OT:Land Lines — finding UK's favourite nature book

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tjj T
tjj Nov 3, 2017 23:41:21
Replying to thelonious

thelonious wrote:
It will be interesting to see what makes the list.

I do get a litle bewildered by the array of nature books in the bookshop nowadays. Any recommendations by folk on here would be most welcome :-)

I hoped someone like Moss might have had a suggestion or two as I'm no expert - though have read a few nature books over the past decade or so. I particularly like the ones that include my other great love which is walking - how better to observe nature than to walk in it. Anything by Robert Macfarlane. Also, just off the top of my head - Patrick Barkham, Roger Deakin, Edward Thomas, Richard Jefferies.
Very much enjoyed Fingers in the Sparkle Jar Chris Packham's own quirky autobiography.

Edit: Mustn't forget The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd.

M moss
moss Nov 4, 2017 07:25:13
Replying to tjj

Well the book I am about to reread is 'The Plot - A Biography of an English Acre' by Madeline Bunting, basically because it is about my part of the world, North Yorkshire, and it tackles a lot of history. She has also written I see, 'Love of Country - A Hebridean Journey' which looks good as I have become fascinated by all those islands.
Latest book through the post, was Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris's 'Lost Words. Very sumptuous it picks out the words that the Oxford Children's Dictionary left out in lieu of the wretched technical terms we use today. It is for children? no it is for everyone. Anyone who follows Macfarlane on Twitter will know of his hunting out original words.... so a Macfarlane poem, to be spoken aloud ;) Wren

When wren whirrs from stone to furze the world around
her slows, for wren is quick, so quick she blurs the air
through which she flows, yes -

Rapid wren is needle, rapid wren is pin - and wren's song
is sharp-song, briar-song, thorn-song, and wren's flight
is dart-flight, flick fight, light-flight, yes -

Each wren etches. stitches, switches, glitches, yes -

Now you think you see wren, now you know you don't.

Reading online about stones I find there are many good blogs around to take you on the journey.