Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells
(7 book set)
by ~ Alfred Wainwright

Review : Anyone, and I mean anyone, with a deep love with the romance of exploring the Fells, already has in their possession this box set of Alfred Wainwright’s pictorial guides. Packing any of these exquisite unrivalled guides in your kit bag, combined with map and compass, makes for a very pleasurable day.
The guides offer a variety of options to your chosen summit, with detailed sketches and descriptions of your route throughout.
Rating : 5* Okay I’m biased because I happen to be born on the same street where Wainwright lived prior to escaping the dark industrial town of Blackburn in Lancashire. Plus of course the Lake District is my home, I just don’t live there ‘yet’.
But be sure love recognises love, and if your heart expands in the mountains, take a seat, pour your flask, finger through the pages… and listen.
Note : These can not be used as a stand-alone without other forms of navigation.
Interesting Read : 91 year old man, assisted by mountain rescue climbs fell to remember is friend Alfred Wainwright.

The Forager’s Calendar
by ~ John Wright

Review : This review is pretty unequivocal. If you get a little frisson of excitement at the very idea of foraging your own food to head home with and make dinner, then this should be your one and only go to book.
Rating : 5* Accurately seasonal, month by month wild food guide, showing you how to identify, store and cook.
Note : Reference to foraging in the British Isles*.
Interesting Reel : I offer you this delightful short video, Foraging at River Cottage with Paul West and John Wright, where they scavenge a variety of foods including Sloe and Elderberry.

Guide to Britain’s Wildlife, plants & Flower
by ~ Readers Digest

Review : I picked this marvellous book up for a mere £1.50, from the Air Ambulance charity shop in Ashby-de-la-Zouch while visiting loved ones. It is brimming with accurately detailed illustrations, sorted and ordered, including scientific names, locations, season and history, with lots of whys answered to help when investigating our beautiful living tapestry.
Rating : 4** This is a large weighty book and while writing this review I thought, ‘wouldn’t it have been wonderful had they produced it as a category box-set’, small enough to take on field trips.
So with this thought in mind, I drifted over to do a Google search and lo-and-behold to pacify the geeks of the day (1984), they did indeed do just that, and I squeaked with delight to find a set on Ebay ‘Nature Lovers Library Series’.
Interesting Read : Readers Digest guide to Britain’s Wildlife, Plants & Flowers, available from Awesome Books for £3.36. Save money and trees.

The Untethered Soul
by ~ Michael A Singer

Review : A self-exploration of one’s own consciousness, escaping the restless mind, neither living in the past nor unnecessary concern for the future. Seeking happiness and contentment through the practice of mindfulness, and yeah.. yeah.. yeah.. I know you’re all done with the ‘Mindfulness’ buzzword, but hear me out. I challenge you to explore the practice, if you dare? And if you do, you’ll find that with arms outstretched, you’ll slowly awaken to now.
Rating : 4* While the voice in your mind endlessly narrating your life is a huge part of consciousness, I felt it wasn’t explained or broken down well in this book. So, while this read was certainly beneficial, I personally found that it failed to pull me through the pages with ease. Or perhaps I’m just not as smart as the average bear.
Note : may need to read more than once to digest.
Interesting Read : A layman’s read, also around consciousness is ‘The Chimp Paradox’, often used in the sporting arena to improve mind management.

Everybody Matters – A MEMOIR
by ~ Mary Robinson

Review : I have developed a huge amount of adoration for Mary Robinson. A world leader and member of The Elders, an advocate of human rights, climate activist and promoter of a vegan lifestyle. Her strong convictions are always delivered with beautiful serenity.
I first came across her name when she served as president of Ireland back in the 90’s. But I didn’t take much notice really, until I saw her emotional interview at COP26. I was struck by the purity, sincerity and desperate plea for urgency.
Rating : 3* I purchased this book for the sole purpose of gaining a clearer understanding of the woman behind the writer of ‘Climate Justice’.
Everybody Matters is an intimate read of Mary’s back story and upbringing, which instilled in her a strong sense of values. This book could certainly inspire each of us to do our bit to change the world for the better.
Interesting Reel : This clip melts me. Mary Robinson issues emotional plea to world leaders to up their game on climate change.