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Woodsman
- Narrated by: Ben Law
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
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Summary
Ben Law has lived as a woodsman in Prickly Nut Wood for over 20 years. His authentic, incredible sense of the land and the wildlife, and his respect for age-old traditions and how to sustain them offers a wonderful, inviting insight into the life and character of Prickly Nut Wood. Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learning to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up - Prickly Nut Wood.
This is the story of how he came to know and love his woodland, how he lived off the land, how he coppiced and hedged and created charcoal, how he puddled and built shelter, and finally how he carved out his famous, characterful woodland home that Kevin McCloud has cited as his favourite ever Grand Design. And it’s the story of the wood itself - how it lives and breathes and affects all those who encounter it, and how it’s developed over the 20 incredible years Ben has shared in its lifespan. It’s an incredibly transporting tale that will make you long to hear the dawn chorus, and appreciate the beauty of Britain’s pockets of woodland.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Woodsman
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Overall
- Big Ayd
- 13-04-13
Might not be what you expect but a great listen
I was expecting a more typical biography with lots of coverage of Ben's early life but this is more of a description of what living in a wood is like and Ben's views on the World in general.
Absolutely fascinating stuff if you have any interest at all in sustainable living and the future of mankind.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Rose
- 15-07-18
How can a book be so fascinating and yet so awful at the same time?
First of all the positives if there are any to report on when I’m barely ten minutes in to a book and yet I feel already I can review it with some certainty of purpose. Well it’s short and I’m sure it will be fascinating but, and there is a but, there are two things about naration which are irritating. First of all a flat expresionless voice which sounds utterly boring. The second thing is this, the word is through not as the narator pronounces it, fru or other not uver. In other words there’s a clearly audible speech imprdiment which is very off-putting to any listener. I’ll read this book if only to learn for myself and not because I expect to enjoy it. Thank goodness it’s short.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Steven
- 26-01-14
Very enjoyable
After seeing this man on grand designs , i was interested when i heard he was bring out a book , i'm glad i bought it , go's into great about his work living in the wood and his roll in looking after the area and trying to make a living off the land , also tells the story about being involved and building his house for grand designs , a great listen for anyone interested in his story from grand designs or about work go's into managing a woodland
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4 people found this helpful
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- Kate Nannery
- 04-11-21
Brilliant
Absolutely loved this. Listened in one sitting. He has totally captured what I believe everyone should be thinking about.
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2 people found this helpful
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- DaveTaylor
- 13-08-21
Interesting and thought-provoking
Interesting and the look ahead to the future was very thought-provoking. I’m off to plant some trees.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Col
- 21-02-17
Dull Reading of a Good Book
Considering Ben Law's knowledge and passion for the subject, he reads his book without conviction to the point of boredom. Buy the real book and be inspired.
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2 people found this helpful
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- K. Faulkner
- 02-11-21
The Woodsman
Although Ben the narrator was monotone, his description of nature and living environment ally friendly ways I found stir memories of childhood growing up in the country. The old ways are better and i wish more people could read this and part of the school corriculum.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rachel
- 13-10-20
Inspiring and informative
I really enjoyed this book, Ben's voice is calm and soothing and he gives lots of interesting insight and advice about woodland life and sustainable living. Everyone should read it.
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1 person found this helpful
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- JohnJenner
- 05-07-20
reflective :-)
a reflection of past sustainable Woodland life in today's world.
I really enjoyed the read, the last chapter is reminiscent of Anerican perepers!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-04-20
A wonderful trip into a woodsmans life
Fantastic book with a wonderful true story and a fascinating way of life.
A few people moaning about the performance.
Ben law is an author and an incredible worker with his hands, he is not a professional audio book performance artist, this is his story and if you don’t like how its performed you’re missing the point.if your having trouble stick it on 1.3x and you’ll be reet.
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1 person found this helpful