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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTESELLER
Emma Mitchell's richly illustrated and evocative diary - as seen on the BBC's Springwatch - records her nature finds over the course of a year and shows how being in the wild benefits our mental and physical wellbeing.
'This is a beautiful, beautiful book, and I can't recommend it enough.' Sue Perkins
'Emma's words are profound, her photography is inspiring and her illustrations are exquisite.' Emma Freud
'Emma's writing is precise, gorgeous and inspiring.' Amy Liptrot
'An absolute joy.' Joanna Cannon
Emma Mitchell has suffered with depression - or as she calls it, 'the grey slug' - for twenty-five years. In 2003, she moved from the city to the edge of the Cambridgeshire Fens and began to take walks in the countryside around her new home, photographing, collecting and drawing as she went. Each walk lifted her mood, proving to be as medicinal as any talking therapy or pharmaceutical.
In Emma's hand-illustrated diary, she takes us with her as she follows the local paths and trails, sharing her nature finds over the course of a year. Reflecting on how these encounters impact her mood, Emma's candid account of her own struggles is a powerful testament to how reconnecting with nature may offer some answers to today's mental health epidemic.
Written with Emma's characteristic wit and frankness, and filled with her beautiful drawings, paintings and photography, this is a truly unique book for anyone who has ever felt drawn to nature and wondered about its influence over us.
About the author
Emma Mitchell is a designer-maker, naturalist, illustrator and the acclaimed author of The Wild Remedy (2019) and bestselling Making Winter (2017) – over 50,000 copies have been sold in the UK and the US. She is a Guardian Country Diarist, has written and contributed seasonal creative projects for BBC Countryfile Magazine, Country Living, Mollie Makes and Breathe. Emma has appeared on Radio 4’s Ramblings and Woman's Hour and on BBC Countryfile’s winter special.
Emma records her daily nature finds with photographs and illustrations on her Instagram (@silverpebble2 – over 100,000 followers) and X (@silverpebble –over 90,000 followers). She runs nature illustration courses: workshops.emmamitchell.net
Summary
Emma Mitchell's richly illustrated and evocative nature diary tracks the lives of local flora and fauna around her home and further afield, and show how being in the wild benefits our mental and physical wellbeing.
