The Natural History Of Selborne by Revd Gilbert White
Never out of print since 1789, The Natural History of Selborne by Revd Gilbert White, a birdwatching pioneer, is a collection of letters and observations documenting the flora, fauna and rural life of the Hampshire village of Selborne in the 18th century. It combines scientific curiosity with poetic reflection and surely laid the groundwork for the nature writing we love today.
Wintering by Katherine May
Wintering by Katherine May, a contemplative blend of memoir, mythology and nature writing, offers a gentle guide to embracing rest, increasing resilience and bringing about renewal.
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare is an exploration of motherhood, identity and connection to the natural world. A tender read, it weaves personal experience (and friendship with a wild hare) through the rhythms of the land and life.
Running For The Hills by Horatio Clare
In Running for the Hills, Horatio Clare recalls the years he spent as a child growing up on a Welsh farm. This captivating memoir ponders beauty, hardship, family and freedom.
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
When Amy Liptrot’s life in London spiralled out of control, she returned to Orkney and found herself rebuilding her life amid the wild and windswept landscapes, birds and beaches of her youth. The Outrun is her lyrical account of addiction and healing. Saoirse Ronan stars in the unmissable movie adaptation.
English Pastoral: An Inheritance by James Rebanks
English Pastoral by James Rebanks is the deeply personal tale of three generations of farmers in the Lake District. It explores how modern industrial agriculture has damaged the land and traditional ways of life and offers a hopeful vision for a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature in the future.
H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is a powerful memoir that intertwines the author’s grief over her father’s sudden death with her journey training a Eurasian goshawk. A charming reflection on loss and the natural world, it won several prizes on publication and is to be made into a film this year.
Wilding by Isabella Tree
In this utterly absorbing book, Isabella Tree recounts the transformation of her husband’s family’s 3,500-acre estate in West Sussex – from intensive farming to a major rewilding project that allowed nature to reclaim the land. Many others have followed Tree in the 25 years since she embarked on the journey at Knepp.
