The Observant Walker
Wild Food, Nature and Hidden Treasures on the Pathways of Britain
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
'Blissfully funny, staggeringly informative, a joyful companion' Caroline Quentin
'Tells the endlessly fascinating tale of Britain's natural history in a way that makes every delicate detail sparkle with life' Charlie Corbett, author of 12 Birds to Save Your Life
When we go for a walk, whether in the countryside or city, we pass through landscapes full of natural beauty and curiosities both visible and invisible - but though we might admire the view, or wonder idly about the name of a flower, we rarely have the knowledge to fully engage with what we see. When we do, our sense of place is expanded, our understanding deepened and we can discover richness in even the most everyday stroll.
John Wright has been leading forays around Britain for decades. As an expert forager, he shows people how to identify the edible species that abound - but he also reveals the natural history, stories and science behind our surroundings. Here, he takes us with him on eight walks: from verdant forests to wild coastlines, via city pavements, fields and rolling hills, he illuminates what can be found on a walk across any British terrain, and how you might observe and truly understand them, for yourself.
Warm, wise and endlessly informative, with helpful illustrations and suggested routes, this book will help you to see the world around you with new eyes: no walk will be the same again.
Tools to learn more effectively
Saving Books
Keyword Search
Annotating Text
Listen to it instead
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- Hayling Island, Hampshire: Pebble beaches, sandy shores and dunes, acid grassland and estuary
- Fulham to Marble Arch: Urban streets and parks
- The Drift, West Dorset: Ancient hedgerow, chalk downland and water meadow
- Hook to Farnham: Arable and pastoral, hedgerows, woodland and chalk stream
- Tryfan: Mountainside and wet uplands
- Cheviot Hills: Upland grass, coniferous plantation
- Seil: Atlantic hazel rainforest
- The New Forest: Lowland deciduous woodland and coniferous plantation, acid grassland, mire and heath
- Acknowledgements
- Further Reading
- Index
- Plates Section