How to Reconnect with Nature Through the Seasons

The Wildlife Year

The Wildlife Year will help you reconnect with nature and take a walk on the wild side, wherever you live. 
 
 Nature is right on your doorstep. Whether you&rsquo;re in the countryside, city or somewhere in between, there is wildlife everywhere if you know where to look. And while it&rsquo;s trickier to find in some places than others, nature can thrive in the most surprising spaces. 
 
The Wildlife Year is a gentle introduction to the events that mark the natural cycle of the year. Best-selling author, Sally Coulthard, will inspire you to discover nature in all its glory and to seek out, observe and enjoy the wildlife around you. Explore the unique properties of the seasons. Discover more about meteorological phenomena like weather events and cloud formations. And even learn how the moon and its cycle affects the natural world. This fascinating introduction will help you identify both our best-loved, and most misunderstood, plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects, with helpful information on where and when to look for them. 
 
 This book is a glorious celebration of the magic that can be found in each season. Beautifully illustrated, this irresistible guide will encourage you to get outdoors and make a wonderful gift for the nature-seeker in all of us.

Passionate about the countryside, Sally Coulthard is best-known for being Country Living’s ‘The New Good Life’ expert since 2018. She pens a monthly column and also writes and presents their ‘The New Good Life’ video series online. Sally is also the best-selling author of over thirty non-fiction books about nature, rural history and craft. Her titles have been translated into over a dozen languages. Sally studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Oxford University, and worked in factual television, before moving back to her beloved Yorkshire where she set up a 12-acre smallholding and kitchen garden. Witty, engaging and hands-on, Sally shares her enthusiasm about all aspects of rural life, past and present. From the history of the landscape to native wildlife, superstitions to growing your own food, Sally loves to share her passion for the countryside through her writing, talks, interviews and presenting work.

The Myths, Magic & Language of Flowers

Floriography

Flowers can talk. Red roses say &lsquo;I love you&rsquo;, white lilies offer condolence and poppies invite us to remember.For thousands of years, humans have used flowers as a language, a short-hand for emotions and meanings.&#160;In her new book, Sally Coulthard, takes a fascinating look at floriography and shows how we still use this secret language across the world. She delves into the meanings of flowers and where they came from, whether it&rsquo;s ancient mythology or hedgerow folklore.Covering 50 well-loved flowers and plants, from peonies to sweetpeas, ivy to irises, Floriography is a beautifully illustrated guide that will take the reader on an intriguing journey through the history, legend, anthropology and literature of flowers, showing how modern-day society still relies on the meaning of flowers. From the Chinese lotus flower to the Celtic bluebell, the myth, magic and language of flowers is still blossoming today.

White Rabbits and Black Cats – The History of Common Folk Beliefs

Superstition

Ever wondered why we touch wood, salute magpies, skip over cracks and throw salt over our&#160;shoulders? Then Sally Coulthard has the answer as she gets under the skin of these peculiar pastimes&#160;in her new book Superstition.&#160;Exploring&#160;the history and background of fifty of these fascinating cultural behaviours, discover&#160;how they affected our everyday life and why many of these beliefs are still pertinent today. 
 
 Superstitions reveal the hopes, fears and preoccupations of our ancestors and give&#160;a fascinating glimpse into how they lived. Seemingly bizarre folk beliefs and practices &ndash; in&#160;farming,&#160;marriage, craft, love, feasting, birth and death &ndash;&#160;often have their roots in real-life worries and desires.&#160;By looking at the material circumstances and challenging environments of our forefathers we start to understand how strange rituals and rules give comfort and reassurance, whether it&rsquo;s hoping for a good harvest, wishing our loved ones a safe journey or trying for a baby. 
 &#160; 
 Pick a side. This is a book with two covers, giving you the chance to decide if you want to enter the light or dark side.&#160;With its gorgeous folk illustrations and light-hearted tone, Superstition aims not only to give readers a fascinating insight into recent history but also bring a smile of recognition that, perhaps, we&rsquo;ve got more in common with our superstitious ancestors than we&rsquo;d care to admit.

A Compendium of Crafts: New, Old and Forgotten

Crafted

Crafted is a celebration of craft in the 21st century &ndash; a definitive visual guide to all things handmade.Featuring over 73 of the most popular and well-established crafts, Sally Coulthard explores their history, materials and techniques as she offers a deeper insight into some of your favourite crafts and provides inspiration for both new and ancient creative pursuits.After an introductory section covering the culture of craft (its definition, why it matters, history and community), the main body of the book consists of beautifully illustrated entries on 73 of the world&#39;s most established crafts. The scope is encyclopaedic and covers Paper, Pen &amp; Print (bookbinding, origami, calligraphy, lino printing), Textiles, Cloth &amp; Leather (fur &amp; leather, embroidery, knitting, dyeing), Pottery, Glass &amp; Stone (porcelain, stained glass, stone carving), Wood, Willow &amp; Nature (basket weaving, wood carving, lime plastering and thatching) and Metal (gold, bronze, cast iron and steel).A comprehensive directory of craft organisations&#160;and professional communities and guilds, completes this groundbreaking compendium.

&#39;The book is a thing of beauty itself...a fascinating read and serves as inspiration for those who love making things&#39;

Sally Coulthard

The Myths, Folklore and Meaning of Birds

From bestselling author, Sally Coulthard,&#160;comes this charmingly illustrated guide to our favourite feathered friends and folklore that surround their lives. 
 
 Even today, birds are hugely symbolic. From songbirds to seagulls, nightingales to morning larks, we still use the cultural language of the avian world. Doves bring peace, storks carry newborn babies. Robins mark Christmas, hens Easter. Blackbirds and thrushes herald the dawn, owls welcome in the night. Even in our modern, rational world, magpies and peacocks still invite superstitions. 
 
 In her new book, Sally&#160;takes a fascinating flight through the myths, magic and meaning of birds. Covering 50 well-loved avian species from across the world, she glides through their folklore, legends and symbolism. From common sayings to strange superstitions, ancient beliefs to modern celebrations, this gloriously illustrated and international guide reveals that Bird Lore is as alive and vibrant as it ever was.

Sally Coulthard

Books by Sally Coulthard

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