This is a very down-to-earth account of a family's desire to respect and restore the natural environment and it's written as a month-by-month account, with beautiful illustrations. A refreshing, enlightening and enjoyable read. 

Hannah Dale is an artist and founder of the gift company Wrendale Designs. When her husband inherited the family farm in Lincolnshire, they decided to rewild the land, letting nature take back control. This book is her account of their progress. 

The land was originally claimed from marshy wetlands so ponds with pond life are now prevalent. And, by allowing the natural landscape to revert to its state before cultivation and management, they have seen the return of skylarks, meadow pipits, hobbies, polecats and many more species to the farm.

Hannah charts the changes to the environment in beautiful watercolours and sketches and these illustrations punctuate her diary throughout. It really is a glorious book that is something to dip into time and again, after first reading from cover to cover.  

The gentle descriptions of Hannah's story detailing personal challenges as well as observations of the physical changes to their environment as the months pass, make this an enjoyable, accessible and engaging read. It's full of hope, beauty and anticipation. A real tonic.