Follow Hannah Dale's deeply personal journey as she returns her Lincolnshire farm to nature, celebrating the return of an astonishing variety of wildlife.

Hannah Dale, the artist and founder of the award-winning nature-centric gift company Wrendale Designs, takes you through a year on her farm in rural Lincolnshire where, alongside her husband, she has undertaken an ambitious rewilding project. Together, they are attempting to return the land to nature and increase the number of species their land is able to support.

A Wilding Year explores how one family have been able to embrace the beauty to be found in untidy landscapes, heralding the return of skylarks, meadow pipits, hobbies, polecats and many more species to their farm. The land was originally claimed from marshy wetlands, and leaning into the land's natural inclination to be wet has also yielded amazing ponds and pond life.

This rewilding journey has also provided Hannah with new sources of inspiration for her paintings. A Wilding Year is both a journal and a sketchbook, in which Hannah keeps a visual record of the incredible variety of species she finds on the farm.

This fascinating account of a year spent in nature brings to life the beauty and power of wildlife in every season.



Hannah Dale runs Wrendale Designs, a stationery and gift design company which specialises in endearing illustrations depicting British wildlife. Her other Batsford titles include: A Dog's Life, The Farmyard Set, The Young Ones, The Country Set, Born to be Wild and Flying The Nest. Her work is inspired by the beautiful countryside of rural Lincolnshire. Hannah studied Zoology at Cambridge University and has recently embarked on a large rewilding project on her farm in Lincolnshire. She can be found on social media @wrendaledesigns.



Introduction

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Afterword



'A marvel. Participating in the restoration of nature is about the most joyful thing a person can do, and this book radiates that joy.'



'Tender, heartfelt and poignant.'



'Inspirational for rewilders large and small – that should be all of us!'



'A beautiful book that's written from the heart, an absolute must read for any nature lover'



'A stunning hymn to the planet, to farming, and to the people who weave in between'



'This deeply personal account is a book of great worth. Buy it when you can.'



'This exquisitely illustrated book from artist Hannah Dale...will remind you that there is always solace to be found in the natural world.'



'It's an inspiring story about how quickly the untamed world can recover once it is, at last, left alone.'



'... a heartwarming read.'