Scintillating SPRING READS

From darning socks to healing with plants, here are our top ten books for country-lovers this month

Clean & Green BY NANCY BIRTWHISTLE (PAN MACMILLAN, £12.99)

The winner of The Great British Bake Off has whipped up 101 sustainable cleaning recipes – for a house worthy of a Hollywood handshake.

Healing with Plants BY THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN (OCTOPUS, £25)

This traditional ‘Herbal’ covers around 140 plants, giving you the tools to transform your back garden into an outdoor medicine cabinet.

Walking in the Woods BY PROFESSOR YOSHIFUMI MIYAZAKI (OCTOPUS, £9.99)

The leading expert in ‘shinrin-yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’ encourages readers to embrace this ancient practice and relish its myriad health benefits.

Slow Rise BY ROBERT PENN (PENGUIN, £17.99)

As if baking sourdough wasn’t demanding enough, in this book the author sets out to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, for the ultimate homemade loaf.

One of the Family BY NICKY CAMPBELL (HODDER & STOUGHTON, £20)

In this touching tale, the Radio 5 Breakfast host shares how the unconditional love of his Labrador Maxwell helped him overcome lifelong emotional challenges.

Birdsong in a Time of Silence BY STEVEN LOVATT (PENGUIN, £12.99)

As the world went quiet during the 2020 spring lockdown, birdsong became more audible – this is a lyrical reflection on that most cheering of sounds.

The Art of Repair BY MOLLY MARTIN (SHORT BOOKS, £14.99)

From darning clothes to patching up old toys, this book, illustrated by its author, explores the humble art of mending things – a defiant act in our disposable age.

A World on the Wing BY SCOTT WEIDENSAUL (PAN MACMILLAN, £20)

The Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted author and ornithologist unravels the mysteries of migration, that most remarkable phenomenon of the natural world.

Barn Club BY ROBERT J SOMERVILLE (CHELSEA GREEN, £20)

A reflection on the lost art of community crafting, this is an eloquent homage to the raising of an elm barn over the course of a year.

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster BY BILL GATES (PENGUIN, £20)

The perfect antidote to gloomy predictions of a looming catastrophe, this proactive book, from one of the world’s greatest innovators, offers practical solutions.