Books of the Month
August
August is a month to linger outdoors. Meadows are heavy with late-summer flowers, hedgerows brim with ripening berries, heather cloaks the moorlands in purple, and the first whispers of autumn drift through the countryside.
To celebrate this beautiful moment between the seasons, we've chosen four Books of the Month to accompany slow walks, warm evenings and the simple pleasure of noticing the season unfolding around us.
Hamza Yassin
Homeward Bound
'We are all the better for his way of seeing the world' - Dame Judi Dench
'He is delight and joy personified' - Marian Keyes
'Brings a little bit of joy to us all' - GUARDIAN
Discover the British countryside through the eyes of one of the nation's most beloved wildlife presenters. In Homeward Bound, Hamza Yassin shares the experiences that shaped his lifelong love of nature, from bird ringing in Wales to filming orcas off the Scottish coast. Blending personal stories with unforgettable wildlife encounters, this uplifting work of nature writing is a celebration of Britain's wild places and a reminder that the natural world has a home for us all.
Read this if you loved... ♡
Be a Birder by Hamza Yassin
Michael J. Warren
The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place
LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2026
'Magical . No journey in Britain will be quite the same again.' The Guardian
What can the names of our fields, hills and villages tell us about the birds that once filled them? In The Cuckoo's Lea, Michael J. Warren uncovers the hidden stories woven through England's landscapes, blending ornithology, history and folklore into a captivating work of nature writing. Rich in insight and beautifully observed, it's a perfect choice for readers of natural history books, British bird books and anyone captivated by the deep relationship between birds, landscape and memory.
Read this is you loved... ♡
Bird School by Adam Nicolson
Sally Coulthard
A Brief History of the Coast in 100 Objects
'This is a delight of a book to dip into, although, once you start you won’t be able to stop.’ Country Life
‘A charming trayful of historical canapés.’ Adam Nicolson, author of Life Between the Tides
'A portable museum of a book.' Ruth Allen, author of Grounded
Every object washed ashore has a story to tell. In this captivating exploration of Britain's beautifully rugged coastline, Sally Coulthard uncovers the history, folklore, and lives shaped by our shores through 100 extraordinary objects. Richly researched and endlessly fascinating, this beautifully written book is perfect for readers of British history books, natural history books, coastal history and anyone captivated by Britain's landscapes and heritage From the bestselling author of A Short History of the World According to Sheep and The Barn.
Read this if you loved... ♡
The Draw of the Sea by Wyl Menmuir
Jon Woolcott
The Tattooed Hills
'An alluring blend of travel writing, cultural history, archaeology, folklore, literature and more.' - Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller, Editors Choice
'A fascinating detective story told with humour and joy that unravels the threads of history and legend to reveal the strange stories of Britain's hill figures.' - Fiona Robertson, author of Stone Lands
Britain's chalk hills hold far more than striking white figures, they hold centuries of stories waiting to be uncovered. In The Tattooed Hills, Jon Woolcott brings these remarkable landscapes to life, revealing how white horses, giants and ancient carvings have shaped our history, folklore and cultural identity.
Woolcott reveals how these remarkable figures have reflected the hopes, beliefs and identities of the people who created them. As the centuries have passed, so too have their meanings, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ever-changing relationship between people and place.
Read this if you loved... ♡
Stone Lands by Fiona Robertson