{"id":25823,"date":"2023-05-09T13:36:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T11:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=25823"},"modified":"2023-05-10T11:15:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T09:15:30","slug":"lazy-days-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2023\/05\/09\/lazy-days-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Lazy days"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BOOKS \u203a <\/span> TV \u203a <\/span> RADIO \u203a <\/span> FILM \u203a <\/span> LETTERS \u203a <\/span> PUZZLES <\/p>\n\n

Lazy days <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Reviews editors: Margaret Bartlett, Maria Hodson <\/span><\/p>\n\n

ON THE HEELS OF SPRING <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

A passionate conservationist walks 1,000 miles across Britain chasing the unfurling of a season <\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Author Roger Morgan-Grenville walked for 57 days to reach breathtaking Cape Wrath in the Scottish Highlands <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
BOOK<\/span> <\/h5>\n\n

ACROSS A WAKING LAND <\/h4>\n\n

BY ROGER MORGAN-GRENVILLE ICON BOOKS, \u00a318 (HB) <\/p>\n\n

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Some of the most impressive achievements are in equal parts admirable and bonkers. So it is with the mission Roger Morgan-Grenville planned in spring 2022. The soldier turned curlew conservationist and nature writer decided to tackle a nigh-on 1,000-mile trek from the Solent to Cape Wrath, largely alone and avoiding roads, to visit as many nature restoration projects as possible, while keeping pace with the northward march of greening oaks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Quests and pilgrimages, where writers ramble, cycle, swim or kayak around our islands in search of various kinds of enlightenment, have become a familiar bookshop staple. Over-familiar, you might say. But Morgan-Grenville \u2013 whose books include 2021\u2019s brilliant Shearwater <\/em>\u2013 is a genial and witty companion who keeps us interested to the last few steps. He covers the ground in 57 days (with six days off), fuelled by porridge, Mars Bars and a thousand conversations with strangers. He encounters plagues of poo bags and non-native Sitka spruce, develops an intense dislike of stiles, passes through glorious scenery, and, above all, learns to live in the moment. Though saddened by how rare is to meet anyone under 20 in the wilds, he is encouraged by the army of people battling to restore Britain\u2019s natural riches. This is a heartwarming, inspirational book that shows why, if we want a wilder future, we will all have to fight for it. <\/p>\n\n

Ben Hoare, naturalist and author <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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BOOK <\/span><\/h5>\n\n

BLACK OPS AND <\/strong>BEAVER BOMBING<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

BY FIONA MATTHEWS AND TIM KENDALL ONEWORLD PUBLICATIONS, \u00a317.99 (HB) <\/p>\n\n

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Spring has barely ticked over into summer, but I\u2019ve already found the book that I\u2019ll be recommending for the rest of the year. Co-authored by a wife-and-husband team (she a leading conservationist and professor of environmental biology, he a creative writer and professor of English literature), this book celebrates, mourns and champions the British mammals that are the beating heart of these islands. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Each chapter introduces us to a new star: beavers, wild boars, pine martens, water voles, bats, hedgehogs, squirrels and grey seals. Each is peppered with extraordinary facts: baby boars are called humbugs because of their adorable rotundity and black-and-white stripes, and some bat species are the only non-primate animals known to enjoy oral sex. <\/p>\n\n

The book also contains wonderful literary nuggets (including evidence that Shakespeare hated hedgehogs) and appalling puns. Yet this is far from a lighthearted romp through the British countryside, and the (often horrifying) statistics and meticulous research are ever-present in the narrative, which never shies away from complexity and ambiguity. <\/p>\n\n

There are no straightforward conclusions, no easy solutions, and this is not always an easy read. But there is hope, and much of it comes from humans. For this is a call to arms, a celebration of \u201cwhat can be achieved when we hold administrations to account\u201d. <\/p>\n\n

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Sweet baby wild boar are known as humbugs <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, historian <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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TV<\/span> <\/h5>\n\n

HIDDEN TREASURES OF <\/strong>THE NATIONAL TRUST<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

BBC TWO AND IPLAYER FROM MAY <\/p>\n\n

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Learn how the National Trust maintains the splendour of Bateman\u2019s, a Jacobean house once home to Rudyard Kipling <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Have you ever dreamed of travelling the country, exploring the jewels in the National Trust\u2019s portfolio? This six-part series allows viewers to do just that, discovering the treasures within the properties and peering behind the scenes at the work involved in maintaining them. <\/p>\n\n

The first episode visits Hardwick Hall, as experts ready the famous \u2018sea monster\u2019 portrait of Elizabeth I and intricate \u2018sea dog\u2019 table for transport to America. The enthusiasm of the team for their tasks is infectious. At beautifully labyrinthine Biddulph Grange Garden, head gardener Paul Walton guides viewers around the spectacular grounds and discusses the challenges involved in restoring its iconic 19th-century Chinese bridge. Meanwhile, at Belton House near Nottingham, restorers tackle a 1695 portrait of Margaret Brownlow, which features a young attendant who may have been a child slave.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Later episodes follow the revival of Paul McCartney\u2019s childhood home and the renovation of Vita Sackville-West\u2019s writing room at Sissinghurst Castle among other projects, offering a lively, fascinating tour of National Trust gems. <\/p>\n\n

Maria Hodson, production editor <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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RADIO <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

RAMBLINGS \u2013 <\/strong>CLARE\u2019S TOP 30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BBC RADIO 4 AND BBC SOUNDS <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Since 1999, presenter Clare Balding has walked across all corners of the British Isles as host of BBC Radio 4\u2019s Ramblings, <\/em>a series now in its 40th season. To mark this milestone, you can listen to Clare\u2019s favourite top 30 episodes from across the years and get inspired for your own rambling adventures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join Clare as she journeys along St Oswald\u2019s Way in Northumberland in the company of a local artist; visit Eyam in Derbyshire and learn the village\u2019s 17th-century plague history; wander a stretch of the Thames with Clare and naturalist Steve Backshall; meet taxidermists for a wildlife wander beside the River Wharfe in West Yorskshire; or walk the South Downs Way under moonlight with guidance from the stars and natural navigator Tristan Gooley.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

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Rediscover the magic of the natural world by feeling the sand between your toes at sunrise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
BOOK<\/span> <\/h5>\n\n

ENCHANTMENT <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

BY KATHERINE MAY, FABER, \u00a316.99 (HB) <\/p>\n\n

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Wonder and awe do not necessarily come from seeing beautiful things \u2013 a glorious view, say \u2013 but from deep engagement and close attention to the world around us. <\/p>\n\n

As Katherine May reveals, they can be about standing in the fresh air at sunrise, going barefoot, feeling the pull of the tide during a sea swim, watching the moon (\u201can excellent confidante\u201d) alone in the early hours. An act as simple as touching stone helps anchor us: \u201cThere is a definite coupling\u2026 a communication of density, a heat exchange.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n

This might sound a little hippieish, but Enchantment: <\/em>Reawakening <\/em>Wonder <\/em>in <\/em>an <\/em>Exhausted <\/em>Age <\/em>is poetic and profound. <\/p>\n\n

Written in response to the pandemic, it\u2019s a manual for living fully and well \u2013 above all outdoors \u2013 by rediscovering the instinctive ability we had as children to sense magic in the everyday. <\/p>\n\n

May shows the value of learning with our hands as well as our heads (by trying traditional crafts, for example). And she marvels at how our ancestors saw the divine in everything and walked through landscapes of memory and myth, with \u201cgrand stories\u201d unfolding around them as they went about their daily business. <\/p>\n\n

As with May\u2019s last book, the critically acclaimed Wintering, <\/em>Enchantment <\/em>weaves memoir with nature writing, history and gentle philosophy to re-enchant us with the things that really matter. <\/p>\n\n

The book offers an antidote to modern life\u2019s digital distractions and endless rolling news cycle, which so often leave us running on empty. <\/p>\n\n

Ben Hoare, naturalist and author <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Q&A <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A DIVIDED LANDSCAPE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking the length of Wales, Tom Bullough discovered how urgently we need action on climate issues. He paints a portrait of a nation in the midst of change in his book Sarn Helen <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Sarn Helen and what inspired you to walk it? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Sarn Helen is a Roman road. It once ran the length of Wales, and it still runs clearly through the Brecon Beacons, where I live. I have wanted to walk its full course for years, but I didn\u2019t set out until July 2020, just after the first Covid lockdown. Like so many of us, I was desperate to see a different landscape \u2013 and there was Sarn Helen, as if pointing the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book is as much about the climate crisis as it is about Wales. What was the most urgent climate issue you became aware of during your walk?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s tricky, because everything is interconnected and we have left ourselves so very few options. We need \u201ceverything, everywhere, all at once\u201d, as Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, the UN Secretary General said recently. On the walk itself, I was keenly aware of the collapse in our wildlife populations \u2013 from curlew to water vole, salmon to kestrel \u2013 but also, with the ever-present noise of engines, just how basically reliant we are on fossil fuels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your book includes illustrations by Jackie Morris; what was it like working with The <\/em>Lost <\/em>Words <\/em>artist? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

To work with Jackie has been the greatest honour. When she agreed to be involved, I literally danced on the spot. Her illustrations show various species at imminent risk of extinction in Wales \u2013 at risk, indeed, throughout the UK \u2013 but they possess such life that you can only be inspired. Two of them are framed in my kitchen. I gaze at them in wonder daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You took part in Extinction Rebellion protests; how did those experiences influence the book?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Deeply. One key thing I\u2019ve learnt from my time with Extinction Rebellion is how many people are now grasping the scale of the climate and ecological emergency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To feel alone with the facts is a desperate business. It can leave you feeling paralysed. To try, at least, to be part of the solution allows you to function again. Without XR there would have been no book. It\u2019s really as simple as that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Is your book Sarn <\/em>Helen <\/em>also a call to action for us all? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Yes, in a word. I spoke to various scientists while preparing the book, and I was left in no doubt that we are currently on track for the \u201cworst-case scenario\u201d \u2013 meaning famine, coastal inundation, mass displacement and global conflict. In the end, this is the only issue. Everything we know and love depends on us changing direction, now \u2013 and, for that, everybody must get involved. Ideally, today! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarn Helen <\/strong><\/em> by Tom Bullough, published by Granta, \u00a316.99 (HB) <\/span>is available now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Photos: Naturepl.com, Alex Board<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of the most impressive achievements are in equal parts admirable and bonkers. So it is with the mission Roger Morgan-Grenville planned in spring 2022. The soldier turned curlew conservationist and nature writer decided to tackle a nigh-on 1,000-mile trek from the Solent to Cape Wrath, largely alone and avoiding roads, to visit as many nature restoration projects as possible, while keeping pace with the northward march of greening oaks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":25813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"72","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"72","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_72-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_72-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"Special-2023","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"Special-2023","purple_external_id":"Special-2023-72-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"Special-2023-72-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084069||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084069||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2023-05-04T16:48:35Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"9e59b66b-8151-447a-83bd-1c91fb784d0b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2023-05-08T06:49:38Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADw==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Anlm2a4FRRHqDvRyR-3hNCw","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[33],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"9","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff.jpg",2048,1243,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff-300x182.jpg",300,182,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff-768x466.jpg",768,466,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff-1024x622.jpg",800,486,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff-1536x932.jpg",1536,932,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/04\/0151c7da-73ce-4536-b8cf-a19ba21fb4ff.jpg",2048,1243,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Some of the most impressive achievements are in equal parts admirable and bonkers. So it is with the mission Roger Morgan-Grenville planned in spring 2022. The soldier turned curlew conservationist and nature writer decided to tackle a nigh-on 1,000-mile trek from the Solent to Cape Wrath, largely alone and avoiding roads, to visit as many…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25823"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25823"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28624,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25823\/revisions\/28624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}