Hedgerow & Wildlife

by Jane Eastoe

Published 1 May 2008

Hedgerows are one of the richest sources of wildlife in Britain. They have evolved over centuries (18th and 19th centuries predominantly but some date from pre-Roman times), and their importance is still vital today. This book offers an insight into hedgerow wildlife: how they developed (and are managed by man), how to identify different types, and what plants, birds, insects and small mammals can be found inside.

A mixed hedge may contain species such as elder, blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, crab apple and field maple, is a refuge for wildlife: tortoiseshell and cabbage white butterflies; linnets, wrens, dunnocks, blackbirds and chaffinches; bank voles and badgers. The plant life is equally as rich: the rose, honeysuckle, primrose, garlic mustard and the hedge woundwort.

This quintessential part of the English landscape can be enjoyed all the more with this little guide to the wildlife wonders inside the hedgerows.


Henkeeping

by Jane Eastoe

Published 14 May 2007

A reissue of Henkeeping (2007). An inspirational and practical guide to keeping chickens in both rural and urban areas.

Chickens are back in style with a vengeance: poultry breeders are struggling to cope with the increase in demand and gardens resound to the contented cluck of chickens. This trend can be in part explained by the huge demand for organic and locally produced food; after all, what could be more natural than keeping your own chickens and collecting their eggs? This beautiful and practical guide advises on all aspects of chicken keeping, from advice on the full range of breeds available, choosing and buying the right chickens for you, to feeding and naming them and finally housing and caring for them. With charming illustrations throughout, you will find all you need to start and maintain your own chicken run.


Home-Grown Fruit

by Jane Eastoe

Published 14 May 2007
What could be tastier than fruit, picked straight from your back garden? Growing your own fruit can be a rewarding pastime and you don't need a big garden or allotment to cultivate your favourite fruit, as they can grow well in containers and even hanging baskets.

This beautiful and practical guide, now released as eBook, marks a unique collaboration between the National Trust and Country Living magazine, celebrating the produce of orchards, allotments and gardens, from rhubarb, gooseberries and strawberries to peaches, damsons and plums. Each fruit entry reveals all you need to know about growing and harvesting as well as providing useful tips on companion planting and pests and diseases.





With beautiful illustrations throughout, you will find all you need for a fruitful, healthy garden all year round.