Our wild picks for World Book Day

The Trust shares book recommendations from our Journal

World Book Day falls on 5 March and gives us a chance to celebrate literature of all types and from all genres. 

The Trust has been reviewing literature on wildness, wild places and nature in our Members' Journal since 2006 and we'd like to share just some of our recommendations.

You can enjoy these books anywhere and at anytime. Pick one to read wherever you are, whether that's at the top of a Munro, in a bothy after a day of adventuring or curled up warm in your bed. 

1. Wild Fell by Lee Schofield: Wild Fell is a personal account of the author's decade managing a working upland farm for the RSPB, set against the backdrop of the Lake District. Balancing conservation and farming in a community sometimes resistant to change, Schofield offers a hopeful vision for the future of landscapes where we can all thrive.
2. Scotland: A Rewilding Journey by Susan Wright, Peter Cairns and Nick Underdown: We reviewed this well-written and beautifully illustrated book in our Spring 2019 Journal, and were impressed by its passion and optimism. Scotland: A Rewilding Journey describes how and why much of Scotland’s uplands are ecologically degraded, aiming to inspire land managers, politicians, conservation NGOs and the reader with a vision of a wilder Scotland. 
3. Regeneration: The Rescue of a Wild Land by Andrew Painting: Regeneration tells the painfully honest but ultimately inspirational story of Mar Lodge’s transformation from a hunting estate to a model of ecological restoration. A must-read for those interested in landscape-scale conservation and the future of Scotland’s natural heritage.
4. Scottish Hill Tracks (Sixth Edition), produced by ScotWays: This sixth edition of Scottish Hill Tracks is the result of five years’ work by the ScotWays team, and will be appreciated by all those who enjoy linear routes through the hills and getting immersed in the wild places they pass through. A very worthy addition to the bookshelves of walkers, hill runners, mountain bikers and horse riders alike. 

   

5. The Outrun by Amy Liptrot: Now a major motion picture, this deeply personal story chronicles Amy Liptrot's struggle with addiction and eventually finding solace in the wild Orkney landscapes of her childhood. This beautifully written memoir centres on self-discovery, recovery and the connection between human life and the natural world. 
6. Castles in the Mist by Robin Noble: Robin Noble’s Castles in the Mist offers a valuable insight into the historical context of the evolution of the current Highland landscape and challenges the traditional model of the Highland estate. 
7. Ethel by Helen Mort: This biography of pioneering environmentalist Ethel Haythornthwaite offers a compelling portrait of a woman whose conservation efforts shaped the Peak District and Sheffield’s wild places. Through a series of personal letters and reflections, Ethel’s fascinating life, significant legacy and remarkable contributions to preserving nature are brought to light.
8. Treewilding by Jake M. Robinson: In Treewilding, microbial ecologist Jake M. Robinson explores the hidden worlds that exist within trees and forests, revealing them as complex ecosystems alive with microbes, animals and interconnected life. The book challenges assumptions about tree planting while highlighting both the urgency of biodiversity loss and the hopeful resilience of nature.