Walking through spring

“The most effective advertisement for the countryside I’ve ever encountered” – Daily Mail

Did you know that the English Spring moves north at the speed of a walk?

In 2015 Graham followed the spring on foot through the whole of England, from Christchurch to the border at Gretna Green, planting an oak tree every mile. This book documents his journey; following Richard Jefferies, Edward Thomas and Robert Macfarlane into the wilder parts of our country, Walking through Spring is a book in the English pastoral tradition.

Graham connected a labyrinth of ancient footpaths into a new national trail, marking each mile travelled by planting an acorn in hedgerows of blackthorn, hawthorn, dogwood and hazel. He drew a line of trees stretching through the English countryside, nicknamed “The Oak Route”.

On the way many aspects of Spring are explored: how does the earth’s angle to the sun make the seasons change? Which plants start blooming first? Which birds survive the bitter winter in our hedgerows and which arrive from overseas? The joy of the natural world is seen, smelled and experienced as the season arrives – from dairy cows cantering and kicking their heels when released into lush meadows of the West Country, to galloping bands of lambs in the Peak District. England’s unique botanical, geographical and social landscape is mapped as Spring unfolds across the country.

You can preview the first pages of Walking Through Spring on Amazon UK or Amazon USA.