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Orchard
- A Year in England’s Eden
- Narrated by: Mike Grady
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
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Orchard
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Summary
By the Wainwright-Conservation-Prize-winning author of Rebirding
Spend a year in an orchard, celebrating its imperilled, overlooked abundance of life.
England's ancient orchards, collaborations between people and nature, are sources of hope for the future. Protecting them promises a far richer England for the centuries to come, for wildlife and for us.
As the seasons turn, a wealth of animals and plants are revealed: Bumble and solitary bees apartment-hunting in April; spotted flycatchers migrating in May; redstarts, hedgehogs and owls nesting in June; an explosion of life in the summer and the harvest and homespun cider-making in the autumn. And all throughout the year, the orchard’s human and animal inhabitants work together, creating one of the richest ecosystems left in Britain.
Explore this unique habitat throughout the course of a year, and marvel at the beauty and strength of nature.
Critic reviews
"Splendid." (Guardian)
"Visionary, illuminating and fascinating." (George Monbiot)
"You may not have come across Ben Macdonald before now; but believe me, you will hear a lot more from him in the future." (Stephen Moss)
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What listeners say about Orchard
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- Bunnyhunt
- 28-11-21
beautiful but sad
As a lifelong lover of the natural world, I almost dread the prospect of reading yet another tale of doom and gloom regarding man's desecration of our beautiful planet. The description of this orchard is so touching but the fact that it seems to be an oasis in an ever encroaching green desert breaks my heart. I think there are some hopeful signs that some if us have woken up to this sad fact and are trying to make changes, but is it too little too late. Only time will tell.
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- Margeireland
- 04-04-21
Just beautiful
Fascinating and poetic, informative and thought provoking, I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who loves nature or is lucky enough to own an orchard. I intend to buy hard copies for a lot of people. Brilliant reader too, I can dip into any section of the book and am instantly transported to this orchard, a truly magical place.
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- Julieb
- 12-04-21
fascinating
found it easy on the ear jn fact so easy I sometimes dozed off. very educational
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- Student
- 09-03-22
Beautiful
What an amazing listen - absolutely wonderful. Educational and inspiring. Intresting and calming.
The narration was superbly done. I loved listening to this whilst falling asleep or doing mineal tasks.
I've gained knowledge on the intricacies of nature.
It was beautiful.
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- CB1
- 18-09-20
A must listen to for all those who love nature
What more can i say - i will listen to this over and over again.
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7 people found this helpful
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- mrs r rillie
- 12-04-21
A non-fiction Alice in Wonderland
As someone who lives near to the areas which are mentioned and has planted and grown their own orchard this year, it is a brilliant book to gather the tools by which to observe the changes I hope to come to my own place! I will be on the lookout for many of these natural marvels as the years go by!
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- Ms Elaine C Clarke
- 13-06-21
Absorbing.
An absorbing and often sobering read. I was totally enthralled , well read and education too. Puts into perspective the nature unfriendly way of doing things.... Recommended!
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- F. R.
- 21-10-21
the story of a year in the life of an Orchard
beautifully written and read. taking the reader deep into the experience of life through the seasons within a small area of orchard which has been allowed to grow naturally. it retains the biodiversity now lacking in commercial fruit growing and farming. not re-wilding, but allowing hedges to grow and fruit, giving food to so many species. dead wood and trees to remain as habitats, and this allows an abundance o f insects, birds, bats and animals which thrive. the authors take us to eastern Europe where gardens and farms we're still allows to be natural rather than tidied and groomed. wild life here is as it used to be in England' Eden.
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- SC
- 03-12-21
Beautifully written & narrated
Beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable especially if you enjoy nature writing. Would highly recommend, just wonderful.
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- Ana
- 22-03-22
Beautifully written
I have fallen in love with nature writing this year, and listening to knowledgeable souls talk so beautifully about their own little slices of heaven is just utterly wonderful.
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