Book Review: Flowers in the Field

Written by Faith Anstey, Flowers in the Field is a wonderfully methodical guide that helps the reader to enjoy wild flowers in a holistic way.

I began my journey into the delights of plants early 2012 and if I'd have had this book then, I probably wouldn't have had to spend the many hours looking for an identification to the plants in my photographs. Having said that, I do think that the hours are well spent for beginners and I wouldn't have had it any other way. So, just over a year on from beginning this journey I way given this book as a present from my parents.

It is an excellent book and I feel that, for myself at least, not having this book in the beginning has been a benefit. If this was the first book I'd read about plants, I doubt I'd have appreciated the work that has gone into creating such a wonderful guide. Faith really understand what a beginner needs and begins with discussing what a wild flower is - an important topic as we can then understand what this book will be focussing on.

The following chapters; how flowers work, where to look, name that plant, getting involved, and sources of help, build up the readers knowledge in a measured way that at no time feels overwhelming. One of my greatest concerns with moving forward with identifying plants was that of needed to get a diagnostic keyed identification guide. Faith uses a couple of keys from real guides and certain put my fears to rest. While I will definitely need to practice with whatever book I obtain, I know that I can come back to this book for guidance. It was also excellent to know that the keys came from the book that was at the top of my list!

This book is an excellent read and shows that Faith Anstey not only saw a gap in the market (beginner books about wild flowers), but also delivered to the market in that gap (beginners such as myself that need to know where they are at with their knowledge and experience - and where to go next). Excellent work.

Own or Loan:         Own
Read Again:           Yes
Recommend:         Yes
Overall out of Five:4

Brimstone Moth - Opisthograptis luteolata

Date Photographed: 07/05/2013
Location: Tower Road, Melksham
Resources: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1906

Book Review: Wildwood

The first few chapters of Wildwood by Roger Deakin were like a call to action for me. I enjoy being around trees; even climbing them when the opportunity arises and planting far too many for our tiny garden. I enjoy looking at wood, inspecting and enjoying the patterns of the grain. The first few chapters were telling me to get out into the woods, to sleep in my bivvy and listen to the nearby rookery, just as Deakin does in this book.

Deakin inspired me to want to make a potting bench out of some wood that's been in our loft since before we arrived: project pending.

I don't like to be negative, but unfortunately this just wasn't a book for me. Well not all 400 pages of it anyway. Tedium set in for me after the first and wonderful 100 pages, yet I forced myself on. But then quotes were interjected between Deakin's prose more frequently, then more and more friends were added to the list that became too numerous to remember. It seemed like Deakin was just adding as many situations as possible, and as many facts as possible, no matter how losely connected with wood they were.

I faced that awkward moment most bibliophiles reach at one point or another, where you're not enjoying a book and need to decide whether it's worth persevering and forcing your way to the end, or simply putting the book back and walking away. After checking the reviews on Amazon, I chose the latter.

I find it a shame that Deakin felt the book had to be 400 pages long. I'm sure 200 pages of the best bits would have sufficed. As Walt Disney said "Always leave them wanting more". Unfortunately for me, this wasn't the case.

I realise that my comments may be a little controversial to many a Deakin fan out there. As I started struggling with the book, these thoughts were controversial to me too. I like Deakin. I first heard of him on Alice Roberts 'Wild Swimming' programme in 2010 and have yet been unable to read Deakin's 'Waterlog' book because there are so many reserves on it at the library.  I expected that this book would be a good as the book that's always reserved. Even though I've not enjoyed this book, I will still try to get my hands on Waterlog.

I know that Deakin was a great man, that's why I wanted to read this book. And for that reason, I feel that you should too.


Own or Loan: Loan
Read Again:  No
Recommend: Yes
Overall out of Five:2

Peacock butterfly - Inachis io

Date Photographed: 20/04/2013
Location: St. Giles Churchyard, Stanton St. Quintin
Resources: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Peacock