Where the Wildflowers Grow: Shortlisted for the Richard Jefferies Award

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But it is a landscape that is fast disappearing. Climate change, habitat destruction and declining pollinator populations mean that the future for plant life looks bleaker than ever before. Many of us are also unable to identify, or even notice, the plants that grow around us. The structure of the book as an ongoing journey was excellent. Each chapter focuses on a particular place and plant or habitat and it creates a good flow that keeps the reader interested but not overwhelmed.

Honestly, though, this is a lovely book written by a person who earnestly loves plants. In a country with so little nature left and so little endemic biodiversity, this is particularly endearing. Anybody that has met Leif, seen him on Springwatch (!) or follows his social media accounts will tell you just how passionate he is about plants, and how beautifully infectious that passion is. Thankfully, this passion comes across in droves throughout Where the Wildflowers Grow. While many of us enjoy the star species (hellooooo bluebells) so many other plants are overlooked and under-appreciated, and they need somebody like Leif cheerleading them, very often while laying on the ground to get a closer look. Travelling around the country by bike Leif botanises at every opportunity, meeting fellow plant lovers on the way and telling us their stories and those of the plants, and of course telling us the threats that many of our plant species face. Lots of science is intertwined but presented to us in a really accessible and fun way - the writing style, humour, and sustainable mode of travel draws comparisons to Forget Me Not by Sophie Pavelle to mind, and Sophie actually features in the book, as does Lee Schofield (Wild Fell). Where the Wild Flowers Grow" by Leif Brsweden is a mesmerizing journey through the lush landscapes of British and Irish wildflowers, awakening a longing within me for the countryside and a desire to embark on similar explorations. I completely adore this book, to the point where finishing it has both encompassed me in joy and made me unbearably sad about the fact that I will never again read it for the first time. The author's eccentricity adds a unique and beautiful touch to his narrative. He speaks of farming as a means to improve the land, a viewpoint that often contradicts the prevailing ecological understanding. While he contends that ploughing can increase biodiversity, I believe he takes a somewhat narrow perspective on the concept, primarily focusing on a select group of flowering plants. There is a need for a more comprehensive exploration of biodiversity that encompasses the intricate web of life within the soil and beyond.Leif Bersweden is a writer, botanist and science communicator with a lifelong interest in nature. He grew up in rural Wiltshire where he taught himself how to identify the local flora.

Where the Wild Flowers Grows has it all. An unravelling family, secrets, and even murder. Or is it murder? You will have to decide. This book is for adults only and only for those who aren't bothers by sexual scenes, including a lesbian sex scene. To me sex is natural so I think it is natural for it to be included in books and movies. Ahead of his Plant Science Lecture at the Garden Museum on Friday 25 November, adventuring botanist Leif Bersweden shares an extract from his new book Where the Wildflowers Grow:I was given this book for review and I was very surprised with it. I was transported to the early 60's in this book where so many things were considered taboo. Marital affairs, teenagers having sex, murder, even lesbianism; those were quite a few twists and surprises in this book. Can you say "Drama, drama, drama"? That's what this book is about, not a dull moment. There were so many different layers to this story, you just kept peeling and peeling off the layers as you went deeper and deeper into their lives. A special treasure to find among the dunes and marram grass, with its silvery foliage and blue flowers The little clumps of bacon-and-eggs in rough limestone pasture are a sign that other floral beauties are nearby In the end, this was an interesting book. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I needed to know what was going to happen next. The Cassidy family is a messed up family to all extremes. The only "normal" one was Lily, but she had major issues too....I'm glad she made up with her mom though, it was utterly stupid for her to shut her out like she did. Can't say why, but it was a dumb reason. Meh. ANYWAYS! I would recommend this those that like dramas and people stories. Out of five stars I shall stamp this with 4 stars. Mainly because some of the ending made me mad and I didn't like a lot of the characters. haha