Bøger udgivet af Chelsea Green Publishing UK

"A definitive twenty-first century permaculture manual for human flourishing in an age of disconnection, disease, and decline. Drawing from twenty years of experience as a land designer and site developer, in The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition author Ben Falk describes how he has transformed a degraded hillside in the frigid climate of Vermont into a thriving Garden of Eden that now provides year-around abundance and regeneration for his family and community. First published in 2013, The Resilient Farm and Homestead is a comprehensive how-to guide for building durable and productive land-based systems through the reciprocal interplay of humans and the natural world. In the ten years since he first published this seminal work, Falk has only deepened his wisdom in harnessing nature-based solutions for an increasingly perilous planet. Coming on the heels of the unprecedented upheaval of Covid-19, this new and expanded edition of The Resilient Farm and Homestead couldn't be more timely. More than just a collection of tricks and techniques for regenerative site development, the book covers nearly every strategy Falk and his team have tested at the Whole Systems Research Farm over the past two decades. The book includes detailed information on earthworks, gravity-fed water systems, soil fertility management, growing nutrient-dense food and medicine, fuelwood production and processing, agroforestry, managed grazing, and much more. The book presents a viable home-scale model for an intentional food-producing ecosystem in cold climates and beyond. Inspiring to would-be homesteaders everywhere, Falk is an inspiration for what can be done by working with and guiding natural systems and making the most of what we have by reimagining what's possible. Complete with full-color photography and detailed design drawings, The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition includes new information on: -Designing greenhouses and microclimates -Zone 4 permaculture -Reinvigorating human health -Raising children on a homestead -Top-performing plants -The power of woodchips -Efficient and resilient energy systems -Beekeeping -And much, much more!"--

âEUR¿If you want real food, food security and a truly biodiverse countryside, please, please read this book.âEUR(TM) John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland âEUR¿[A] timely response to those who are constructing a dystopia of farms without farmers, food without farms, while promoting more industrialisation of the food system.âEUR(TM) Vandana Shiva, activist and author of Terra VivaâEUR¿Brilliant and compelling âEUR¿ at once hopeful and persuasive about the future of food.âEUR(TM) Dan Barber, chef at Blue HillNamed the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Awards 'Best Books of 2023'Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future is a powerful and timely response to the ongoing search for our sustainable food future. In the face of ongoing food, energy and environmental crises, Chris Smaje, farmer and social scientist, has become one of the most prescient voices on the future of farming. In his new book, he explores the false promises and unconsidered consequences of food techno-solutions advocated by ecomodernists like George Monbiot, arguing that we should not divorce ourselves from rural living and must embrace a future that includes farming. Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future passionately argues for scaling up the pro-nature principles of low-energy, biodiverse and agroecological farming, and for putting the power back into the hands of small-scale farmers and producers, and the local communities that support them. âEUR¿A case for a rural agricultural landscape that delivers food without wrecking the planetâEUR(TM). Jake Fiennes, author of Land HealerâEUR¿Everyone in the food business needs to read this âEUR¿ lively and superbly written polemic.âEUR(TM) Joel Salatin, co-founder of Polyface Farm

Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize 2024 for Nature Writing????? The Telegraph'One of the most remarkable figures in British conservation.' The Observer'There have been several books on the fate of British wolves, but this is the best.' The Spectator'Beautifully crafted, fascinating and unbearably poignant, I totally loved this book.' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding'A dazzling romp through the turbulent history of wolves in Britain.' Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell'Gow's anecdotes will leave you howling - and his historical detective work to track down the shadow of the wolf is as gripping as any thriller.' Guy Shrubsole, author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain'Gow reinvents what it means to be a guardian of the countryside.' GuardianAuthor of Bringing Back the Beaver and Britain's favourite maverick rewilder Derek Gow embarks on an adventure to uncover the mythology, mystery and history of wolves in Britain. Derek Gow's dream is that one day we will see the return of the wolf to Britain. Wolf rewilding projects have been successfully implemented across the world - so what is holding us back in the UK?Hunt for the Shadow Wolf is Derek's quest to uncover the true nature of this magnificent creature. As Derek worked to reintroduce the beaver, he began to hear stories of the wolf, both real and mythical, and his fascination with it grew. He pieced together fragments of information, stories and artefacts to reveal a shadowy creature that first walked proud through these lands and then was hunted to extinction. What Derek came to realise was that the underlying motives behind our hatred were actually rooted in power and profit. We turned the wolf into a savage beast and saw its extirpation as a civilising mission. But the wolf endured and Derek tells of his sightings through folklore and mythology, the records of grand estates and parish churches as well as wolf heads, both real and recreated. With bitingly funny but also tender stories, Hunt for the Shadow Wolf makes clear why we must reconcile our relationship with this majestic animal before we can begin to bring it back to these lands. 'Gow has a fire in his belly. We need more like him.' BBC Wildlife Magazine

Harness the power of your body to heal through clinically proven, natural, Ayurvedic holistic practices. Optimise your mental and emotional health using the psychology of exceptional survival. Understand practical, straightforward changes to your diet to boost your natural immunity and gut health. Practise the science of circadian medicine as well as the healing benefits of nature immersion, meditation and visualisation, breathing techniques and clinically proven herbal medicines and supplements. The Ayurvedic Approach to Cancer aims to break new ground with its unique approach to supporting those living with cancer by integrating the holistic practices of Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine, with the most advanced, cutting-edge science from the field of exceptional cancer survivorship research. Sam Watts has a PhD in cancer survivorship from the University of Southampton. He is also a trained clinical practitioner of Ayurveda. Sam has led large-scale, NHS-funded clinical investigations of people living with incurable cancers who defy the statistical odds. Sam's research has been focused on finding consistencies in the practices that the majority of these cancer patients adopt because he believes that it is very likely that these practices will help us understand what allowed them to become exceptional. His research has indeed found such consistencies and, as an Ayurvedic practitioner, he has also realised that the majority of them fall under the framework of Ayurveda. Over the last decade, Ayurveda has become one of the most-utilised forms of complementary medicine adopted by those living with cancer. In this book, Sam has integrated his exceptional cancer survivorship research and Ayurveda practices into a practical and easy-to-follow blueprint that will engage the body's natural ability to heal so you can live with cancer with vitality, well-being and optimism.

Across the world, chefs, farmers, plant scientists and backyard growers are doing something extraordinary: creating new generations of fruit, vegetables and cereals, all bred specifically to flourish locally, taste delicious, and contribute to our food future. In The Accidental Seed Heroes, Adam Alexander dons his seed detective homburg to meet these twenty-first century seed heroes, who are not only championing traditional varieties but also breeding delicious new ones that will help create a sustainable future for our planet. We don't all need to become backyard breeders or even, like Adam, accidental ones. We don't even need to eschew, as growers, the modern hybrid cultivars our seed catalogues are stuffed with or, as consumers, boycott those same uninspiring specimens that populate our supermarket shelves. Adam just wants that choice to be better informed and infinitely more diverse and enjoyable. This story is a celebration of the locally and sustainably grown produce, whether traditional or innovative, that is at the heart of all our food cultures and empowers our rural communities and farmers. Adam believes these new varieties of fruits, vegetables and even grains will not just offer us all nutritious and delicious food but also be part of the solution to combating climate change and returning fertility to our soils and biodiversity to our land.

'A modern-day bard.' Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles'Shaw has so much wisdom and knowledge about the old stories, it emanates from his pores.' John Densmore, The Doors'Through feral tales and poetic exegesis, Martin Shaw makes you re-see the world, as a place of adventure and of initiation, as perfect home and as perfectly other. What a gift.' David Keenan, author of Xstabeth'I can still remember the first time I heard Martin Shaw tell a story. The tale that emerged was like a living thing, bounding around, throwing itself at us there listening. I had never heard anything like it before.' Paul Kingsnorth, Booker shortlisted author of The WakeToday, as we are confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our lives - identity, technology, love, seduction, politics - celebrated mythologist and wilderness guide Martin Shaw delivers Smoke Hole - three ancient myths that serve as metaphors for our world today. Assailed by the seductive promises of social media and shadowed by a pandemic that brought loneliness to an all-time high, Martin argues that we are losing our sense of direction, our sense of self. He invites us to use these stories to help find 'a commons for the imagination, a place to breathe deeper, feel steadier and become acquainted with rapture.' Smoke Hole is a passionate call to arms and an invitation to use these stories to face the complexities of contemporary life, from fake news to parenthood, climate crises, addictive technology and more. Available now as a podcast! Subscribe to Smoke Hole Sessions to hear amazing conversations between Martin Shaw and some of our most admired writers, actors, comedians, musicians and more, including Sir Mark Rylance and Tommy Tiernan (Derry Girls).

'An important book, brimming with insight.' Nicholas Evans, author of The Horse Whisperer'Material is generous, wise, fascinating and fundamentally humane.' Dan Richards, author of OutpostThrowing a pot. Building a bench. Sewing clothes. Creating a linocut illustration. Carving a spoon. What does it mean to make things with your hands in a digital age, full of mass-market, disposable items?Following the path trod by bestselling authors Lars Mytting, Robert Macfarlane and Barn the Spoon, craftsman Nick Kary explores what it means to be a maker. Through beautifully crafted writing filled with memorable craftspeople, landscapes, stories and scenery, Material is a rich celebration of what it means to imagine and create. Nick champions the voices of artisans across the UK, from potters to woodworkers, reminding us of the rich vein of knowledge and skills that defines our common human heritage. He tells the stories of makers and explores the challenge of making a living out of a practice that was once a necessity, asking them why they make and what it means to create in a world where consumers are disconnected from the creative and material process. Underlying his visits to meet fellow makers are the author's own reflections about what and who influenced him to value materials from the earth for the past forty years. Perfect for fans of Countryfile or Norwegian Wood, Material is a rich, inspiring read for woodworkers, potters, craftspeople, bibliophiles and anyone who enjoys working with their hands.

"Dibben and Raskin offer an insightful, inspiring but also exceptionally practical guide to integrating trees into annual cropping systems. . . in this book we see how the phrase 'the sky's the limit' has never been more applicable."--Jesse Frost, author of The Living Soil Handbook An invaluable handbook for farmers, growers, and gardeners, Silvohorticulture is the first book to offer a detailed, practical guide on how to effectively integrate trees with vegetable growing, offering information previously known only in the foresting world. Drawing on the decades-long experiences of Ben Raskin and Andy Dibben, both of whom have designed and managed agroforestry systems and have extensive experience in commercial horticultural crop production, this is the definitive book on the interaction between trees and crops, covering the benefits of trees for edible crops and the potential for additional crops from trees, plus crucial new information on how to fit trees into complex crop rotations as well as manipulating access to light. Ben and Andy also reveal the latest research on how tree roots behave and, importantly, how that impacts your crops. Agroforestry can bring immense benefits to farmers and growers--not just optimizing yield, but also improving soil, managing pests and water, increasing biodiversity, and reducing costs. System design must be customised to each grower's requirements, and Silvohorticulture offers step-by-step detail that will allow you to manage your trees and crops successfully. "In this immensely practical guide, the authors provide the technical details towards integrating trees with vegetables and other crops, all while dispelling any preconceived notions that this idea reduces productivity or function. In fact, these systems might prove essential for farm resilience in a changing climate."--Steve Gabriel, author of Silvopasture

'Sharp, angry, punchily philosophical and often funny. It basically invents a new type of lifestyle aspiration: deathstyle.' The Times'Callender's joyous, thought-provoking book is an account of how his own early encounters with bereavement led to him becoming a new kind of undertaker.' Daily Mail'This book is a great work of craft and beauty.' Salena Godden'I loved What Remains? Funny, demystifying, but mostly, deeply moving.' Kathy Burke, Actor and Director'This compelling personal story of a pioneering punk undertaker is a moving revelation.' Love Reading'Inspiring and unforgettable.' John Higgs, author of William Blake vs the WorldDeath has shown me . . . the unbreakable core of love and courage that lies at the heart of what it means to be human. Ru Callender wanted to become an undertaker in order to offer people a more honest experience than the stilted formality of traditional 'Victorian' funerals. Driven by raw emotion and the unresolved grief of losing his own parents, Ru brought an outsider, 'DIY' ethos to the business of death, combined with the kinship and inspiration he found in rave culture, social outlaws and political nonconformists. Ru has carried coffins across windswept beaches, sat in pubs with caskets on beer-stained tables, helped children fire flaming arrows into their father's funeral pyre, turned modern occult rituals into performance art and, with the band members of the KLF, is building the People's Pyramid of bony bricks in Liverpool - all in the name of creating truly authentic experiences that celebrate those who are no longer here and those who remain. Radical, poignant, unflinchingly real and laugh-aloud funny, What Remains? will change the way you think about life, death and the human experience.

'One of the most remarkable figures in British conservation.' Observer'Gow reinvents what it means to be a guardian of the countryside.' Guardian'Courageous, visionary, funny.' Isabella Tree'A brilliant read.' Benedict Macdonald'He gets stuff done. . . . Highly entertaining but also a heartfelt plea for a wilder, more inspiring Britain.' Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallBirds, Beasts and Bedlam recounts the adventures of Britain's favourite maverick rewilder, Derek Gow, and his single-minded mission to save our rarest wildlife - one species at a time. Author of Bringing Back the Beaver and Hunt for the Shadow Wolf, Derek shares his personal, courageous and highly entertaining tales in Birds, Beasts and Bedlam, including how he raised a sofa-loving wild boar piglet, transported a raging bison bull across the UK, got bitten by a Scottish wildcat and, together with Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell, restored the ancient white stork to the pioneering Knepp Estate. After a Shetland ewe captured his heart as a boy, Derek grew up to become a farmer with a passion for ancient breeds. When he realised how many of our species were close to extinction - even on his own land - Derek tore down fences literally and metaphorically, transforming his traditional Devon farm into a 300-acre rewilding haven for beavers, water voles, lynx, wildcats, harvest mice, wild boar and more. A project that is still ongoing today. Birds, Beasts and Bedlam continues the rich tradition of great British nature writing and is a natural bedfellow to Gerald Durrell's A Zoo in My Luggage. Passionate, subversive and unforgettable, Birds, Beasts and Bedlam will leave you imagining a rewilded landscape filled with our lost native birds and wildlife. 'A do-er, not a dreamer, Gow has become one of our most outspoken rewilders.' Countryfile Magazine'In this warm and funny autobiography, [Gow] writes with a whimsical fluency about the moments of humour and pathos in an unusual life.' Country Life

What makes a great-tasting tomato? Why do scarred greengages taste better? Is 'eating local' everything it's cracked up to be?The first bite of a perfectly ripe peach can be truly transformative - a joyful experience that stays with you forever. But, as Franco Fubini came to realise, flavour is a signifier of so much more than nostalgia. It has the power to change the way we grow, shop and eat - transforming the planet as well our palates. From the citrus groves of Sicily to a knock-out taco in Mexico City, this is the story of how Franco's pursuit of flavour led him on a journey to understand how this incredibly simple desire can lead to radical change. Having spent over two decades as the founder of Natoora, sourcing amazing flavour for some of the best kitchens and most demanding chefs in the world, Franco brings together his intimate experience of the supply chain in a book that shines a light on how flavour has dropped off our plates and how we can get it back. Through flavour, a better future of food suddenly becomes possible: one in which we are not only closer to nature and to the people who grow our food, but where we are also actively building seasonal diversity back into our diets, putting nutritious food on our plates and restoring the health of our soils. Franco Fubini offers us a deeply optimistic vision of how we, as consumers, can follow flavour to fix the food system and bring joy to our every meal.

How can we protect ourselves from the pollution, chemicals, and toxins that pervade our environment? Dr. Jenny Goodman connects the health of our planet with our own well-being, addressing the questions that very few doctors ask. We're all too aware of the traffic pollution in the air, the chemicals in our water, the toxins in the soil (and therefore our food), and the electromagnetic energy emanating from our gadgets. If we can also understand how they affect our health, not least in the worrying rises in asthma and allergies, infertility, obesity, heart disease, behavioral and neurological disorders, as well as cancer, then we can take positive steps to avoid them. With the right information, we can: Safeguard ourselves with protective measures Minimize our interactions with pollutants Ensure our bodies have the right anti-toxin nutrients Take collective action to fight for our health and that of the environment Backed by the latest scientific and medical research, Getting Healthy in Toxic Times will empower you to look after your own health--and that of the planet. Let's put the good stuff in and take the bad stuff out!

Create a thriving garden or allotment that works in harmony with nature and will flourish in the face of ever-changing environmental conditions. In The Resilient Garden and Allotment Handbook, expert organic gardener Sally Morgan shares a wide range of ecological concepts from permaculture, regenerative gardening, agroecology and more to boost your garden's biodiversity and enrich your soil. This must-have guide will help you:Build your soil so it's full of healthy organic matter and protect it through no-dig practices, composting, cover crops and mulchingIncrease resilience through productive plant combinations and polycultureCreate wildlife-friendly habitats utilising walls and fences, log piles, water features and wild cornersChoose the right plants to attract pollinators and plant defendersCombat disease and keep pests at bay using natural predators, companion planting and trap and barrier cropsPLUSThe importance of collecting genetically diverse seeds from plants that have adapted to local conditionsustainably manage water in your garden, especially in times of drought or excessive rainfallWhether you're a passionate gardener, allotment holder or grower, The Resilient Garden and Allotment Handbook will help you future-proof your garden by giving it everything it needs to adapt and succeed, whatever the climate challenge. (Previously published as The Healthy Vegetable Garden, now updated and revised)'A must-read for anyone who wants to know how to grow their own zero-food miles, pesticide-free veg, while treading gently upon our planet.' Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle and Silent Earth 'This book could not be better timed, and given Sally's lifetime experience of organic gardening, it's bound to inspire all those who want to 'grow back better'.' Helen Browning, Chief Executive, Soil Association

'A glorious anthem to the hedge! The sleeping giant that is waiting to be nurtured back to life-giving health. This wonderful book fires the imagination and will change the way you look at a hedge forever.' Keggie Carew, author of BeastlyIn this joyous journey around the wild edges of Britain, Christopher Hart takes us through the life, ecology and history of the humble British hedge, showing us how this much-loved (but somewhat overlooked) feature is inextricably woven into our language, history and culture. Hedges - or hedgerows - have long been an integral part of the British landscape; a bastion of privacy for our gardens, a protective presence on winding country lanes and a vital hiding place for birds and beasts on farmland. This man-made marvel is finally getting its time in the sun. Recognised as an environmental hero and a powerful climate ally, hedgerow is now considered the greatest edge habitat on earth, offering thorny scrub, mature woodland, grassland and even wetland. It plays a critical role in carbon sequestration and provides essential protection against the elements. Hedgelands highlights the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedges; the abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the striking nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the little harvest mouse; and the free pickings that the hedgerow offers, making it an essential - and delicious - element of any countryside ramble. Hedgelands will tell you everything you never thought you needed to know about this wild, diverse and rich habitat - and you might even look at your humble hedge in a whole new way. 'A wonderful history of the threads that stitch the British countryside together.' Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer'A passionate celebration and exploration of our wonderful hedgerows. You'll be swept along by Hart's intoxicating enthusiasm.' Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth

Longlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2024 for Nature Writing "Terrific, life-lit moments come howling out of Hunt for the Shadow Wolf."--The Telegraph "One of the most remarkable figures in British conservation."--The Observer "There have been several books on the fate of British wolves, but this is the best."--The Spectator "[Derek Gow is] a wry, profane truth teller who is equal parts yeoman farmer, historical ecologist, and pirate."--Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager and Crossings Renowned rewilder Derek Gow has a dream: that one day we will see the return of the wolf to Britain as it has already returned elsewhere. As Derek worked to reintroduce the beaver, he began to hear stories of the wolf, both real and mythical, and his fascination with this creature grew. With increasing curiosity, Derek started to piece together fragments of information, stories and artefacts to reveal a shadowy creature that first walked proud through these lands and then was hunted to extinction as coexistence turned to fear, hatred - and domination. What Derek came to realize was that the underlying motives behind our hatred were actually far more prosaic and, like most persecutions, to do with power and profit. We turned the wolf into a savage beast and saw its extirpation as a civilizing mission. But the wolf survived far longer than many thought and Derek tells of his sightings of the wolf through folklore and mythology, the records of grand estates and parish churches as well as wolf heads, both real and recreated. With bitingly funny but also tender stories, Hunt for the Shadow Wolf is Derek's quest to uncover the true nature of this creature because, as we seek to heal our landscape, we must reconcile our relationship with it. Before we can even begin to bring the wolf back, we need to understand it. "I have loved this chase dearly and though what unfolds might be an ending of sorts, I have no intention to let this hunt cease."―Derek Gow, from Hunt for the Shadow Wolf "Beautifully crafted, fascinating and unbearably poignant, I totally loved this book."--Isabella Tree, author of Wilding "Gow reinvents what it means to be a guardian of the countryside."--The Guardian

Understand the practical and emotional impact of your symptoms and learn to organize every step of your health management. If you're dealing with a range of complicated and confusing health problems following a Covid vaccination, this guide is for you. An adverse reaction to a Covid vaccination can be a deeply distressing experience. It may leave you mystified as you attempt to deal with a range of physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms that few seem able to explain, diagnose, treat, or even acknowledge. The Covid Vaccine Adverse Reaction Survival Guide is here to help, taking you through this stressful experience in a way that will help you feel more in control of your life. The CVARS Guide addresses key areas of recovery to maximize your healing potential. It is also essential reading for anyone providing personal or professional support to someone who is dealing with an adverse reaction. Packed with recipes, worksheets, symptom charts, appointment records, and diary pages, the CVARS Guide demystifies nutrition plans and advice and includes ways of keeping track of symptoms so that you can tackle them without feeling overwhelmed, while you develop your own unique recovery plan.

‿A windswept love letter to Scotland‿s heritage sheep and to the Orkney farming community too.‿ Cal Flyn, author of Islands of AbandonmentThe Lost Flock is the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray, and the wool-obsessed woman who moved to one of Scotland‿s wildest islands to save them. It was Jane Cooper‿s passion for knitting that led her to discover the world of rare-breed sheep and their wool. Through this, Jane uncovered the ‿Orkney Borerary‿ ‿ a unique group within the UK‿s rarest breed of sheep, the Boreray, and one of the few surviving examples of primitive sheep in northern Europe. As her knowledge of this rarest of heritage breeds grew, she took the bold step to uproot her quiet suburban life in Newcastle and relocate to Orkney, embarking on a new adventure and life as farmer and shepherd. Jane was astonished to find that she was the sole custodian of this lost flock in the world, and so she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland‿s natural heritage. From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. It is also the story of one woman‿s relentless determination to ensure a future for her beloved sheep, and in doing so revealing their deep connection to the Scottish landscape. An unforgettable story of a heritage breed and the importance of its existence. ‿Rare-breed sheep, Scotland‿s most dramatic landscapes and a woman on a mission. All the perfect ingredients for an ovine true-life adventure.‿ Sally Coulthard, author of A Short History of the World According to Sheep

"Strawbridge shares his passion for this artisan ingredient, from distinctive tasting notes and profiles of different salts found around the world to useful techniques--such as brining, curing, charring and preserving--that bring out a world of hidden flavours"--Back cover.

Shortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2022 for Nature Writing - Highly CommendedWinner for the Richard Jefferies Award 2021 for Best Nature Writing'A rural, working-class writer in an all too rarefied field, Chester's work is unusual for depicting the countryside as it is lived on the economic margins.' The Guardian'An important portrait of connection to the land beyond ownership or possession.' Raynor Winn'It's ever so good. Political, passionate and personal.' Robert Macfarlane'Evocative and inspiring...environmental protest, family, motherhood and...nature.' Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground, Costa Novel Award Winner 2021Nature is everything. It is the place I come from and the place I got to. It is family. Wherever I am, it is home and away, an escape, a bolt hole, a reason, a place to fight for, a consolation, and a way home. As a child growing up in rural England, Guardian Country Diarist Nicola Chester was inexorably drawn to the natural landscape surrounding her. Walking, listening and breathing in the nature around her, she followed the call of the cuckoo, the song of the nightingale and watched as red kites, fieldfares and skylarks soared through the endless skies over the chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs: the ancient land of Greenham Common which she called home. Nicola bears witness to, and fights against, the stark political and environmental changes imposed on the land she loves, whilst raising her family to appreciate nature and to feel like they belong - core parts of who Nicola is. From protesting the loss of ancient trees to the rewilding of Greenham Common, to the gibbet on Gallows Down and living in the shadow of Highclere Castle (made famous in Downton Abbey), On Gallows Down shows how one woman made sense of her world - and found her place in it.