BOOK includes Wiltshire's chalk downland: Where the Wild Flowers Grow - my Botanical Journey through Britain and Ireland
BOOK
Where the Wild Flowers Grow -
my Botanical Journey through Britain and Ireland
by Leif Bersweden
From The Wiltshire Botanical Society :-
Wiltshire Botanical Society alumnus Leif has a new book!
Leif’s lifelong interest in nature began as a child in Wiltshire where he he taught himself to identify the local flora. At 14 he became the youngest member of the Wiltshire Botanical Society, going on later to study plant science and most recently completing a genetics PhD at Kew Gardens.
In this, his second book, Leif brings his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for wildflowers to the page. Over the course of 2021 he journeyed around Britain and Ireland, botanising through the seasons, from Cornish coastal roads to Caledonian pine forests and of course back to Wiltshire's very own chalk downland.
Readers will learn from Leif’s expert knowledge, but also of the value of spending time in green spaces. As an accessible and mindful activity with no cost or time-specific requirements, botanising can benefit us on a large scale and small, from improving wellbeing to protecting the planet long-term. There are few parts of the natural world that are as essential to our lives as plants. Wildflowers are everywhere we go, even in the heart of cities. Botanical diversity is a barometer for the state of our ecosystems and historically plants have been used in all aspects of our lives.
“A meditative, descriptive, easy-to-read book that’s perfect for plant lovers.”
- Irish Examiner
"Author
Leif Bersweden takes us along on his 2021 journey around Britain and
Ireland, mainly by bike, in search of plants with stories to tell. Along
the way he meets botanists and plant enthusiasts who share their
favourite places and species. From cliff top vegetation on Cornwall’s
Lizard peninsula to ancient pine forests in the Cairngorms in Scotland,
there are fascinating things to learn and appreciate about species both
rare and common. Tales of seeking, and often finding, notable plants are
intertwined with fascinating detail and history of the places they are
found. With unassuming enthusiasm, Leif succeeds in making wildflowers
accessible and relevant. It’s an inspiring and captivating read.”
- Plant Life Magazine
"I read this lovely book cover to cover and drank in every word.
Highly recommended for all plant enthusiasts."
- Botanical Society's Website Editor
The book is a journey around the UK and Ireland, spotlighting in each area the unique plants that grow there, describing their history and the threats that face them, from the Cornish coast to the pine forests of Scotland. Along the way, the author highlights the joy and positivity that can be found through understanding nature and why it is so desperately important to protect our wildflowers.
informationabout the natural world and the threats it faces.'
- Mail on Sunday
'This bicycle Odyssey of Britain and Ireland's wild flora is joyous,
inspirational and beautifully observed.'
- Peter Marren, author of After They've Gone
'The Wildflowers of Britain have a new champion.'
Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell
'A heart-warming, fascination-inducing read from start to finish.'
- Lucy Lapwing
'An extraordinary book... captivating in its joy for the natural world.'
- Isabel Hardman, columnist and author of The Natural Health Service