The Great Outdoors: Gorgeous Gifts for Nature Lovers this Christmas

Few woodland creatures impinge on our daily lives as comprehensively as the fox and, in this illuminating study of a fascinating, complex animal, ecologist Adele Brand gets to grips with the facets of foxy behaviour. Wryly amusing as well as highly informative, The Hidden World of the Fox is also a plea for harmony between man and beast, especially in these fragile ecological times.

One of our most eloquent and lyrical nature writers provides a short hymn to the enigmatic hare in this beautifully produced book. Incorporating diverse elements of folklore and fable, Lewis-Stempel paints a magical picture of a creature freighted with meaning and significance.

Elucidating the shifting pattern of the seasons, this compact month-by-month guide is the perfect way to plan outdoor events and enjoy nature’s wonders, from blackberry picking to observing the equinox. Handsomely produced and unflaggingly informative, this seasonal almanac keeps you beautifully in sync with the word around you.

Celebrating a union of human and insect that has lasted millennia, Coulthard’s attractive volume worships at the altar of the hive. Elucidating the many and varied things that the humble bee does for our species in a fresh, fun and informative way, The Bee Bible is an enduring tribute to our buzzing buddies.

A person who has reached all of the Earth’s poles by foot is likely to have learned a few things about the human soul and spirit, and Erling Kagge’s exquisitely designed volume of practical advice for budding explorers brims with life lessons that mere mortals can also draw from. A brilliantly presented guide to cultivating a positive and resilient mindset.

Laurie Lee was the master of the intimate, evocative memoir and this beautiful fragment detailing the charms of his childhood home is a wistful, effortless pleasure. A love letter to a picturesque village and the indelible memories forged there, Down in the Valley is a slice of warm and sophisticated nostalgia.

An utterly charming and beautifully produced volume that takes a contemplative look at ornithology in a bid to discover what birds can teach us about life. From gender imbalance to avian bravery, A Short Philosophy of Birds is the perfect gift for twitchers everywhere.

A heartfelt and persuasive entreaty to break down the barriers between humanity and the natural world, Ferguson’s beautifully written book outlines what we can learn from the flora, fauna and animals that we so often disregard. Packed with insight and common sense, Eight Master Lessons of Nature will change the way you look at the world around you.

A sensuous celebration of all the evocative joys that winter brings, The Light in the Dark encourages readers to look outward to the sublimity of nature rather than inward into the introspective soul.

Awash with spectacular photography from across the globe, Seven Worlds One Planet accompanies a major new nature documentary series. Delineating the creatures and natural phenomena that make each continent so unique, this exquisite book is a breath-taking tour of the world and an urgent reminder of the fragility of so many species.

Rutt’s very personal odyssey around the United Kingdom in pursuit of the many and varied breeds of goose forms the backbone of this wistful, lovingly essayed volume. Illuminating history and descriptive nature writing make Wintering an understated gem for the festive season.

An ideal pocket-sized gift book, beautifully designed and engagingly written, this superb compendium celebrates the unique place of these spiny-backed icons in our landscape and culture.

Combining travelogue, history and memoir, Tom Nancollas’s Seashaken Houses is a lyrical love letter to seven of Britain and Ireland’s enduring oceanic guardians. From exploring the early pioneering engineering of Eddystone to spending a week experiencing the nerve-wracking, awe-inspiring embrace of Fastnet, Nancallos’s book evokes the charm, power and importance of these totemic structures.

A thoroughly practical and rather lovely guide to the noble art of whittling, 50 Things to do With a Penknife contains sections on just about anything you could possibly want to carve. From whistles to walking sticks and bookmarks to bird-feeders, this marvellous manual will get you back into the great outdoors.