This book will first be available, only from the author, in late November as a limited edition, numbered, signed hardback with colour illustrations.
To be the first to know how to order your copy (or even copies) then sign up to my free newsletter in the box on the sidebar – or click here – and in the second half of November you’ll get all the information you need.
I’m rather proud of this book. It’s not perfect but I’m happy with the writing, delighted with Lucy Lapwing’s cover and illustrations, thrilled with Erica McAlister’s Foreword and relieved that it will be available soon – less than 12 months after the year-long bioblitz of my house and garden ended.
This is the story of 12 months of searching for life on my doorstep, or just over the doorstep. It wasn’t me on my own; I was lucky enough to entice local and not-so-local experts to visit my (our!) garden and tell me, and teach me, what species they were.
This is one of those ‘Big Year’ books, where someone (usually a man) tries to find as many species as possible in a defined area. The defined area is sometimes this planet, or this country, but this time it’s the tiny area of my house and garden.
How many species have you ever seen in your garden? How many do you think we found in mine (ours)? The answer to that question is in this book, but it’s also the story of a bird expert coming to terms with being a novice on almost every other taxonomic group. It was great fun, and it would be fun for you to try it too.
I think you’ll find this story amusing and informative.
This is an ideal (but not too pricey) Christmas present for gardeners, naturalists and birders who don’t yet know what they’re missing.