Blog
The Best Books of 2020: Nature Writing
The events of this year have furnished us with an even greater appreciation of the natural world on our doorstep, and a number of authors - from Isabel Hardman to Wainwright Prize-winner Dara McAnulty - have reflected on the therapeutic aspects of engaging with flora, fauna and wildlife. David Attenborough and Chris Packham lent their high-profile heft to issues of conservation and environmental awareness, whilst James Rebanks followed up the masterly The Shepherd's Life with English Pastoral, a beguiling analysis of the state of English agriculture through the prism of his Lake District farm.
Conservation & Activism
£20.00
Hardback
5+ in stock
Available
Empowering and inspiring, Attenborough’s new autobiography sends a powerful message about the crucial importance of will in tackling the climate crisis and preserving our precious ecosystem for generations to come.
£20.00
Hardback
Not available
This product is currently unavailable
Mapping the latest conservation breakthroughs and scientific discoveries, Packham and McCubbin make a water-tight case for rewilding and reconnecting with nature.
£20.00
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
Filled with humour and scientific insight, Bringing Back the Beaver tells the story of one man’s quest to restore the ecosystem of British waterways with the help of nature’s most skilled engineers.
£20.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
Investigating the vast swathes of land currently forbidden to the general public, Hayes's passionately argued book is both a call to trespass and a wholesale re-evaluation of ownership and privilege.
General Nature Writing
£25.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
Accompanying a major new BBC series narrated by David Attenborough, A Perfect Planet details how the Earth’s conditions foster life and evolution, through stunning photography and informative text.
£14.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
From the inspired pairing behind the award-winning The Lost Words comes a luminous hymn to nature and language adorned with Jackie Morris’s exquisite illustrations of beloved woodland creatures.
£16.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
The teenage star of BBC’s Countryfile and social media sensation, Dara McAnulty opens up about his autism and its interrelation to his love of the natural world, as well as providing fascinating practical advice and knowledge about British wildlife.
£16.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
The author of the award-winning modern nature writing classic H is for Hawk treats readers to a diverse collection of essays concerning humankind’s relationship to the natural world.
£16.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
In the bold and insightful The Natural Health Service, Isabel Hardman advocates the enormous benefits of living life in the great outdoors and reveals how fresh air and activity has proved the perfect tonic for her battles with depression and anxiety.
£16.99
Hardback
5+ in stock
Available
From stately gardens to skyscrapers, The Accidental Countryside unearths a multitude of nests and homes created by enterprising creatures, as testament to the ingenuity and survival instinct of our bugs and beasts.
£10.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
A brilliant compilation of lore and the rhythms of the natural world, The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 provides an inspiring compass for the upcoming year.
Garden, Flora & Fauna
£20.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
Full of warmth and affection, the nation’s favourite gardener's touching meditation on our relationship with the natural world.
£20.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
From redefining the boundaries of intelligent life forms to providing us with the building blocks of foodstuffs and medicines, Entangled Life demonstrates just how integral fungi are to sustained living on this planet.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Through moving stories of recovery, The Well-Gardened Mind deftly explores the healing effects of gardening on those who suffer from stress, addiction, depression, or trauma.
£14.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Blooming beautifully into life on every page, Vincent’s uplifting memoir-cum-botanical guide documents the author’s attempts to bring a little of her grandfather’s horticultural idyll into her fast-paced urban existence.
Animals & Pets
£20.00
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
Britain’s Supervet and the author of the bestselling Listening to the Animals returns with more touching stories from the frontline of veterinary medicine.
£12.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
With gentle wisdom and adorable illustrations, Yuki Hattori investigates the feline mind and provides invaluable insights into understanding the dreams and desires of cats.
£20.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
When Andrew Cotter transferred his commentary from major sporting events to battles between his two pet Labradors the result was a lockdown internet sensation, and now Cotter opens up about his life with his canine chums Olive and Mabel in this heart-warming and witty volume.
£20.00
Hardback
In stock
Available
From Greyfriars Bobby to Paul the Octopus, beloved presenter and author Clare Balding spotlights one hundred remarkable creatures who have left their mark on our world. Inspiring, engrossing and frequently hilarious, Heroic Animals is a terrific compendium of brilliant beasts.
£14.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Charming and quirky, former zookeeper Matsuhashi’s engrossing book is a primer on the correct way to handle a variety of animals from butterflies to snakes and from hamsters to hedgehogs.
Birds & Bugs
£16.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Life, family and the echoes of generations examined through the prism of a love affair with birds, in this breathtakingly assured memoir.
£14.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Turning some deep-rooted assumptions on their head, The Bird Way takes a new radical look at the habits and behaviours of our feathered friends.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Mixing history, mythology, biology and his exceptional field skills, Oates crafts a supreme biography of this most elusive of British butterflies.
Place & Community
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
From the beloved author of The Shepherd’s Life, English Pastoral chronicles the life of three generations on a small farm and their relationship with the land.
£16.99
Hardback
Out of stock
A celebration of community, perseverance and a sense of belonging, Dark, Salt, Clear is a meditation on the soul of a Cornish fishing town in the face of encroaching globalisation.
£20.00
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
A bravura collection of essays on the splendour and wildness of the Scottish landscape, Antlers of Water is edited by the acclaimed Kathleen Jamie and draws together a stellar list of contributors.
£14.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Lyrical and thought-provoking, Native is a hymn to the ancient rural heritage of Galloway – to the vanishing landscape, as well as the customs and values that are in danger of disappearing along with it.
£12.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Both a depiction of the perfect natural summer as captured in the wilds of Scotland and a plea for the protection of nature in the face of climate change, Crumley’s lyrical book conjures a world of bittersweet beauty that we may soon lose forever.
Oceans, Rivers & Waterways
£16.99
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
In this fascinating blend of nature writing, memoir and philosophy, Svensson explores human attempts to understand the elusive life of eels, as well as what it means to live with questions we can’t answer.
£12.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
With beautiful illustrations and entertaining commentary, Zwamborn opens up the intricate world of underwater plants in a completely new and magical way.
Related articles
Sign In / Register
Not registered? CREATE AN ACCOUNTCREATE A plus ACCOUNT
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Reserve online, pay on collection.
Or, add to basket, pay online, collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability.
Or, add to basket, pay online, collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability.
Thank you for your reservation
Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at
When will my order be ready to collect?
Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection.
Call us on or send us an email at
Unfortunately there has been a problem with your order
Please try again or alternatively you can contact your chosen shop on or send us an email at
Comments
There are currently no comments.