Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back - An Illustrated Guide

by Isabella Tree, Angela Harding (Illustrator)

How to Bring Wildlife Back - An Illustrated Guide is a stunningly beautiful gift book written by Isabella Tree which tells the story of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex. It is illustrated in full colour with lino prints and watercolours by Angela Harding (A Year Unfolding) and photographs from Knepp.

Knepp is now home to some of the rarest and most beautiful creatures in the UK, including nightingales, kingfishers, turtle doves and peregrine falcons, hazel dormice and harvest mice, scarce chaser dragonflies and purple emperor butterflies. The sheer abundance of life is staggering too. When you walk out into the scrubland on an early spring morning the sound of birdsong is so loud it feels like it’s vibrating in your lungs. This is the story of Knepp, and a guide telling you how to bring wildlife back where you live.

Includes timelines, an indepth look at rewilding, spotlight features about native animals including species that have returned and thrive - butterflies, bats, owls and beetles. There are accessible in-garden activities to 're-wild' your own spaces and the book encourages you to slow down and observe the natural world around you, understand the connections between species and habitats, and the huge potential for life right on your doorstep.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Picture Books

96 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Base a book on the cover. Whether the topic interests you or not, the linocut and illustrations are worth your time. However, you should know, that the topic is fascinating and one we can all emulate in small ways on whatever slice of earth we call home.

Also, I’ve seen this in the children’s section of shops- probably because it’s illustrated. Adults deserve illustration too! It’s not for children per se, but they would adore the pictures, I’m sure.

[Sean Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book

[Sietske · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very informative and has beautiful illustrations. I loved how in the illustrations, there were drawings and sometimes pictures too.
It shows how an area can come back to life by rewinding.
I liked it a lot, even though it was a bit repetitive. From the start I understood all the species mentioned returned or exploded in numbers at Knepp, so it was a bit over the top to say every time that they now habited Knepp, and why.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful accessible book suitable for ages 9-99!! Lovely illustrations done by the ever talented Angela Harding, and such a beautiful summary of the work done at Knepp! Also inspirational for anyone interested in re-wilding :)

[Chari · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cup of tea.

[MKF · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a good introduction for kids but why the author decided to put random words and terms in bold print.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful artwork. Very informative.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

First, the rewilding project at Knepp is an absolutely fantastic one that should be replicated many times throughout the world. Even small rewilding projects, like the ones in my back yard and front flower bed, attract a lot of wildlife. Tree and Burrell are to be commended for their ongoing project, and congratulated for this book, which shows how important it is to support natural habitats.

This is somewhat of a picture book format, but is almost 100 pages long. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, with a woodcut feel to many of the larger ones. There are some photographs; the aerial view of the area before and after reqilding was fascinating. It was especially valuable to have different plants featured, and accompanied by explanations of the creatures that benefit from the plants presence.

This is probably best for third or fourth grade and up, since there are a lot of scientific or plant names that might cause some difficulties. The print tends to be on the smaller side.

This is a really beautiful book. Pair with Collard's environmental books or Roland Smith's They Are Here: How Invasive Species Are Spoiling Our Ecosystem, or Burns' The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe (the reason for my yard's rewilding!) for environmentally conscious young readers.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Harding, illustrator extraordinaire, has collaborated brilliantly with author Isabella Tree, to bring the Knepp rewinding project to vibrant life. Packed with just enough information to be substantial without being overwhelming, this illustrated children's book would find a home in any adults environmentally aware bookshelf. The gentle colour added to the black and white wood cut pallet is effective in breathing the warmth and life of wild things described onto the page and into our homes.
A lovely book full of important information and most of all hope.
The illustrations are artfully done and worthy of framing.
Together, the story they tell is teeming with life.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle 'How to bring wildlife back - a guide' is a bit misleading. This isn't a how-to or a guide, unless you happen to own vast swathes of land - even then, it isn't really a guide (though it does list helpful resources which *are* guides at the end).

This is the story of the wildlife that has returned to the Knepp Estate in Sussex - in itself, a lovely and hopeful story. Of course, Angela Harding's illustrations are beautiful and striking. This would be a great book for teaching children about British wildlife, rewilding and reintroduction.

[Regis Philbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful linocuts by Angela Harding enhance this abridged version of the tale of a British manor estate that is returned to its pre-agricultural state by the couple who inherit it. I'm usually not sympathetic to people who inherit castles but it's nice what they've attempted to do. I've liked the idea of British beavers since I read C.S. Lewis as a boy, so learning about the reintroduction of beavers and other native wildlife to the estate, and the effect they have on the landscape and other species, was eye-opening.

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of book.
I enjoyed sip reading through this illustrated, junior, edition of the longer adult version of Wilding, the balance between picture and text is just right and encourages going down rabbit trails if one wanted to… I wanted to.
I have to add it’s so heartening to keep hearing of the insects, birdlife, and animals, and especially the beavers – for the first time in 400 years - returning to the wild in this section of England.
The author includes ideas for even the smallest changes to encourage the return of, or more of, creatures to the spaces we live in.

[Kathryn Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the pointed absence of any discussion of class or where the money came from to simply rewild acres of land, this was a beautifully made book that left me mega outdoor eager and hopeful. Feeling excited and inspired to learn more about wildlife, care for it and share it with others, particularly the families I work with. Have already re-read various chapters because it's ideal for autumn bedtimes.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hopeful, lovely way to begin the new year. It reminded me of The Biggest Little Farm, but even more so, in book form. I have now got the grownup version on hold at the library, which will probably not have such beautiful illustrations by Angela Harding, but will probably have more detailed information. Pros and cons.

My only question is how (and if) the Trees have made this a financially viable situation?

[A Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a beautiful book with beautiful illustrations. It might be aimed at children but as an adult, I loved it and found it inspiring. I have now learned to love the native plants in my garden and am currently creating a wildflower area!

[Chloe Coulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, full of fascinating, useful facts and information, and brimming with hope and optimism.

[Eduardo F. Gómez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a start for your kids. In case you have them, if not the you can adopt one, become a better person yourself. Thank you Bella

[Peter Zomer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-illustrated book, with brief texts that contain the essence of what she says in her original book (also with the title 'Wilding') about Knepp, their farm/ estate that they gave back to nature. A strong case for rewilding, attractively presented in this nice gadgetbook. Spread the word!

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilding is one of my all-time favourite non-fiction books, so I was overjoyed to discover this condensed, illustrated version for children. The subtitle is misleading, as this isn't a how-to guide -- unless you have the resources to restore a river's natural course and introduce megafauna to your back garden -- but I'll assume that was a decision made by the publishing team. (Or maybe a call to action aimed at the government?)

But even though this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was still an absolute delight. The illustrations -- a mix of watercolours and woodcuts -- are absolutely gorgeous, and capture the vibrancy and movement and colour of the wildlife at Knepp, from the smallest "weeds" and insects to larger animals.

Above all, this is a message of hope, which is something we could all do with in these times.

[Deniz Gorencan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rewilding” diye bireysel bir çabanın varlığından bile haberim yoktu. Duyarlılığın dünyayı dönüştürebileceğine dair muhteşem bir kitap.