‘He does compose beautifully, especially of his biggest love – our crazy birds…FOR THE Marsh is a delightful read.’ – Christopher Hart, Daily Mail

How the rewilding of eight acres of Norfolk marshland inspired a family and brought character even nearer to home.

When article writer Simon Barnes heard a Cetti’s warbler sing out as he resulted in to look at a house for sale, he knew instantly that he previously found his brand-new home. The fact that his garden backed onto an area of marshy property about Over the Marsh: A Calendar year Encircled by Wildness and Wet only increased the options, but there is always worries that it could end up in the incorrect hands and be lost to advancement or intense farming. His wife saw through the delicate negotiations for the buy. Once they’d got it, they began to manage it as a conservation region, working with the Wildlife Trust to make sure it became as appealing as possible to all species. Because of their son Eddie, that has Down’s syndrome, it became a location of calm and inspiration.

In WITHIN THE Marsh, we observe how nature can always bring surprises, and talk about in the triumphs as fresh animals – Chinese water deer, otters and hedgehogs – occur, and watch as the number of species of parrot tops 100 and continues on developing. As the seasons go by, you can find moments of triumph when not one but two marsh harrier families use the marsh being a hunting floor, but also disappointments as chemical substance run-off from neighbouring farmland creates a nettles monoculture in recently turned earth.

For anybody who appreciated books such as for example Meadowland, or the writing of Stephen Moss, Roger Deakin or Adam Nicolson, this is a stunning and beautifully told account of the wonders that can sometimes be found on our doorsteps, and exactly how nature can transform us all.