A Wood Of One's Own

Product Description

' Delightful Pavey writes with warmth & spirit & brings this space to life' Penelope Lively' Captivating & grounded If this book was not as much a pleasure to write as it is to read I'll eat my hat & gardening glove' Observer After years spent living amid the thrum of London Ruth Pavey yearned to reconnect with the British countryside & she endeavoured to realise her long-held dream of planting a wood Touring to the West Country in the late 1990s Pavey found herself in the Somerset Levels On seeing this expanse of reclaimed land under its wide soft skies she was struck by its beauty & set-out to plant a wood tree by tree She bought four acres & over the years transformed them into a haven where woodland plants & creatures could flourish an emblem of enduring life in a changeable world A Wood of One's Own is the story of how she grew to understand & then shape this derelict land into an enduring legacy a verdant landscape rich with wildlife Interwoven with Pavey's candid descriptions of the practical challenges she faced are forays into the Levels' local history as well as thoughtful portraits of its inhabitants both past & present Accompanied throughout by the author's evocative h&-drawn illustrations A Wood of One's Own is a lyrical beguiling & inspiring story; a potent reminder of nature's delicate balance & its comforting & abiding presence