This friendly, practical guide includes everything you need to know to pick up a spade, put in a pond and help wildlife flourish right outside your back door. Ponds are vital oases for nature. They are nursery grounds, feeding stops and bathing spots. They are genetic superhighways and vibrant ecosystems each brimming with life, interactions and potential. And they are for everyone. In The Wildlife Pond Book, Jules Howard offers a fresh perspective on ponds and encourages gardeners to reach for a garden spade and do something positive to benefit our shared neighbourhood nature. As well as offering practical tips and advice on designing, planting up and maintaining your pond, Jules encourages readers to explore the wildlife that colonises it with a torch, a microscope or a good old-fashioned pond-dipping net. With a foreword by award-winning wildlife-gardening author, Kate Bradbury, this helpful new guide includes a section outlining the hundreds of organisms that may turn up in your pond and is packed with creative ideas that have been tried and tested by author Jules Howard, an avid pond-builder, prolific pond-dipper and passionate voice for freshwater conservation for more than fifteen years. So, no matter how big your outdoor space is, The Wildlife Pond Book is the guide you need to create your very own haven for nature.

Millions of people are interested in natural and holistic health, yet many are missing out on the key ingredient: Nature itself! Rekindle your connection with the earth as you craft your own herbal medicine with 75 delicious recipes and powerful healing remedies. Herbalists Rosalee de la Foret and Emily Han expertly guide you through the benefits of two dozen of the most important and commonly found wild plants-many of which you can easily grow in your own garden, if foraging isn't right for you. Detailed illustrations and beautiful photography ensure that you won't make a plant-identification misstep as you learn how to tend and properly harvest the plant medicine growing right in your own neighborhood. After reading Wild Remedies, you'll never look at your backyard, a public park, or any green space in the same way again. Instead of "weeds," you'll see delicious foods like Dandelion Maple Syrup Cake, Nettle Frittata, and Chickweed Pesto. You will revel in nature's pharmacy as you make herbal oils, salves, teas, and many more powerful remedies in your own kitchen.

Take a walk in the woods with Mike Krebill. When Mike tells you a story about his experiences with a wild plant or mushroom, you're getting far more than guidebook data - you're getting a lifetime's worth of keen observing, experimenting and, sometimes, close calls. Mike is one of America's most acclaimed foragers and wild food educators, a living encyclopedia of all things wild and edible. A Forager's Life is about a life spent in nature and in the classroom - from the thousands of wild edible forays with adults and young people, to the legendary Euell Gibbons and the first Earth Day, to the rise of today's great foraging wave, a wave that is bringing city folks and country folks together in search of that most basic of life's pleasures: wild foods. It's about waking up to the natural world, with the nurturing help of great mentors along the way. At its heart, it's the story of a natural-born teacher who never stopped being a curious little boy, and who knows how to appeal to the curious kid in all of us. That's what earned him multiple awards during his long career as a middle-school science teacher, environmental educator and naturalist. Are there recipes? Yes, lots of them, all kid-tested and kid-approved. You might like to try the Queen Anne's Lace pancakes, for starters.

In 2003 a MORI poll for the Royal Horticultural Society revealed that an extraordinary number of us are interested in attracting wildlife into our gardens. It also indicated, however, that many of us have no idea how to go about it. Information is sparse, and public opinion seems to suggest that gardens that are plentiful in wildlife are unattractive, expensive to upkeep and hard work to maintain. But this couldn't be further from the truth. In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson explains that encouraging wildlife is actually entirely compatible with ordinary gardening, costs next to nothing and is almost completely effortless. Packed with helpful hints and tips, the book shows us how easy it is to fill our gardens with everything from foxes, frogs and mice to butterflies, ladybirds and literally thousands of fascinating creepy-crawlies. Why should we? Because we'll be promoting the biodiversity of the UK, we'll be reconnecting with nature, getting more from our gardens, and we'll be doing our plants a favour.

Garden Wildlife is a book that looks at the habitats in our gardens from the point of view of wild animal and plants. If we understand our gardens in this way, then we can appreciate that different parts of our gardens essentially mimic wild habitats in microcosm. This means that we can provide places for wild animals and plants to flourish in our gardens, whether they happen to be in rural, suburban or urban settings. Above all, we need to get away from the current obsession with tidiness and sterility in our gardens, and allow odd corners to go wild, so that our native species can live alongside us in the modern world. Without wildlife to discover and observe in our gardens, our lives are impoverished, so we have a duty to ourselves and our children to invite nature back into our outside spaces.

Gardens take many forms, and have a variety of functions. They can serve as spaces of peace and tranquilty, a way to cultivate wildlife, or as places to develop agricultural resources. Globally, gardens have inspired, comforted, and sustained people from all walks of life, and since the Garden of Eden many iconic gardens have inspired great artists, poets, musicians, and writers. In this Very Short Introduction, Gordon Campbell embraces gardens in all their splendour, from parks, and fruit and vegetable gardens to ornamental gardens, and takes the reader on a globe-trotting historical journey through iconic and cultural signposts of gardens from different regions and traditions. Ranging from the gardens of ancient Persia to modern day allotments, he concludes by looking to the future of the garden in the age of global warming, and the adaptive spirit of human innovation. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Sarah Glover loves to cook, whether it's on the edge of a windswept cliff, in a clearing in the forest, or on a sandy stretch of beach. Although she's made a career as a chef in Australia and New York City, her heart lives outdoors. Filled with gorgeous photographs from the shores of Tasmania and beaches of Sydney to the mountains of Australia's east coast, this cookbook shares her recipes and secrets to inspire others to cook and eat outside. She offers tips for preparing food over an open flame as well as a list of basic outdoor cooking equipment. Anyone who thinks camping food begins and ends with coffee and toasted marshmallows will be surprised to discover how easy it is to create a stunning four-course meal with a few pots and one fire. From solid staples like tender roast chicken and potatoes to dinner-party-worthy kumquat bellinis and quail with truffles, Glover sets the stage for any kind of outdoor experience. Her recipes are simple and straightforward-often involving only a handful of ingredients-and her instructions are breezy and clear. Whether it's a quiet retreat in nature or a dawn-to-dusk beach party, Sarah Glover has a menu that will satisfy your hunger for fresh, modern food eaten in the great outdoors.

Designing, creating, and maintaining a beautiful garden doesn't need to be time-consuming! Ideal for first time gardeners, Grow Low Maintenance contains everything you need to create a low-fuss garden without compromising on design or beauty. Short on time and want to keep things simple? This gardening book is full of low maintenance plants and techniques, featuring tips and tricks to keep your backyard in top shape with minimal effort! Inside the guide, you will find: -Mini-profiles of easy-care plants including pictures, characteristics, and essential needs -Simple tips and techniques, from choosing a weed control to sowing seeds and planting between paving stones -Essential know-how for minimising maintenance tasks including weeding, watering, and feeding Enjoy the fruits of your gardening! The perfect reference book for beginners or more experienced gardeners looking for easy management hacks, this simple guide debunks the myth that gardening requires hours of hardwork every week. Learn from the experts how to minimise watering, make the most of vertical gardening, and reduce the need to weed. Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use reference book includes everything from herb gardening to micro-woodlands and low maintenance water features. Short on space? This gardening guide will teach you which crops are suitable for small easy-care veg beds. Looking to attract animals to your garden? Find instructions on creating your own wildlife pond. Don't have access to a lawn mower? Now you can transform your lawn into a perennial meadow! Complete the Series: For more expert advice from DK, the UK's leading practical gardening publisher, discover the Grow series. There you will find know-how about how to garden more sustainably in Grow Eco-Gardening, how to fend off unwanted visitors in Grow Pests & Diseases, how to grow with limited space in Grow Containers, and much more!

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!

Forage is a beautifully illustrated celebration of edible plants that can be found throughout the world. Anybody can enjoy the increasingly popular back-to-nature activity of foraging. In some countries these plants are now forgotten as food, but in others they are still celebrated for their value as nutritious, delicious ingredients and cooking with wild plants is increasingly being adopted by mainstream restaurants. Journeying through 50 globally populated edible plants, Forage explores the culture and history of our wild food. Stunning botanical illustrations by artist Rachel Pedder-Smith accompany each plant, alongside recipes inspired by the regions of the world where they are most celebrated.

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.

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