Secrets of a Devon Wood: My Nature Journal

by Jo Brown

Artist and illustrator Jo Brown started keeping her nature diary in a bid to document the small wonders of the wood behind her home in Devon. This book is an exact replica of her original black Moleskin journal, a rich illustrated memory of Jo’s discoveries in the order in which she found them. In enchanting, minute detail she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumble-bee, or a native bluebell. And she notes facts about their physiology and life history.

Secrets of a Devon Wood is a treat for the senses, a hymn to the intricate beauty of the natural world and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finally put it down.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Art, Science, Environment, Natural History, Memoir

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2020

Reviews

[Lisa - *OwlBeSatReading*]

Well that was the easiest five star rating I’ve ever had to give!!

This journal is one of the most beautiful things in my book collection. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Just feast your eyes on Jo Browns art and knowledge of the Devon woodland close to her house and forget about all what’s bad in the world.

Fantastic stuff! I love it and will continue loving it every time I pick it up. Glorious.

[Paul]

I have often wondered about keeping a record of some of the species that I see but have never quite got around to it. Knowing me it will probably be a spreadsheet. What I can’t do though is the amazing way of recording the wildlife that Jo Brown finds in her garden and near her home.

In this beautiful book are ninety pages of her beautiful art of creatures such as blue tits and frogs, insects like the cockchafer and shield bugs and orchids, campions and a number from the weird and wonderful world of fungi.

These are a stunning set of artworks that Jo has made from the common and less common wildlife that is found in her garden or at various locations near her home. I like her style, the pictures feel alive and dynamic and are full of colour and details. Each of the pages has notes about the featured subject, and details on what you need to look for when identifying them. I like that she has recorded the location of most of the flora fauna and fungi on each of the pages. So locations, like her garden or for particular rare species are kept deliberately secret. Highly recommended.

[Irene]

First of all, I'd like to know how this full-colour hardcover with a printed board under the dust jacket was $15 from Book Depository. It's one of the most beautiful books I own, inside and out, and if you like looking at field journals and scientific illustrations, this is an excellent one to get.

Brown's illustrations are gorgeous, detailed and vibrant, and the accompanying notes, while brief, are fascinating. She even discovered a new species of parasitic fungus of spiders! This book was published in 2020 so it may have been named since then. Great for the identification of birds, insects, plants and a few mushrooms, with a little cross-referencing for safety.

[The Book Sheelf]

What an absolutely beautiful book, the illustrations are truly stunning and the notes are brief but very informative. It’s just lovely, definitely a new addition to my ‘forever shelf’ and a book I’m sure to keep coming back to.

This would make such a brilliant present for any nature enthusiast.

[Shuk Pakhi]

ইংল্যান্ডের ডেভনে থাকেন আমাদের জো ব্রাউন। তিনি একজন ইলাস্ট্রেটর। নোটবুক হাতে তিনি তার বাড়ির পেছনের জঙ্গলে চলে যান আর সেখানে বসে বসে নোটবুকে ছবি আঁকেন গাছ-গাছালি-ঘাস-লতা-পাতা-কীট-পতঙ্গ-পাখির। সাথে সেই পোকা-মাকড়-পাখি-তৃণের জীবনচক্র নিয়ে কিছু তথ্যও লিখে রাখেন। সাথে থাকে সেই জায়গার দ্রাঘিমাংশ ও অক্ষাংশ।
জো'র সেই নোটবুকটাই হচ্ছে এই বই। অরিজিনাল নোটবুকটি যেমন ছিল, যে কাগজের ছিল সেই একই কাগজ ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে এই বইটিতে।
পৃষ্ঠা খোলে হা করে তাকিয়ে থাকি। আর জো'র চোখে দুনিয়া দেখি। দুনিয়া বহুতই সুন্দর। রিয়েলি লাভ দিস বুক।

[Gavin Whyte]

A wonderful work of art. Every page is brimming with beauty. Impossible not to give it 5 stars.

[Fiction Addition Angela]

Secrets of a Devon Wood is a beautiful book by Jo Brown.

Jo started keeping a book to document the small wonders of the woods behind her house in her home in Devon, UK.

The pages in the book are an exact replica of those in her journal.

She documents the buff tailed bumblebee, bluebells, Mr Robin - all my favourites.

Perfect for nature lovers.

[Lori]

This beautifully illustrated reproduction of the artists actual journal is a delight to the eyes and makes one feel as though he or she were observing nature firsthand with the the author. This is a book one can refer to again and again, especially when feeling the need to be immersed in nature.

[Ellen-Arwen Tristram]

What an absolutely beautiful book! I love the authenticity of this; it obviously started as simply her notebook, as you can see where she has tippexed out the coordinates of her garden and wrote over ‘MY GARDEN’ instead, so as to keep it personal/ private. I think she probably started out without thinking of publication, and the idea only came later – the back page even has scribbles where she was trying out pens! A very nicely produced book in all its details.

The illustrations are absolutely exquisite: accurate, colourful, and very detailed. As the book covers several years, while she details interesting or particularly attractive specimens that she finds, it made me think about what was going on in the world at the time. From March 2020 onwards, she would have been making these entries during the pandemic and the writing alongside increases in complexity as she also collaborates with scientists to ensure that she has the correct specimen, involving sending some to laboratories etc. The last entry is particularly intriguing as she discovers and new type of fungus that, at the time of publishing, was still being identified.

I also really loved having the explanations of the Latin names for all the plants, along with her explanation of the direct translation in comparison to the common names. A really lovely and soothing book that makes me want to go and study botany!

[Tammy]

This book is beautifully illustrated. I loved reading all about the birds, plants, insects etc. The author found some really usual plants and insects in her garden, which I found very interesting. This is a very quick read, but it’s made me think about what I mean find in my own, if only I would open my eyes and look!

[thehalcyondaysofsummer]

Secret tip: look under the book jacket, the illustrations are exquisite

[Zeta]

Beautifully illustrated and fascinating; the mushroom and lichen observations were my favorite.

[Syd]

So cute and sweet. I love nature journals.

[Jennifer]

As an artist and an avid observer of all the nature I encounter, I could not resist this special book! The hand-drawn and colored specimens and carefully noted details are beautifully presented. While there is not a lot of in-depth text to read, this replica of the author’s own journal encourages curiosity and I found myself looking up so many things about the fungus, birds, spiders and more. Anyone who loves the natural world will be well rewarded by experiencing Jo Brown’s first foray into sharing her nature journal with us.

[Elysia]

Stunning! Filled with beautiful illustrations and facts about UK species

[Emily Rush]

What a beautiful little book, informative and a relaxing read. Good choice by my young cousin!

[Josie Dabinett]

I bought this in the Waterstones sale after Christmas because I couldn't resist how beautiful it was and because I love anything about Devon.

It was a quick read - though took me longer because I kept taking pictures to send to friends about bits that were particularly interesting or beautiful and occasionally even gross.

I had a lot of fun with this book and feel like I learnt a lot. It certainly made me want to go to a woodland area and look at things very closely.

[Delphine]

Ce livre est merveilleux, les illustrations sont magnifiques et les explications (en anglais) montrent à quel point l'autrice est passionnée. Même si on n'est pas particulièrement fan de nature, ce livre nous donne envie de regarder autour de nous et de chercher les petites bestioles, plantes et champignons.

[Pixie Unger]

Loved it! Was completely inspired to break out the pencil crayons and start sketching again. My library request list is largely full of botanical drawing books. It was an excellent Christmas gift! I really hope there is a second edition with more. Or a second volume.

Please Jo! I want some more!

[Emma]

What a truly gorgeous book. Set out as an artists journal the illustrations are absolutely stunning with room at the back for you to draw your own.

This has given me a desperate need for a new tattoo to add to my floral arm.

Thanks to my mum for the recommend.

[Willa Taylor]

Very informative, beautifully illustrated, and highly inspirational

[Mary Mojica]

Beauty turned into a book. It's a wonderful job from Jo. One can find inspiration, nature, dedication, and love on every page. I loved it.

[Abigail]

Thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend to any and all lovers of nature.

[Catherine Mason]

Lovely illustrations and interesting info (could have done without the homeopathic mention though).

[Robin]

Absolutely gorgeous and informative. Inspiring, even.

[Warren Rochelle]

A lovely book!

Jo Brown, artist and illustrator, kept a nature diary, in an effort to record the "small wonders of the wood behind her home in Devon. The pages in this book are an exact replica of those in her original journal" (back cover). She "zooms in" on such tiny wonders as a"bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumblebee," or a green tiger beetle. With each illustration, "she notes facts about their physiology and life history" (back cover).

I was struck by the exquisite details of each drawing, their intricacy and accuracy, and their beauty. All of the drawings are of the small, which are no less wonderful than the big and familiar. Indeed, this is a "quiet call to arms for all of to acknowledge and preserve [the natural world]" (back cover). This book is also a striking reminder that we are also part of this world.

Recommended.

[Cora]

What a delightful book this is, for sure one of the most beautiful ones I have. Loved the heavier feel and journal style look and feel of the pages, she has paid lots of attention to them. The drawings are so stunning to look at, the text really gives loads of info. The sleeve is delicate with beautiful drawings. remove it and you are given a really old fashioned feel with the dark olive green natural motive, I really love it. it is a book to pick up again and again!

[Jo]

This is such a stunning book. The illustrations are beautiful, the information added to each plant, animal or fungi is fascinating, and you get an interesting peek into a world that may have passed you by. I’ve always loved botanical journals, and whilst there are blank pages at the end that you would assume were for your own additions, I wouldn’t dare to sully my copy with my own attempts.

[Bex]

Perhaps the most beautiful book I've ever seen. The illustrations are printed so perfectly like its an original copy. The author should be very proud of her achievement.

[Annabelle Forty]

Wholly original and spectacularly beautiful, Secrets of a Devon Wood is an awe-inspiring nature journal documenting the flora and fauna of the author’s garden and surrounding woodland in Devon. The author, Jo Brown, is a professional illustrator and her artwork is heavily influenced by the natural world around her. An exact replica of Jo’s original Moleskine journal, her book is distinctive in its uniqueness and hailed for its scribbles and unfiltered quality.

The exquisite illustrations have been created from Jo’s own photographs, and showcase a vast array of local species including the buff-tailed bumblebee, blue tit, red campion and oyster mushroom, to name but a few. Featuring a page (or two) per species, the illustrations are accompanied by detailed notes and observations regarding physiology and life history, as well as dates, weather and an exact location.

In a time where things are looking bleak for the wildlife in Britain, Secrets of a Devon Wood is a striking reminder of the beauty that you can find just outside your door.