(Canton, Canongate, £13.99)
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To the uninitiated, ‘renaturing’ is essentially rewilding, just on a smaller scale. Indeed, Canton goes so far as to state that even an act as humble as planting flowers in a window box counts. This book could therefore prove useful to schools keen to cultivate their own dedicated ‘back to nature’ area. Readers will learn about the kind of changes to look out for, and the methods that can be deployed to lend nature a helping hand. The mini-essays at the start of each chapter are informative, but the book as a whole is more descriptive than explanatory. We’re told, for example, that there are a huge number of ladybirds around, but not given any reasons as to why. Renaturing is, however, beautifully written and presented in the manner of a diary recorded in the present tense, making for a gentle, yet compelling read.
This review was first published in Teach Secondary magazine. To compare the version I submitted with the one actually published, please go here: