I’ve recently read this beautiful book by the writer and
farmer, John Lewis-Stempel. It won the Wainwright Prize for 2015.
The book is about the passing months and seasons of an
ancient meadow (on the edge of Wales
To quote John Lewis-Stempel “it’s the sort of field where,
as you step in, you breathe out.” A mountain river runs along the eastern edge
of the field and two oaks, with elephant trunk thick roots (around 700 years
old) remain as evidence of when the land was wooded. A kingfisher flies along
the river, never deviating from its course, a small copse is home to foxes, a
pair of ravens roost in nearby trees, rabbits graze near their warrens and the
old boar badger (with his dragging back leg) patrols his territory.
One year he decides to let the meadow ‘go’, instead of
moving livestock around in it. As a result, in late June the meadow is bursting
with wildflowers and he realises that, once upon a time, it would have been a
hay meadow. Sadly, 97% of traditional meadows have now disappeared due to
intensively managed farmland.
When it is ready to be mown, he decides to do it the old
fashioned way – with a scythe. However, he notices the curlew and meadow pipit
are still on their nests, and so as not to disturb them, he mows around them –
leaving them ‘afloat’ on their own meadow islands.
On one beautiful Midsummer Eve he goes for a walk on the
farm and his three horses and donkey surround him like a merry-go-round. For a
few moments he wonders what they are doing – then the donkey and one of the horses
tug at his sleeve and he realises they are playing and want him to join in!
To sum it up, it’s one of those books that you remember long
after you have finished reading it – and probably like me you will want to read
it again and again. So, if you just read one nature book this year, make it
this one. You won’t be disappointed, I promise!
