“With the promise of Spring around the corner and warmer weather to enjoy I thought some natural history choices would be a good idea to tempt you outdoors.” – Wayne
The Countryman by Johnny Scott £16.99
There is something for everyone in The Countryman. Whether you are a country dweller, an urban nature lover, an amateur historian, or a budding naturalist, the variety of subjects covered is a real treasure trove. From the toad to the bumblebee, the cuckoo to the pheasant, the attractions of the nightjar, the development of sheep breeds or the value of the cottager’s pig – these are just some of the characters of the natural world as described by Johnny Scott.
What are the origins of Oak Apple Day, and when and where is it still celebrated? What do you know about Morecambe Bay shrimps or gulls’ eggs – how do they make the journey from harvest to plate? What is a hag stone and what is its connection to a horse brass? Do you know what marl is and where would you find it?
Answers to these questions and so many others are to be found within these pages. The author’s acute powers of observation and fluent style enable him to convey his lifelong experiences and knowledge of the
natural world in an informative but accessible way. His understanding of the origins of country customs and celebratory festivals is extensive, and his affection for them and all that the countryside has to offer shines through. Be prepared to be enlightened, amazed or amused – or probably all three!
Wild Green Wonders by Patrick Barkham £14.99
Wild Green Wonders brings you a selection of twenty years’ worth of Patrick Barkham’s writings for the Guardian, bearing witness to the many changes we have imposed upon the planet and the challenges lying ahead for the future of nature. From Norwegian wolves to protests against the HS2 railway, peregrine falcons nesting by the Thames to Britain’s last lion tamer, Barkham paints an ever-changing portrait of contemporary wildlife.
This collection also presents thought-provoking interviews with conservationists, scientists, activists and writers such as Rosamund Young, Ronald Blythe and other eco-luminaries, including Sir David Attenborough and Brian May. ‘Siding with the planet is siding with the underdog, and this has motivated much of my journalism’, Barkham writes. Wild Green Wonders is his chronicle.
In 2022 Winstone’s celebrates 10 years as Sherborne’s Independent Bookseller.
Winstone’s has won the ‘British Book Awards South West Bookseller of the Year’ four times and was winner of the ‘Independent Bookseller of the Year’ national award in 2016. Owner Wayne Winstone was previously one of the three judges for the Costa Prize for Fiction. This year Wayne was selected as one of the top 100 people in the Book Trade’s Most Influential Figures listing.
