The past 12 months have been exceptionally good for nature and countryside books. From memoirs to nature writing and from historical insight to folklore, there have been some wonderful additions to the ideal countryside library.
The team and regular contributors to BBC Countryfile Magazine have picked out the books that have made the most impression on them.
1. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
Winner of 2025’s Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, Raising Hare tells the captivating story of the author’s relationship with a newborn leveret she found abandoned near her home. Dalton brought the wild hare home – but never named it – and helped it survive. Along the way their relationship of trust transformed her world view, and her life, in profound and unexpected ways. A powerful book that has been called “A moving, magical blend of memoir and nature writing”.
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2. The Accidental Garden by Richard Mabey
In this enthralling book, celebrated nature writer Richard Mabey brings the timeless conflicts of human dominion over nature down to an intimate level by reflecting and focusing on the daily dramas of his own two-acre Norfolk garden. In seeking a balance between giving nature autonomy and cultivating a pleasant and productive space for human life, nature becomes an equal partner in Mabey’s “accidental” garden. In his own words, the book is “in parts journal, memoir, treatise”.
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3. Craftland by James Fox
A craftsperson’s skill was once a survival essential and a part of their identity – today, the lovingly handmade is often a luxury, but is perhaps more valuable than ever. For this vital book, broadcaster James Fox spent two years travelling the length of Britain seeking out the master craftspeople keeping our most endangered crafts alive. His moving stories – of thatcher and tanner, cutler, cooper and rush weaver – celebrate the tenacity and creative skills of a dedicated few.
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4. An Unnatural History of Britain by Kevin Parr
Scorpions, Aesculapian snakes, wallabies, green lizards and eagle owls – there are many unusual non-native species that have made their homes in the British Isles. With his usual lively curiosity and a healthy dose of wit, nature writer and BBC Countryfile Magazine contributor Kevin Parr travels the length of the country in a thrilling search for these exotic animals, dispelling some of the myths that have emerged around them along the way.
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5. Tree Hunting by Paul Wood
Plan your own urban tree hunting adventures with the help of this charming celebration of the most spectacular, quirky and note-worthy specimens in Britain and Ireland’s towns and cities. Paul Wood’s quest for named trees takes him from north to south, starting with the broad, stocky Zetland Sycamore in Lerwick and ending with Rosslare’s Seaside Cypress in County Down. Included is a fun description or history for each; for example, the Witch’s Broom in North Pickenham is a rare zelkova, named for its silhouette.
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6. The Perimeter by Quintin Lake
Lugging a 24kg backpack, photographer Quintin Lake spent 454 days across five years walking the perimeter of Britain – wild camping in all weathers and through a pandemic – snapping more than 179,000 images on the way. Over 1,300 of them, organised by county, are in this fascinating collection accompanied by entries from his travel journal. Both intimate and monumental, this is an important contemporary portrait of our edgelands.
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7. Peatlands by Alys Fowler
Bog – the word sounds dank, claggy, unlovable. Yet functioning peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined and harbour astonishing biodiversity, from mosses and carnivorous sundews to rare butterflies, golden plovers and hen harriers. In her Wainwright Prize-longlisted paean to this unsung ecosystem, Alys Fowler roams the peat bogs of the British Isles, capturing their beauty and wildlife, from the Peak District to Scotland’s Flow Country.
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8. Common People by Leah Gordon and Stephen Ellcock
In 1600, 50% of England was common land. It’s now only 3%. Starting with William the Conqueror in 1066, curators Leah Gordon and Stephen Ellcock take us on an artistic journey through the history of enclosure of England’s common land, giving a voice to centuries of people who were maginalised and silenced by the ruling classes. This insightful book provides context and adds relevance to today’s burning questions over who owns the land and has rights to roam, camp and grow on it.
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9. Is a River Alive? By Robert Macfarlane
Should the law recognise rivers as living beings? The answer from bestselling author Robert Macfarlane is a resounding yes. In this personal, heartfelt book Macfarlane takes us from Ecuador, where goldmining threatens rivers, to the bruised lagoons of Chennai in India to the Mutehekau Shipu in Quebec, where activists work to save it from damming. He leads us on a journey to the revelation that the wellbeing for our rivers will be forever entwined with the fate of the human race.
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10. Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter Kuper
While insects may be underappreciated by most of us humans, they have shaped the evolution of all life on Earth. In this visually rich infographic work, cartoonist Peter Kuper takes us on a journey through time in the company of insects. As ants, butterflies, cicadas and bees flit through New York Public Library, they visit displays telling their stories, from giant prehistoric dragonflies to dung beetles that navigate by the stars, illuminating the work of pioneering naturalists along the way.
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11. Wildlands by Brogen Murphy
Imagine a vast area of wildlands, stretching from northern England to southern Scotland, where humans are banished and nature is allowed to thrive, where wolves, lynx and bison run free. This is where 13-year-old Astrid and her little sister Indie find themselves accidentally stranded, with just a rucksack and a phone – but do they have the skills to survive? This is a fast-paced adventure filled with nail-biting drama and thrilling animal encounters. (Best for ages 8–12).
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12. Think Big: Secrets of Bees by Ben Hoare illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti
Did you know the world’s smallest bee is the aptly named mini fairy-bee – just two millimetres long? This gorgeously illustrated hive of information won 2025’s Children’s Wainwright Prize for Non-Fiction for good reason – Ben Hoare’s bright, clear writing makes the world of honey, pollination and electro-sense exciting and accessible for budding naturalists. (Best for ages 7–10).
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13. Firefly by Robert Macfarlane and Luke Adam Hawker
Out walking in Suffolk one night, author Robert Macfarlane came across a glowworm shining brightly in the meadow grass. It looked “like a fallen star” and out of that sparked the idea for this book – a young girl sets out on a quest to seek light and hope in the darkest days of winter. Illustrated with astonishingly beautiful etchings by artist Luke Adam Hawker (pictured), this is a lyrical, life-affirming gem to treasure. (Best for ages 6-7).
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