A Spotter’s Guide to Countryside Mysteries : From Piddocks and Lynchets to Witch’s Broom

BEST NATURE BOOKS OF 2021 – COUNTRYFILE’Highly readable … Apart from his ready knowledge of nature, [John Wright] has a sharp eye, a ready wit and a keen nose for a good story. Superb.’ Countryfile MagazineFrom the bestselling author of THE FORAGER’S CALENDAR – a beautifully illustrated, practical and entertaining guide that illuminates and explains those mysterious details of the countryside you’ve always wondered about.

Discover the mysteries of the countryside in all their pleasure, intrigue and beauty…

Ever wondered about the masses of twigs in bare-branched trees that look like abandoned nests?Seen fuzzy red balls on roses? A stranded pond on a hilltop? Or even considered the shaded ways we walk along?One of Britain’s best-known naturalists, John Wright here introduces us to the natural (and unnatural) mysteries of the countryside, giving us the tools to identify Witch’s Broom, Robin’s Pincushion, Dew ponds and Hollow Ways, and also their histories, how they come to be, and where to find them. From the enormous to the truly tiny he illuminates the oddities that pepper our countryside and the pleasure of spotting and understanding them. Beautifully illustrated, practical and entertaining, this is for anyone who has wondered what is that? or simply longs to get outside.