. In a humorous and occasionally moving tale, he describes the return of the native to grapple with the intricacies of farming, conservation and estate management, telling the story of founding a pack of foxhounds and a herd of pedigree beef cattle. Part childhood memoir, part biopic of rural life, readers are transported to a remote and beautiful part of Scotland and acquainted with its wildlife, its people and its customs. One minute he is unblocking his septic tank, and the next he is watching Glenn Close film a sex scene in his bedroom. The book follows in the tradition of countryside classics by John Lister-Kaye, James Herriot and James Rebanks. Set over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, through the Scottish independence referendum, Brexit and the hunting ban, the result is an enlightened review of the challenges threatening a vulnerable way of life and an emerging philosophy about the directions Scotland, farming and the countryside might take in the brave new world of Brexit.Trade ReviewApropos reading, may I recommend two recent discoveries. The second is Red Rag to a Bull, by Jamie Blackett. Also beautifully written, there is no better one-volume guide to rural matters. Every politician should read it, as should anyone who cares about the countryside. It is a pleasure from first page to last. -- Bruce Anderson * The Spectator *Jamie Blackett's new book is a bracing breath of Borders air. Not an angry caricature nor a blinkered polemic, Blackett has delivered something else entirely. And something rather valuable. Funny, well-considered and engagingly written, Blackett's book is one that encapsulates a moment in time. -- Alexandra Henton * The Field *This book is a reflection, by turns poetic and gritty, on two decades of life at what Jamie Blackett calls 'the silage-pit face'... He has to cope with the Scottish Government, unsafe trees and the implementation of the hunting ban. He's literally living the dream, given that dreams are generally odd, disconcerting and irrational, as well as, in recollection, at times very funny. -- Clive Aslet * Country Life *What a brilliant, enlightening and amusing book, about the real countryside. It should be read by politicians, bureaucrats, ramblers, wildlife-lovers, townies, blow-ins and bumpkins like me. What a read! -- Robin PageBlackett has written an entertaining and engaging book on a subject that will resonate strongly with those who live and work in rural Britain. An enjoyable book that does so much to educate. -- Paul de Zulueta * Guards Magazine *...Blackett provides a passionate plea that the livelihoods dependent on the Scottish countryside are as important as the growing generation of urbanites focused predominantly on the tech and service industries. An enlightening read for everyone from the true country bumpkins to the modern city slicker. * Scottish Field Magazine *This book should be compulsory reading for all those townies who long to live in the country after a week in a holiday cottage... Wildlife, hunting and much hilarity pack this volume, perhaps best described as James Herriot meets the Irish RM.In this wonderful, humorous book, beautifully observed and written book, Blackett tells us something of the tribulations of a farmer in these benighted times. -- James Stevens Curl * The Jackdaw *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Prologue Coming Home Summer Autumn Winter Spring Epilogue
£10.44
Quiller Publishing Ltd The Field Book of Country Queries
Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - Jonathan Young, Editor of The Field, says: 'Field readers always have the solution to a problem, whether it's a pattern for kiltsocks (Patons No 3285) or clearing out a vacuum flask (bicarbonate of soda) and they have always been more than forthcoming with robust advice.' A vast range of subjects is covered.
£18.04
Canongate Books The Country Diaries: A Year in the British
Book SynopsisThe unique beauty of the British countryside has been celebrated down the ages in music, poetry, and art. It has also been celebrated in countless private diaries. This delightful treasury gathers together the very finest - from Rev Gilbert White's journal of life at his famous home in Selborne to Beatrix Potter's holiday diaries from Perthshire. Elsewhere, the thoughts of Dorothy Wordsworth and John Fowles rub shoulders with the words of Queen Victoria, Siegfried Sassoon and Roger Deakin. Together, these private records, which have been arranged as a diary of the calendar year, paint a rich and surprising portrait of a landscape and a life we think we know so well.Trade ReviewThis is an altogether life-enhancing compendium . . . It reminds us how the countryside is rapidly changing, and how, today, one person's fallow field is another's luxury development or power station. * * Daily Mail * *The arch-editor appears to have scoured the hedgerows, rolled over boulders and scaled Britain's mountains in his search. For he has unearthed a diverse range of authors - from literary greats such as Hardy and Scott; to playwrights and poets, such as Bennett and Sassoon to more contemporary sources, like Roger Deakin and Derwent May. * * Scottish Field * *A fascinating portrait of country life across the centuries told by the nation's greatest diarists . . . dip into it each day to see how endlessly gripping and entertaining everyday life can be. * * Country Life * *Collectively the entries give a fascinating insight into the lives and values of people as well as the country in which they live. It is not so much of an insight into the British Countryside, as an insight into Britain the country. * * Good Book Guide * *Delightful. -- Giles Foden * * Observer * *this book provides a rich tapestry of life in Britain. * * Good Book Guide * *Combines keen observation with wry nostalgia and an awareness of what it means to be part of a landscape. * * London Review of Books * *
£999.99
Canongate Books At the Water's Edge: A Walk in the Wild
Book SynopsisFor the last thirty years John Lister-Kaye has taken the same circular walk from his home deep in a Scottish glen up to a small hill loch. Each day brings a new observation or an unexpected encounter - a fragile spider's web, an osprey struggling to lift a trout from the water or a woodcock exquisitely camouflaged on her nest - and every day, on his return home, he records his thoughts in a journal. Drawing on this lifetime of close observation, At The Water's Edge encourages us to look again at the nature around us, to discover its wildness for ourselves and to respect and protect it.Trade ReviewJohn Lister-Kaye is one of the most joyful, inspirational naturalists I know. This wonderful collection of wildlife encounters will make anyone want to pull on their boots and re-discover the world on our doorsteps. -- Kate HumbleA book of land-knowing by someone who has spent a gentle lifetime learning the languages of animals. With an untameable enthusiasm and generosity of spirit, Lister-Kaye translates those languages into a kind of inter-species friendship -- Jay Griffiths, author of Wild: An Elemental JourneyDedicated conservationist Lister-Kaye has spent much of his life in solitary contemplation of his environment . . . This is a quiet but rousing call to action for anyone who loves the natural world and wants to help preserve it. * * Sunday Telegraph * *I'd put it in the hands of anyone who ever enjoyed a day out in the fresh air, even those who don't think they like the countryside: they've got to be seduced by this prose -- Claire English * * BBC Radio Scotland * *A thoughtful analyst of the evolutionary interplay between human being and animal. * * The Times * *Every word of John Lister-Kaye's At the Water's Edge sounds with a long, close knowledge of place, with a profound appreciation and anticipation of each small change brought by the progression of a day or of a season. Beautifully observed and rich in description, the book sounds too with an urgent voice, warning of what will be lost to us should we continue to take too little action to protect the natural world -- ESTHER WOOLFSON * * author of CORVUS * *
£10.44
The Crowood Press Ltd Urban Fox: Memoirs of an Edinburgh Poacher
Book SynopsisUrban Fox is a frank and humorous memoir that shares with us a lifetime of adventures and tells of one man's love of the countryside. Beautifully illustrated with evocative wood engravings, Urban Fox will delight the reader with its tales of a hidden world. It celebrates a way of life that few will believe possible, that of the urban poacher.
£17.95
Canterbury Press Norwich Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Book SynopsisPilgrim at Tinker Creek has continued to change people's lives for over thirty years. A passionate and poetic reflection on the mystery of creation with its beauty on the one hand and cruelty on the other, it has become a modern American literary classic in the tradition of Thoreau. Living in solitude in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke, Virginia, and observing the changing seasons, the flora and fauna, the author reflects on the nature of creation and of the God who set it in motion. Whether the images are cruel or lovely, the language is memorably beautiful and poetic, and insistently celebratory. Just pay attention, Dillard urges throughout, and you will find yourself 'sailing headlong and breathless under the gale force of the spirit'.Trade Review'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, is a classic instance of the nonfiction work of art.' -- Geoff Dyer * The Observer *
£12.34
Octopus Publishing Group Philips RGS Outdoor Britain An Atlas for
Book SynopsisDiscover the best of wild Britain, whether it''s hiking, climbing, cycling or just soaking up nature, lovers of the outdoors will find this ideal for planning the adventure of a lifetime.Philip''s RGS Outdoor Britain highlights the remarkable activities on offer: from cheese-rolling in Gloucestershire to wild swimming in the Thames, surfing off the Cornish coast to bog snorkelling in Wales. This ultimate outdoor companion clearly illustrates all the parks, trails, long distance footpaths, pilgrim routes and much more. So grab your boots (or swimmers), pack your rucksack, and reconnect with nature.* National trails in England and Wales, Long distance footpaths in Scotland and scenic driving routes including: North Coast 500, West Highland Way, Pennine Way, Thames Path, South West Coastal Paths and Offa''s Dyke* Camping and caravanning sites for those who want to roam* National Parks and A
£14.39
Ebury Publishing Countryfile: Adam's Farm: My Life on the Land
Book SynopsisIn 2001, Adam Henson was chosen from 3,500 applicants to become a presenter on Countryfile. Adam's agricultural knowledge and open manner soon made him a popular figure and when the programme moved to its current Sunday evening slot in 2009, he began to present a weekly report from his own farm in the Cotswolds.There, the ups and downs of the farming calendar, as told in Adam's straight-talking fashion, soon became one of the most popular parts of the programme as viewers watched him endure the stress of TB testing and his sadness at losing valuable cattle as well as the highs of spring lambing. This is the first book by Adam Henson, and it is an enthralling, first-person account of the drama, emotion and sheer hard work that is life on Adam's Farm.
£17.00
Batsford Ltd How to See Nature
Book SynopsisA beautifully lyrical collection of essays on the natural world in Britain by the Guardian's country diary writer Paul Evans. With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don't, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. Other chapters look at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author's personal encounters.Trade Review'Evans has a lovely way of writing, evocative with an eye for detail on the bigger picture' * Half Man Half Book *'There is profound yet unobtrusive elegance in Paul Evans’ writing' * The Ecologist *'There is profound yet unobtrusive elegance in Paul Evans’ writing.' -- Peter Reason * Resurgence & Ecologist Review *'It’s the perfect collection to dip into and out of at leisure and is perfect for anyone with a natural history bent' * Epicurean *'It’s like going on a short walk with a knowledgeable guide. Refreshing and educational.' * The People's Friend *‘By celebrating [the natural world] so beautifully, Evans is playing as important a role in its conservation as anybody.' * Birdwatching *'The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this fascinating book' -- Miriam Darlington * BBC Wildlife *
£14.44
Batsford Ltd The Young Ones: A celebration of our best-loved
Book SynopsisAn adorable collection of the sweetest baby animals you’ve ever seen, brought to exquisitely detailed life by well-loved animal artist Hannah Dale, creator of Wrendale Designs. This beautiful gift book, first published in 2015 but now reissued in a larger size to give even more prominence to the gorgeous illustrations, features over 50 British baby animals that are just starting out in life, painted in the author’s quirky, inimitable style. From the playful fox cub to the tiny fluffy duckling, from the prettiest baby seal to a wobbly thoroughbred foal, everyone’s favourite mini creatures are charmingly brought to life by this award-winning artist - you'll squeal with delight at their cuteness! Each animal portrait is accompanied by informative and entertaining text that will teach you more about how these little creatures will make their way in the world. This truly lovely book is the perfect gift package for nature lovers of any age.
£10.80
Batsford Ltd The Country Set: A celebration of our best-loved
Book SynopsisA delightful gift book filled with the adorable animal paintings of Hannah Dale, creator of the immensely popular Wrendale Designs. This charming book, first published in 2014 but now reissued in a larger size to give the author’s beautiful images even more chance to shine, features 50 quintessentially British birds and animals painted by Hannah Dale in her uniquely quirky, characterful style. From the red deer to the harvest mouse, from the sparrow to the barn owl, the nation’s favourite creatures are brought to life by this award-winning artist, really bringing out the character in each creature. Additional smaller pictures include their tracks and feathers, to help you identify where they've been near even when you can’t see them. The author has also provided insightful and entertaining text to accompany each animal portrait, and it all adds up to an irresistible gift package for any nature lover.
£11.40
Whittles Publishing A Last Wild Place
Book SynopsisMike Tomkies gives a remarkable picture of the whole cycle of nature around him, in a harsh and testing environment of unrivalled beauty. Vivid colours and sounds fill these pages - exotic wild orchids, the roar of rutting stags, a pair of dragonflies mating, the flight of the redwing, the territorial movements of foxes, otters and badgers, an oak tree being torn apart by hurricane-force gales. Nothing seems to escape his penetrating eye, to which the selection of his photographs in this book - some revealing little-known aspects of animal behaviour - immediately testifies. Yet Mike's extraordinary insights into the wildlife that shared his otherwise empty territory of 300 square miles are not gained without perseverance in the face of perilous hazards. Every pound of supplies (including heavy gas canisters) has to be manhandled in and out of his boat, which once sank beneath him in a storm. Thousands of miles of rock faces and hillside must be trekked each year in summer and winter, the tussock grass concealing sodden peat holes that will break an ankle. Hours on end, day and night, are spent in cramped hides on windy, precipitous ledges.A Last Wild Place is much more than the chronicle of a man who left city life in order to study the wilderness. It is a celebration of nature at its most rugged and spectacular in all Britain. Like the enormous ageing salmon he threw back because he felt he had no right to claim its life, Mike Tomkies reveals through his quest our urgent need to become retuned to natural rhythms if mankind is to regain a measure of health and sanity in a world bent on self-destruction.Trade Review`...unique observations and insights that fuel a powerful story of not only wildlife, but living in the wild amongst them, observing animal behaviour. ...a fine survey that armchair naturalists will appreciate for both its vivid tone and engrossing animal insights’. Donovan’s Bookshelf -------------------- `His phenomenal knowledge of wildlife is not limited to mammals and birds but includes trees, wild plants and insects, particularly butterflies. His chapters on deer in winter are particularly poignant... He is an extraordinary naturalist and his tales are made all the more interesting by the presence of his constant companion, his experienced German shepherd dog Moobli'. Wildlife Detective, The blog of Alan Stewart -------------------- `...presents a truly remarkable picture of the whole cycle of nature around him... ...Impressively informed and informative, "A Last Wild Place" is a simply fascinating and engaging read from cover to cover and an enduring testimonial to a life time of observation and study of the natural world. Midwest Book Review
£17.09
Whittles Publishing Life in Lethinnis: A croft in the Highlands
Book SynopsisAfter 20 years working as a professional biologist, the author decided to 'retire' to the Highlands, moving with his wife to a croft at the edge of a small and somewhat inaccessible village on the west coast. This was no romantic and idealistic aspiration for the Good Life, nor really an attempt to 'get away from it all'; rather a growing disaffection with living in the overpopulated south of England and a desire to return to his Scottish roots. Moving was like stepping back 50 years in time: most of the other residents of this tiny hamlet had been born and bred there, the majority were Gaelic-speaking and, with few of the conventional 'services', there was a strong sense of community that had been missed. This engaging story gives a collection of cameos from those first few years as they moved into and settled in their remote smallholding. It is developed as a series of short 'anecdotes' about life in this isolated west-coast Scottish community. Actual anecdotes are interwoven with snippets of natural history observation related to various topical wildlife issues. In the tradition of Lillian Beckwith's The Hills is Lonely, the stories revolve around the strong characters who made up this isolated community and became part of their everyday life. All the people and events described in this book are real, although places and names may have been changed. Enough clues remain that professional biologists or those with a keen interest in natural history will readily identify the peninsula. It is a joy to read and reveals Highland life with all its humour and character. Beautifullly illustrated by wildlife artist Catherine Putman.
£16.14
Field Studies Council Rocky Shore Name Trail Chart
Book Synopsis
£9.37
Canterbury Press Norwich A Year at Bottengoms Farm
Book SynopsisFeatures a collection of sixty "Word From Wormingford" columns from the back page of the "Church Times", published in the autumn of 2006. This work presents mini essays that reflect the natural landscape, the changing seasons, village life, art, poetry, the stories that ancient churches tell.
£13.24
Mereo Books Countryman: Tales from Field, Marsh and Woodland
Book Synopsis
£9.02
Green Books Field Days: An Anthology of Poetry
Book Synopsis
£8.50
