Nature’s Wonders: Moments that Mark the Seasons

by Jane V. Adams

Britain’s nature year, from the first flower to the last leaf

With a mix of evocative writing, beautiful photographs and facts that are too good to keep to yourself, this book explores 50 magical moments that define our seasons. It’s an inspiring guide to connecting with the nature around you and seeing how it changes through the year. There’s butterflies, blossom and bluebells. There’s foxgloves, flying ants and fungi. There’s snow, seedheads and shadows. You’ll discover how many miles an hour spring moves, how spiders can heal us and how woodpeckers help to protect sensitive technology.

The inspiration behind the book is partly the National Trust’s hugely successful 'Blossom Watch' campaign, launched in March 2021. Each year we are encouraged to notice and share when we first see tree blossom, emulating the Japanese tradition of 'Hanami'.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Animals

176 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Fern A]

Some of my favourite books growing up were the Ladybird book series of ‘What to Look for in Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter’. This book reminded me of those as it has a similar feel and could very much be seen as the adult version with photographs rather than illustrations. Going through each of the series starting with Spring, the book documents different changes that take place and what to spot. Whether it be a particular animal, bird, plant, insect or sensory change there is much variety to be found in the pages. Normally in these books I found the photographs drown out the writing, however that was not the case here. Adams writes quite poetically at times and makes the natural world come to life. Each page was jam packed full of information with links being drawn between different seasonal changes and the effect this has on all living things. The photographs too are stunning and really showed how beautiful nature is, even some parts of it we might not normally think of. A real gem of a book!

[Paul]

For too long we have cast aside nature, beating it into submission or just obliterating it, but the tide is turning and people are seeing that we cannot carry on like this forever, as we will be deeply affected too. We are intrinsically linked to the natural world, after all, we are all part of the same ecosystem.

But where to begin? If you have been in a bookshop recently, you’ll have noticed that the range of nature books has grown exponentially over the past decade. This has been ably assisted by the Wainwright Prize. People became more aware of nature during the pandemic when they could head out on their sanctioned exercise and the sensory stimulation did them the world of good.

Nature’s Wonders is an introduction to the wonders that you can discover if you feel so inclined. The book is split into seasons and in each, Adams has selected various things to look out for in each. Some of these items are easier to find than others! So in spring, there are essays on bluebells, black caps and brimstone butterflies. In summer she suggests, chafers, foxgloves and taking the time to smell the scent of summer.

Autumn brings dramatic changes to the landscape and the essays include listening to the deer rut, the sound of the crickets in meadows and spotting the winter migrants such as fieldfares. Winter is the time for frosts and long shadows, but if you know where to look the last of winter brings out the celandines.

I really liked this book. If you are expecting in-depth guides on each of the fifty subjects that are written about in this book, then this is the wrong book to start with. Rather, it has been written to inspire people who are not sure about the natural world to take the time to go and find the things written about within and hopefully use it as a stepping stone to your own discoveries. 3.5 stars

[Nicola Michelle]

A book that influences you to stop, slow down and smell the daisies. Take a look around you at all the seasons have to offer and notice and enjoy nature as it’s finest.

The emotive and descriptive language in this was great, and really had me reliving seasons through the pages (and coupled with the series of stunning photos to accompany also helped in the feeling of the books immersion).

Each of the chapters is centred around Spring, summer, autumn and winter, with the accompanying text telling you what you can look out for and some information about what you find. From Foxgloves in summer, to blue tits in spring, autumns bounty and first frosts in winter. There’s plenty to learn from this small but mighty little book on natures beauty!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Annarella]

Loved it! Great pictures, informative texts. An excellent book that I strongly recommend.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Ian]

beautiful short read with lovely photography.. takes you through the 4 seasons and gives you an activity on a any particular subject... so that you can take more notice of wildlife and weather around you and play a part in it..

[Jennifer]

The photography is stunning. The text was okay. I wish it had been more factual than philosophical. It didn't really teach much, but did offer encouragement to go out and experience the sights and sounds of nature.

[Cleo ✨✨]

Excellent little book with fantastic writing and incredible pictures, I loved this book to pieces, I actually ordered a physical copy because of how well written and how easy it was to read

[Kelly Furniss]

I really enjoyed the beautiful photography in this book along with the facts as all of the seasons are explored and the changes in nature.
A joy to look through and savour.