'An extraordinary and powerful book, full of vitality. Every page celebrates the way traditional skills can shape who we are' Tristan Gooley 'Lyrical, moving and never self-pitying . . . a lovely book' The Times Ben Short has a successful career in advertising, a flat in a trendy part of London, a flashy motorbike. But after years of suffering with anxiety, he's a wreck. A drastic change is needed. For a time, he finds solace working with a forester, then as an apprentice to a Gypsy woodman, setting up home in a dilapidated wagon with just a rescue dog for company. However, it is not until he feels the call of the furnace, a glowing charcoal kiln in the Dorset woods, that he can truly re-forge his thoughts, put the years of suffering behind him, and start afresh by immersing himself in the old ways of woods and fire. Exquisitely written and deeply honest, Burn is a hopeful story of transformation, a celebration of manual work and craft, and a love letter to the English countryside. 'Beautifully written . . . reading it leaves you feeling ruffled but alive' Mail on Sunday

Birds are a delight in the garden, not only for their beauty and birdsong, but also because they eat many harmful garden pests. This book contains a wealth of feeding ideas for backyard birds, from seeds, grains and peanuts to fruits, suet cakes and fat balls, and suggestions for the best flowers, shrubs, hedges and trees to plant to encourage birds into the garden. There are step-by-step projects for tables, nest boxes, birdbaths and birdhouses that will enhance and decorate your garden, and the book also features illustrated directories of the most common garden birds in the UK and in the USA, from woodland and countryside locations to town and city environments, with information about identification, distribution, habitat and feeding habits. With its helpful practical advice and superb photographs and illustrations, this is the ideal source book for all wildlife enthusiasts Learn what to feed garden birds, from seeds, grains and peanuts to fruits, suet cakes and fat balls, as well as how to attract birds by planting the right flower borders, trees and shrubs, and by making wildlife hedges and ponds * Features practical step-by-step projects for making your own feeders, tables, birdbaths and nest boxes, from simple designs to highly ornamental creations * Includes a visual directory of all the most common garden bird species, with natural history information on distribution, size, nesting, eggs and feeding habits * Explains how birds live - from flying and feeding to egg-laying and migrating - with a guide to birdwatching in urban, country, woodland and aquatic locations * With over 760 beautiful photographs and illustrations.

The Little Book of Wild Gardening is a guide for anyone wanting to garden in a more sustainable, natural way. Working with nature benefits not just the garden, but also the gardener, wildlife and the wider environment. Divided into sections for different garden areas - including lawns, flower beds, edibles, trees and water features - The Little Book of Wild Gardening details how to embrace a natural approach to gardening for plots large and small. Introductory chapters explain how garden ecosystems can work, and how a healthy garden can mean savings in both work and resources for the gardener. There are plant profiles providing a variety of choices for a wilder approach, plus design tips and expertise in sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardening. From a sustainable veg patch to wildflower meadows, and from bat boxes to gravel gardens, the book includes projects and plants in a range of sizes and timescales so gardeners can create a bountiful and enjoyable haven that will benefit themselves, their local area, and all kinds of wildlife.

'A beautifully photographed guide for gardeners' - Daily Telegraph 'Nick offers solutions for every season' - Country Living 'A thought-provoking and beautifully written book' - Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener, Great Dixter In 365 Days of Colour in Your Garden BBC Gardeners' World presenter Nick Bailey shows you how to plant and manage your garden, whatever its size, to ensure year-round colour and interest. Initially explaining simple colour theory principles and how to apply them to your garden, the book goes on to highlight beautiful plants and planting combinations for every season no matter what type of garden you have. With chapters covering the longest flowering plants, pot recipes and gorgeous plants for difficult sites, along with a comprehensive seasonal directory, this book will inspire and delight both experienced gardeners and beginners alike.

This title is ideal for people who wish to attract birds to their gardens, whether to aid the bird population or purely for pleasure. The reference tables throughout identify the food and plants that attract specific birds. It is from UK authors who have a long-shared interest in wildlife, conservation and ecology. The most regular contact many people have with wildlife is the pleasure of watching birds in the garden. Readers can increase the attraction of their garden for birds by supplementing the food, shelter, roosting and nesting sites that are available. Hazel and Pamela Johnson show the most effective means of ensuring that birds will flourish and also detail the principles of sympathetic gardening, discussing how best to enhance local habitats, whether in cities, suburbs, a village or rural setting. Even patios and balconies can be attractive and useful to birds and the authors share their experience of this, devoting a chapter to the particular concerns of small gardens. They also cover: constructing, siting and maintaining ponds; cultivating annuals, biennials, perennials and aquatic plants; organic gardening and conservation issues; avoiding potential hazards; and, breeding and feeding habits.

Plan Your Landscape or Garden to Help Beloved Backyard Visitors The presence of birds, bees, and butterflies suggests a healthy, earth-friendly place. These most welcome guests also bring joy to those who appreciate watching them. Now, you can turn your yard into a perfect habitat that attracts them and, more importantly, helps them thrive. Professional nature photographer and botanist George Oxford Miller provides all the information you need in this must-have guide for Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, west Texas, and Utah. Learn how to landscape and create pollinator gardens with native plants, including succulents. The book begins with an in-depth introduction to native pollinators and to birds. It's followed by a "field guide" section to more than 100 native plants that are widely available to utilize, are easy to care for, and provide great benefit to birds, bees, and butterflies. The species are organized by level of sunlight needed and then by plant types. Each species includes full-color photographs and information about hardiness zones, what they are most likely to attract, soil requirements, light levels, and George's notes. As an added bonus, you'll make use of blooming charts, tips on attracting specific species, and more! Plus, the invaluable garden plans and projects show you just what to do and can be customized to suit your own specific interests. Plan, plant, and grow your beautiful garden, with native plants that benefit your favorite creatures to watch and enjoy.

Britain's gardens are a vast, living landscape and the home to hundreds of species of birds. Learn to pay attention to these visitors to your own garden or local park and you'll have a front-row seat to the unfolding drama that is the garden bird's year. As dawn breaks across your back garden, if you were paying attention, you would notice that the robin and the blackbird are always the first birds to arrive. These ground hunters have large eyes, so don't mind the dim light of the early morning. And that's just the beginning of what you can learn watching your own back garden. Ornithologist Mike Toms has spent a year avidly observing his own garden, and the result is a comprehensive picture of the lives of garden birds. From the crowded yet quiet January garden populated by migratory fieldfares and bramblings, to the riotous gardens of spring, filled with songbirds competing for mates, the garden ecosystem changes throughout the year. Learn to spot these changes, to greet the arrival of the swifts in May and the new crop of fledgling goldfinches and blackbirds in June, and you'll find a new world opening up to you. A Garden Bird's Year is the perfect introduction to this world. Supremely readable, it explains biology and behaviour to paint a picture of the lives of common bird species, while also offering practical information for watching and feeding the birds in your own backyard. Toms details birds' preferences for particular plants, seeds and feeders, so you can learn to attract different species to your own garden. He also charts fascinating recent adaptations - urban birds sleep later than their rural counterparts, probably because cities are on average a few degrees warmer, and they sing either earlier or later, to avoid competing with local traffic; and the balance of migratory birds to Britain is being affected by the world's changing climate. Many species of garden birds are threatened, but there is much that each one of us can do to support them, to attract them, and to help them thrive through the year.

One tree, in one garden. Can it really make a difference? In RHS The Tree in My Garden, award-winning wildlife author Kate Bradbury reveals the amazing effect planting a single tree in your garden can have - and dares to imagine what would happen if every gardener up and down the country did the same. Combining practical gardening advice, eye-opening scientific research, reflections on the cultural importance of different species, and evocative accounts of how vital trees are for countless different forms of wildlife, this book will leave you in no doubt that every garden needs a tree! This terrific tree book features a directory of 50 key species, each one beautifully illustrated by Lucille Clerc and packed with information about each tree's appearance, care needs, and the wildlife it supports - to help you choose the best tree for your own garden, or learn more about the trees you may already have. Dive into the pages of this tree identification book to discover: - 50 illustrated profiles of a wide range of trees suitable for different gardens and preferences - Eye-opening accounts of the importance of trees for our planet, our wildlife, and ourselves - Essential practical information to help readers choose, plant, prune, and care for their tree - Ideas for making your own leaf mould and ways to get involved in community planting projects - Stunning illustrations by Lucille Clerc that convey the beauty and the mystery of trees This book is perfect for anyone wanting to attract more wildlife to their garden! So whether you're an environmentalist intent on reducing your carbon footprint, a budding gardener looking to choose the best tree for your outdoor space or you're simply seeking a guide about the natural history of the trees in your garden, RHS The Tree In My Garden is something the whole family can explore, discover and love. No garden should be without a tree. Plant one, watch it grow - and become part of something bigger!

There are many examples of British wildflowers that we routinely use in our gardens and still more that could be used if we knew just a little more about them. Divided according to their natural habitats, the book features almost 200 different wild plants and photographs of each. Each habitat is introduced with practical information and tips, along with inspirational planting plans that show you how to combine plants creatively for maximum effect. All the essential facts, such as height, habitat, care and propagation are provided, to enable you to site plants successfully.

The threat of global mass extinction of bees, and the alarming decline in many native bird species, are key topics of discussion today. The main causes of this situation is intensive cultivation of monocultures, and the wide-scale use of pesticides, that in turn lead to destruction of traditional habitats and the various food sources they provide. We know that if just one species in a food chain is lost - and thus no longer able to perform its particular function - this will inevitably lead to the extinction of further species, and a reduction in the stability and productivity of the entire ecosystem. The preservation of biological diversity is guaranteed only if pollinators are able to survive - and each of us can contribute to supporting and strengthening them by creating a natural garden that welcomes and sustains these species, providing what they need to flourish. The spirit and magic of a natural garden stems from the fact that it is not created by human hands - at least not in the usual sense, with a great deal of effort and expenditure. A natural garden is about creating an ecologically balanced slice of nature - one that is not shaped by external forces, but works with what is already there. Turn your garden into a wildlife wonderland - and help to save the environment!

Create a flourishing wildlife haven for your local wild birds! What if we told you that you can make a difference to your local birdlife from the comfort of your own home? You can help to reverse the decline in bird numbers by creating a haven in which they will thrive! It's a win-win! No need to be an expert gardener already, or even to break the bank! Many of the most beneficial features can be installed easily and cheaply, and many you can build yourself or upcycle to be eco-friendly. So what are you waiting for? Dive straight in to discover: -Stunning full-colour illustrations and photographs of over 50 local bird species -Practical advice on choosing and installing bird feeders, baths, ponds and boxes -Budget-conscious tips to make a difference to local birdlife This all-encompassing bird book shows you exactly how to optimise our outdoor space for birds, providing the food and nesting spaces they need to survive. Discover the best plants to grow food and shelter, which bird feeders, feed and nest boxes to buy and how to make them all predator-proof, as well as how to encourage diversity in an eco-friendly manner whilst protecting a broad range of bird species. Provide the best shelter, feeding and nesting opportunities for them and readers can reap the rewards as they sing and entertain! In fact, recent studies suggest people who can hear birdsong from their homes are proven to have better mental health than those who can't. 82% of gardeners in the UK wish to attract more wildlife to their gardens, so why not join the journey today and encourage a flurry of feathered friends to your garden! From Jays to Jackdaws, Swallows to Sparrowhawks, you can see them all with the top tips and tricks featured in this all-encompassing british bird book. The ideal bird-watcher gift for those looking to encourage their local wildlife and discover top tips on how to attract birds to their gardens. So whether you're a keen gardener looking for a new project, or you're simply looking to be kind to the environment by encouraging local diversity, this brilliant bird spotting book is calling your name!

Wracked by guilt for breaking a childhood bond with her naturalist father and fearful for the future of the planet in light of the catastrophic impact of climate change, Annabel sets out on a personal journey of redemption. She seeks to reconnect with nature and wildlife in the one place she knows she can make a real difference - her own, barren, neglected garden. Guided by her eccentric, octogenarian neighbour, and with the ghost of her late father never far from her thoughts, Annabel begins to rediscover the therapeutic art of wildlife gardening. Her moving and often very funny green odyssey travels from an idyllic nature-filled childhood of hay meadows, hedgehogs and waxwings in the 1970s to the present day where biodiversity loss is reaching crisis point. The Guilty Gardener neatly blends quirky memoir with pertinent observation of our natural world while showcasing the key to successful wildlife gardening. Illustrated with exquisite line drawings, it reminds us of the simple necessity and beauty of nature and how rewilding can restore love, hope, even life itself. "This book is a lovely demonstration of the importance of gardening for wildlife and enjoying all the benefits this brings, both for our natural world and also for our own wellbeing." Estelle Bailey, CEO, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

This title shows you how to attract bees, butterflies, insects, birds, frogs and animals into your backyard. It features practical instructions for designing and planting beautiful gardens that welcome wildlife. It includes wild flower meadows, ponds, hedges, trees, shrubs, woodland edges, climbing plants, flower borders, herb and vegetable gardens, roof gardens and patios. It offers ideas for feeding and sheltering wildlife, such as bird feeders, log piles, toad houses, bee nesting boxes, butterfly roosting houses, bird boxes and hibernation sites. In this book, award-winning garden writers Christine and Michael Lavelle give expert advice on how to help native insects, birds and animals, with the aim of creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard. All the major habitats are covered, from grasslands and hedges to ponds and kitchen gardens, with ideas for the best types of plants to encourage wildlife. There are instructions for how to make bird feeders, bee boxes, log piles, nesting boxes, hibernation sites and more. With its wealth of hands-on practical advice, 40 step-by-step projects and over 570 inspirational photographs, this is the ideal book for gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts everywhere.

Revitalise your recipes with the joys and satisfaction of foraged ingredients from your garden and beyond. In high-end restaurants and in the home, more and more cooks have unearthed the pleasures of using natural, foraged ingredients. But, what few realise is that you don't necessarily have to go rootling in hedgerows or woodlands to find them. Many of our own gardens contain an abundance of edible and medicinal plants, grown mainly for their ornamental appearance. Most gardeners are completely unaware that what they have actually planted is a rather exotic kitchen garden. The Garden Forager explores over 40 of the most popular garden plants that have edible, medicinal or even cosmetic potential, accompanied by recipes, remedies, and interesting facts, and illustrated throughout in exquisite watercolours by Lizzie Harper. This beautifully illustrated book redefines how we look at our gardens and unleashes the unknown potential of everyday plants - making it a must-have for anyone interested in gardening, cooking, or foraging. 'jammed full of fascinating garden lore, culinary history and clever recipes' Susan Low, Delicious

An indispensable and lavishly illustrated guide to creating a garden that attracts and sustains butterflies Butterfly gardening creates habitats that support butterflies, connecting us with some of the most beautiful creatures in the natural world and bringing new levels of excitement and joy to gardening. In this engaging and accessible guide, lavishly illustrated with more than two hundred color photographs and maps, accomplished butterfly gardener Jane Hurwitz presents essential information on how to choose and cultivate plants that will attract a range of butterflies to your garden and help sustain all the stages of their life cycles. An indispensable resource for aspiring and experienced butterfly gardeners alike, Butterfly Gardening is the most gardener-friendly source on the subject, covering all the practical details needed to create a vibrant garden habitat that fosters butterflies. It tells you which plants support which butterflies, depending on where you live; it describes what different butterflies require in the garden over the course of their lives; and it shows you how to become a butterfly watcher as well as a butterfly gardener. While predominantly recommending regionally native plants, the book includes information on non-native plants. It also features informative interviews with experienced butterfly gardeners from across the United States. These gardeners share a wealth of information on plants and practices to draw butterflies to all kinds of gardens--from small suburban gardens to community plots and larger expanses. Whether you are a gardener who wants to see more butterflies in your garden, a butterfly enthusiast who wants to bring that passion to the garden, or someone who simply wants to make their garden or yard friendlier to Monarchs or other butterflies, this is a must-have guide. An essential guide for aspiring and experienced butterfly gardeners Encourages readers to rethink gardening choices to support butterflies and other pollinators in their gardens and communities Introduces gardeners to butterfly watching Includes regional lists of plant species that are time-proven to help sustain butterflies and their caterpillars Features informative interviews with expert butterfly gardeners from across the United States

Written by a hard-working horticulturalist for fellow gardeners, the aim of this diary is to jog people's memories, share plant stories, demystify gardening and most importantly make the reader smile. You'll find a personal year-long diary of gardening along with favourite seasonal plants, timely reminders and entertaining tales of moving sheep, visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show and speaking at garden clubs. Tamsin's open garden is at the heart of a working farm, so her book reflects the twists and turns of the countryside. For anyone just about to embark on a life in the country, or whose town garden is never tidy and who wonders how the professionals do it, it's a must read. Pick up tips on how to keep warm whilst gardening, get rid of chilblains and grow seasonal food from someone who lives, breathes and eats country gardening.

Selected as a Book of the Year 2017 in You Magazine 'A lavish monthly guide to getting the most from your garden' Daily Mail A punnet of plums from your tree, a handful of gooseberries; home-grown nuts and herbs, and a few freshly laid eggs from your hens - all enjoyed in your own small plot. What could be more satisfying? The Garden Farmer is an evocative journal and monthly guide to getting the most out of your garden throughout the year. Whether you are a keen gardener looking for inspiration, or just starting out and wanting to rediscover and reclaim your patch of earth, Sunday Telegraph garden-columnist Francine Raymond lays the groundwork for a bountiful year of garden farming. Maybe you would like to get outside more, grow a few essential vegetables, some fruit trees or bushes for preserving, and create a scented kitchen garden to provide for you year round. Or perhaps you will raise a small flock of ducks or geese, or even a couple of pigs? Could this be the year you decorate your home with nature's adornments, encourage wildlife back to pollinate your trees and plants, and spend celebratory hours in a haven of your own creation? Each chapter of The Garden Farmer offers insight into the topics and projects you might be contemplating that month, along with planting notes and timely advice, and a recipe that honours the fruits of your labour. With just a little effort and planning, every garden can be tended in tune with nature, and every gardener can enjoy a host of seasonal delights from their own soil. Keep up-to-date with Francine's gardening adventures on her blog at kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk.

Stinging nettles are, for many of us, nothing more than persistent weeds with a painful sting. But apart from having an important role in the web of life, nettles are an incredibly useful plant to mankind. They have been put to myriad uses by our ancestors, and many of these are still valid today. Already stinging nettle products are growing in popularity in the field of alternative medicine, as their wide range of health benefits becomes better known. This unique book explores the diverse uses of this fascinating plant - in the garden and the kitchen, for their medical and fibrous properties and so on. It is packed with practical suggestions, as well as a guide to the botany of stinging nettles, and how to collect and store them. For example, you will discover how to use nettles to: make a liquid plant fertiliser brew an unusual beer make a dandruff treatment protect beehives flavour an omelette make friendship bracelets repel flies naturally make green or yellow fabric dyes keep yourself warm in the winter and much more ... The many health benefits of taking nettles in various forms include relief from: hay fever and other allergies; acne and other skin conditions; arthritis and rheumatism; asthma; stress; high blood pressure; depression; enlarged prostate gland. The book also features Digital Nettle Art