Wild Treasures by Hannah Stitfall

 Wild Treasures

by Hannah Stitfall 

Wild Treasures by Hannah Stitfall was published on 25th April 2024 by Gaia/Octopus Books.

My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to 

Random Things Tours for inviting me on the tour.

Synopsis

In this book, Hannah shares her incredible stories, beautiful photographs and often funny meetings with Cornwall's wildlife through the course of a year. From brown hares boxing in the grass in the spring, watching an otter cub hunt in the wetlands in winter, to witnessing the unique bioluminescence of a glow-worm in the summer, Wild Treasures is a remarkable diary, informative guide and joyous celebration of our nation's wonderful creatures.

My Review

For me this isn’t a book to read all in one go. As it says on the front cover this is a year with Cornwall’s wildlife and consequently it is written month by month.

I always have this “thing” with any book written in a yearly diary format in that I read the chapters that are relevant to the current time of year. It was the same with “Wild Treasures”. As the book arrived in April I have read the all the chapters up to May , taking delight in the different encounters Hannah has come across in the first four months of the year. It made me look in more detail as to what was going on around me in the natural environment that I live in , the anticipation of looking out for the first swallow returning, yearning for the first cuckoo call and nearly falling over my feet when I heard the first Bittern boom of the year in a local nature reserve.

What this book does is highlight the importance of nature and the wildlife that inhabit it , whether it is all year or transiently depending on the month and the migration timetables. 

Whatever your choice as to how you read this treasure trove of wildlife, take it slowly and appreciate the changes as the year progresses. 

If Hannah decides to write a follow up to Wild Treasures I would like it to incorporate more photographs, possibly for each month of the year.

About the Author

Hannah Stitfall is a wildlife presenter and zoologist. She's presented on The One Show, BBC Earth and Radio 4, and she's a regular digital presenter on the Winter watch and Spring watch social channels. Hannah also leads her own seasonal wildlife watching safaris in Cornwall which routinely sell out. This is Hannah’s debut nonfiction book. www.hannahstitfall.com instagram.com/hannahstitfall twitter.com/hannahstitfall facebook.com/hannahstitfallwildlife tiktok.com/@hannahstitfall For more information contact Ailie Springall ailie.springall@octopusbooks.co.uk 

PRAISE FOR WILD TREASURES

 ‘A celebratory calendar of Cornwall’s wildlife. . . So refreshing!’ – Chris Packham

 Hannah perfectly captures the journey and feelings of watching wildlife – the anticipation, the caution, the excitement and, eventually, the utopia. . . A joyful, heart-warming and important read for nature lovers!’ – Megan McCubbin