The Observant Walker: Wild Food, Nature and Hidden Treasures on the Pathways of Britain by John Wright (signed copy)

When we go for a walk, whether in the countryside or city, we pass through landscapes full of natural beauty and curiosities both visible and invisible - but though we might admire the view, or wonder idly about the name of a flower, we rarely have the knowledge to fully engage with what we see. When we do, our sense of place is expanded, our understanding deepened and we can discover richness in even the most everyday stroll.

John Wright has been leading forays around Britain for decades. As an expert forager, he shows people how to identify the edible species that abound - but he also reveals the natural history, stories and science behind our surroundings. Here, he takes us with him on eight walks: from verdant forests to wild coastlines, via city pavements, fields and rolling hills, he illuminates what can be found on a walk across any British terrain, and how you might observe and truly understand them, for yourself.

Warm, wise and endlessly informative, with helpful illustrations and suggested routes, this book will help you to see the world around you with new eyes: no walk will be the same again.

John Wright was born in rural Hampshire in 1951, but at the age of five, he was dragged, screaming, to live in Portsmouth where his father was working as a nursing officer. He lived there, off and on, until 1980 when he moved to rural West Dorset where he has been ever since. Here, an early interest in natural history blossomed. It continues to blossom, though the odd petal drops now and then due to advancing years.

For three decades he followed an appallingly ill-paid career as a reasonably accomplished, self-employed cabinet maker. From 2000, he was occasionally taken from his bench to participate in the River Cottage series of television programs, where he showed people how to find, identify and eat wild fungi, seaweed and plants.

For the last ten years, in addition to leading people on wild food walks, he spends his time writing magazine articles and books. Seven books have been published so far, with two more on their way, God willing. His published works include four books in the River Cottage Handbook series - Mushrooms, Edible Seashore, Hedgerow and Booze. More recent works are: The Naming of the Shrew (about Latin species names, not shrews), A Natural History of the Hedgerow and The Forager's Calendar.

Review Quotes:

'Blissfully funny, staggeringly informative, a joyful companion' Caroline Quentin

'Tells the endlessly fascinating tale of Britain's natural history in a way that makes every delicate detail sparkle with life' Charlie Corbett, author of 12 Birds to Save Your Life

• Binding: Hardcover
• Pub Date: May 11, 2023
• Physical Description: 5.43 x 1.5 x 8.58 inches ( 2.31 pounds) 336 pages
• Green Sprayed Paper Edges