I admit to wanting to review this book mainly on the basis of the picture of the red squirrel on the front cover. Whilst I have many squirrels (many) in my garden, none of them are red and I would love to see one in reality one day. Page 200 gives a good list of places where they may be seen. Suitably happy at my quest for a red squirrel was answered, I moved on to look at the 99 other wildlife experiences covered. What a great list it is: from glow worms to beavers to Booming Bitterns and snowdrops. What I like very much about the book is that each listed experience comes with a rating of: family friendly, budget friendly, amateur friendly, best time of year and whether they have toilets or not. All very important criteria for a day out. So if you decide to go hunting Orcas it does warn you that you need to be patient and that you might be disappointed. I enjoyed this book, it has handy map to show you where things can be found. I was thinking this would be a great book to take with me.. Read more
The Blackberry Garden
I admit to wanting to review this book mainly on the basis of the picture of the red squirrel on the front cover. Whilst I have many squirrels (many) in my garden, none of them are red and I would love to see one in reality one day. Page 200 gives a good list of places where they may be seen. Suitably happy at my quest for a red squirrel was answered, I moved on to look at the 99 other wildlife experiences covered. What a great list it is: from glow worms to beavers to Booming Bitterns and snowdrops. What I like very much about the book is that each listed experience comes with a rating of: family friendly, budget friendly, amateur friendly, best time of year and whether they have toilets or not. All very important criteria for a day out. So if you decide to go hunting Orcas it does warn you that you need to be patient and that you might be disappointed. I enjoyed this book, it has handy map to show you where things can be found. I was thinking this would be a great book to take with me.. Read more
The Blackberry Garden
Author interviewed by
Talk Radio Europe, 6th March 2019
Author interviewed by
Talk Radio Europe, 6th March 2019
As seen in
Horticulture Week, July 2018
As seen in
Horticulture Week, July 2018
This beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey with the author as she travels around the UK in search of native wildlife. The enthusiasm of Isla Hodgson seeps through the pages and you feel like you should hold your breath so you don't accidentally disturb the otters or the hen harriers which are amongst the animals she discusses in this book. There is a distinct 'Scottishness' to the narrative and none more so when discussing the 'coos' on Canna. This book is not a gazetteer as such but does contain a range of places you might visit to get closer to wildlife in a variety of habitat types, I think the sections on coasts are the standout ones - you can hear the raucous birds that live there and duck as the bonxies swoop down on us. There are a mixture of sites I had previously heard of alongside others that I might just have to look into. The book finishes with advice and guidance for seeing wildlife with some do's and don'ts as well as some ways to get involved yourself... Read more
NetGalley, reviewed by Peter Burnett
This beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey with the author as she travels around the UK in search of native wildlife. The enthusiasm of Isla Hodgson seeps through the pages and you feel like you should hold your breath so you don't accidentally disturb the otters or the hen harriers which are amongst the animals she discusses in this book. There is a distinct 'Scottishness' to the narrative and none more so when discussing the 'coos' on Canna. This book is not a gazetteer as such but does contain a range of places you might visit to get closer to wildlife in a variety of habitat types, I think the sections on coasts are the standout ones - you can hear the raucous birds that live there and duck as the bonxies swoop down on us. There are a mixture of sites I had previously heard of alongside others that I might just have to look into. The book finishes with advice and guidance for seeing wildlife with some do's and don'ts as well as some ways to get involved yourself... Read more
NetGalley, reviewed by Peter Burnett
