With The Folklore of Birds you can discover the fascinating folklore behind nature’s most intriguing animals.

At once familiar and unknowable, birds have for centuries provided a rich source of speculation and myth-making. From the Catholic belief that barnacle geese were actually fish (and could therefore be eaten on the Sabbath) to the Ancient Greek tale of Ceyx and Halcyone who were transformed into kingfishers after death as reward for their fidelity, our feathered friends have given rise to an astonishingly rich body of myth, legend and superstition.

With its interesting titbits and curious facts coupled with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, The Folklore of Birds  is charming, quirky gift  for the birdwatcher in your life.  

Why do buttercups glow when held beneath your chin? Which blooms are sometimes called fairy phones? Why are foxgloves sometimes ominously referred to as ‘Deadman’s Bellows’? And what is the true meaning of a rose?

Humans have given meanings and stories to plants and flowers for thousands of years, whether they’re myths about Ancient Greek Gods who pecked out the eyes of anyone who dared move the sacred but thorny Peony plant, or 19th-century superstitions of how flowers could foreshadow love, life or death. After reading Floral Folklore, you’ll never look at a bunch of flowers the same way again!

Brought to life with enchanting, full-color illustrations of the plants, flowers and visiting creatures, the book explains the origins of the folklore behind each plant, and offers a beautiful ritual to help you better connect with the teaching each plant has to offer. This is the perfect gift for foragers, gardeners, and budding horticulturists looking to develop their knowledge of plants beyond the exterior.

From the old wives’ tale that sage thrives in the garden of a woman who rules her household (and husband!) firmly, to poppies growing in places where blood has been shed, learn the meanings and stories behind:

• Bay
• Mint
• Basil
• Lotus
• Tulips
• Orchids
• Sunflowers
• Lily of the Valley
• Nightshade
• Mulberry
• Hyacinth
• Valerian
• Parsley
• Daffodil
• Rose
• ?and more!

Including common plants found all over the world, and traditional herbs and flowers used in medicines for thousands of years, this is a  truly unique and fascinating exploration of our floral folklore heritage. ]]> https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/the-little-guide-to-wildflowers/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=31653 Discover the intriguing world of wildflowers with this handy pocket guide.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Little Guide to Wildflowers offers a fresh perspective on identifying the flowers around you. Featuring 40 of the most beautiful flowers from around the world, including the common wildflowers we know and love, as well as the rare and interesting.

Each flower has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics, and is accompanied by information about the plant family to which it belongs and where it can be found, plus associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter’s guide at the back, where you can check off each flower you find.

This informative, practical and beautiful guide is part of a new nature series designed  to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors.

Each entry has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics, and is accompanied by associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter’s guide at the back, where you can check off what you find.

This informative, practical and beautiful guide is part of a new nature series designed to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors. An activity for adults and children alike, enjoy The Little Guide to Shorelines on your next trip to the sea.

It begins with a simple question: what are your dog’s classic behaviours?  Whether high intensity or half asleep, every dog is unique. A bemusing ball of fluff, there’s a lot more to our barking mad, furniture-chewing, squirrel-chasing, loyal droolers than meets the eye. Each of their enigmatic actions and strange habits, pet peeves and preferences,  tells us something about who they are and what they’re really thinking.  

This hilarious book is pup psychology 101. Begin your lifelong quest of demystifying  your pet’s  mysterious mind by answering 81 multiple choice questions. Each code-breaking quiz represents a different area  of a dog’s life and links to the Six Canine Characteristics (Dominant, Well Balanced, Extrovert, Introvert, Adaptable, Independent).  

Sulker or Showman? Wild Child or Workaholic? Renegade or Captain? Match your answers to one or more of the 36 colourful pup profiles, adorably illustrated by artist  Alissa Levy (@levysfriends),  to discover a little more about their tells and traits and what these can teach you about them.

Tests include:

1. TOP DOG: Reflect on  your dog’s confidence levels and how they interact with others.  
2. DOZING DOGGY STYLE: See what your dog’s sleeping positions, patterns and behaviours reveal.  
3. WHERE THERE’S A WOOF THERE’S A WAY: Take a look at how your dog communicates.  
4. IT’S A DOG LIFE: Every daily habit offers a meaningful clue, from their preferred routine to how they handle  disruptions.  
5. POSE LIKE A POOCH: Unpick your dog’s signature style.
6. CANINE SMARTS AND TRAINING: Penetrate the powers of your mutt’s mind, by looking at how they respond to instruction.  
7. WOOF AND TUMBLE: Find out what your dog’s favourite way to play signifies.  
8. POOCH POWER: How does your dog relate to you?  
9. DOGS ON THE MOVE: Investigate how your dog acts when they’re out and about.  

Dedicated to dog lovers everywhere.

With a focused chapter for each star sign, Cosmic Rituals covers everything from hints and tips for self-care, and de-stressing, to mindful meditations and techniques to help you feel energised and ready for anything. There’s herbal healing to soothe the soul, and sleep rituals to get you in the Zzz-zone, plus a selection of mantras to help you get up and glow.

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to taking care of yourself, but your star sign provides a blueprint, which you can work with. Whether you’re a tenacious bull who prefers routine or a sensitive crab that takes on the world’s woes, the character traits associated with each sign mean you’ll need a unique approach to selfcare and wellbeing.

There really is no better way to find your sparkle, than by looking to the stars!

Wild Weather is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the science of weather events and how they happen, but also the myth and folklore associated with weather patterns.

Chapters include: sunshine and rainbows, wind, rain, thunder and lightning, snow and ice. The book also includes a cloud spotting guide and is packed with exercises on how to make the most of even the rainiest of days.

This perfect gift for weather enthusiast everywhere and those who want to reconnect with the weather and embrace what is happening on the other side of the window.

If trees could talk, they would have a lot to say. The gentle giants of the forest, they have fascinated us for millennia – there is much we can learn from their wise woody ways to live a healthier and happier life.

From learning to share the spaces we inhabit, to changing with the seasons and sticking together and leaving a lasting legacy – Alison Davies delves deeps to reveal the stories and secrets of thinking like a tree.

Next title in the successful Be More… series and packed with beautiful illustrations, advice, folklore, exercises and handy spotter’s guide, this is the ultimate guide to harness the wisdoms of trees.