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Granta Books Natures Calendar.
Inspired by a traditional Japanese calendar which divides the year into segments of four to five days, this book guides you through a year of 72 seasons as they manifest in the British Isles.
From 'Snowdrops emerge' in the first days of January to 'Tree skeletons and sky' at the close of the year, each fleeting season is epitomized by some natural phenomenon, be it a plant coming into bud, a burst of birdsong, or a cobweb spangled by dew. Drawing on folklore and tradition, herbal medicine and natural history, this is a book to give, to treasure, to dip into, and to inspire your own regular acts of noticing nature as it flourishes and fades and rises again, through the seasons.
From 'Snowdrops emerge' in the first days of January to 'Tree skeletons and sky' at the close of the year, each fleeting season is epitomized by some natural phenomenon, be it a plant coming into bud, a burst of birdsong, or a cobweb spangled by dew. Drawing on folklore and tradition, herbal medicine and natural history, this is a book to give, to treasure, to dip into, and to inspire your own regular acts of noticing nature as it flourishes and fades and rises again, through the seasons.
Hardcover
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January 8, 2026
The British countryside is known for its sweeping expanses and ever-changing seasons. Intrigued by the micro-seasonal changes, an ecologist, a book coach, a lecturer in human environmental geography, and a historian came together to write a book on their journey through a year, divided into 72 seasons.
Their book, Nature's Calendar, is like a series of commas along a long road. The comma works like a speed bump to slow down our pace, to help us develop habits of observing the mind-blowing natural world. Be they animals or plants, be they a fan of tiny leaf-tips of daffodils in spring or mistletoe in winter, all can be delightful to look at.
The day after I read Nature's Calendar, I received a much-loved gift of local mountain-themed calendar. The calendar collates twelve drawings of iconic peaks, each with its unique character and habitat. If Nature's Calendar is made up road signs by commas, this local calendar is a series of twelve periods. A well-placed period points to hiking enthusiasts where the pause should be, and when the next ascent should start.
Their book, Nature's Calendar, is like a series of commas along a long road. The comma works like a speed bump to slow down our pace, to help us develop habits of observing the mind-blowing natural world. Be they animals or plants, be they a fan of tiny leaf-tips of daffodils in spring or mistletoe in winter, all can be delightful to look at.
The day after I read Nature's Calendar, I received a much-loved gift of local mountain-themed calendar. The calendar collates twelve drawings of iconic peaks, each with its unique character and habitat. If Nature's Calendar is made up road signs by commas, this local calendar is a series of twelve periods. A well-placed period points to hiking enthusiasts where the pause should be, and when the next ascent should start.
Displaying 1 of 1 review