‘Elegiac, funny, warm and wise, The Wisdom of Sheep will delight country folk and city dwellers alike.’ KATHERINE MAY
‘A wonderful antidote to the hectic pace of modern life.’ JAMES OSWALD

We talk about people behaving like sheep, which assumes that sheep all behave in the same way. That has not been my experience.

Some are affectionate, others prone to head-butting. Some are determinedly self-sufficient, others seek our help when they need it. And some can be trusted to lead the flock home. They are as individual as we are.

Farm animals are familiar to us from childhood stories, but little did we know that their inner lives are full of complexity, deep bonds and family dramas. Rosamund Young has been an organic farmer for over forty years and this is her record of a life at the beck and call of the animals while observing and preserving the abundant wildlife at Kite’s Nest Farm. It is a story of joy, discovery, cooperation and sometimes heartbreak. We learn about sheep growing old disgracefully, the intelligence of supposedly ‘bird-brained’ hens, ‘conversations’ between cows and why you should never send a text whilst milking . . .

‘Delightful.’ ALAN BENNETT, ON THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS

Wrap up warm and retreat to the wintry countryside with farmer and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, as he recounts his Christmas memories tending to an assorted cast of animals, and celebrates the farmers who make our celebrations possible.

Adam Henson has spent his whole life on Bemborough farm – over 50 winters and Christmases. During that time, the troughs have frozen over, snow has fallen so thickly riding shire horses out to the fields has been the only option, puppies have been found under the Christmas tree – and crises out in the world have almost brought the farm to a close…

Christmas for a farmer takes a different shape to everyone else’s, because the animals always have to come first. So settle down – ideally by a fireside and with a cup of something hot – to hear the tales that have defined festivity for the Henson family, and the turbulent times that have ensured Christmas is now more important than ever for Adam and his loved ones.

Heart-warming and full of Christmas spirit, Christmas on the Farm will give you a new respect for the people who work on them.

With astute observations and boundless humour, country vet Herriot captures the spirit of the Yorkshire Dales and of rural communities on the cusp of change, before tractors and machines had taken over and modern medicines and antibiotics transformed veterinary work. Along the way a beloved cast of characters emerges, from the squabbling brothers Tristan and Siegfried to Herriot’s hapless courtship and eventual family life with Helen Anderson. But it’s the animals which are at the heart of Herriot’s stories.

Whether he’s dodging a raging bull on a risky artificial insemination assignment, becoming pen pals with Tricki Woo the spoilt Pekingese pooch, or the inevitable trials and tribulations of lambing season, there’s never a dull moment in Herriot’s company.

At times moving and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Wonderful World of James Herriot will delight fans old and new.

Starting out with a humble canvas on the sanctuary wall, Pigcasso’s paintings are now owned by the likes of George Clooney, she has a Swatch watch design partnership, a wine label, and has eclipsed the previous world record holder for animal art. She’s been commissioned by Nissan and has had exhibitions in Cape Town, Munich and Amsterdam. More than that, Pigcasso’s art funds the food and veterinary services for all the animals at the sanctuary.

Pigcasso is the story of this unique pig and of the circumstances that brought her and Joanne together to take the art world by storm and form a unique and unbreakable bond.

Let your child’s imagination run wild in this busy, search-and-find board book! Little ones can follow fun characters, spot and count different farmyard animals, and have an exciting i-spy adventure. A perfect interactive book to share with pre-reading toddlers or older children who are just beginning to read, every scene has “Can you spot?” questions, farm-related things to find, and prompts to encourage observation, exploration, and conversation.

From a cosy barn and a muddy farmyard walk, to a beautiful field and busy farm stalls, little ones will build their vocabulary by visiting this fun farm, searching through the engaging scenes, then pointing to and identifying a variety of different farmyard animals, objects, and vehicles. Children will count playful lambs, mucky tractors, waddling ducks, and much more. Plus there are delightful countryside scenes to admire, and the cutest mouse hiding somewhere on each page!

Inside the pages of this search-and-find board book, you’ll find:

– Search-and-find activities that are highly interactive, accessible, and fun – following entertaining characters and spotting lots of farmyard favourites.
– 5 busy, search-and-find artwork scenes – at the entrance, in the barn, on the farm walk, in the field, at the end of the day.
– A sturdy board book format that is perfect for little hands to hold.
– A mix of accessible and some more challenging search-and-find activities, encouraging concentration, observation and cognitive skills.

Find my Favourite Things Farm has so many exciting farm things to talk about, and characters to follow from page to page, children can use their imaginations to tell their own stories while learning important farm words along the way. Perhaps they will even continue the story after they have finished the book!

This imaginative I-spy book for 3-5 year olds encourages observation, concentration, and cognitive skills, as well as stimulating talking and storytelling, supporting counting and colour recognition, and building language skills.

‘Many seasons have passed since I came here but I can honestly say each one, emotionally – and on occasions physically! – has left its mark. To witness the changing of the seasons so closely, to understand how they shape both us and the natural world, will always be the ultimate reward.’

In Tales From Jimmy’s Farm, Jimmy Doherty reveals how he made his childhood dream of having his own wildlife park a reality – how, starting with a few rare breed pigs, he would transform a derelict and forgotten Suffolk farm into an A-Z of the animal world, from anteaters to zebras.

Taking us on a journey through the seasons – spring lambs to rutting reindeer, sun-loving meerkats to festive monkeys – Jimmy reveals the ups and downs of a life immersed in the natural world, and explains how we too, wherever we may live, can benefit ourselves and the planet by embracing the remarkable animals around us.

‘Running a wildlife park is a complex job. To do it you need knowledge that varies from animal biology to how to get an ancient tractor running after a harsh frost. If there’s a more diverse job, I’d like to hear about it. But the massive upside of all that hard work is simple. At all times you’re embedded in the landscape and the lives of those incredible animals which depend on it – a beautiful natural gift which you are forever unwrapping.’

This might be the worst time in history to be an animal. But is there a happier way?

Factory farms, climate change, deforestation and pandemics have made our relationship with the other species unsustainable. In response, Henry Mance sets out on a personal quest to see if there is a fairer way to live alongside the animals we love. He goes to work in an abattoir and on a farm to investigate the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores our dilemmas around over-fishing the seas, visiting zoos and owning pets, and he meets the chefs, activists, scientists and tech visionaries who are redefining how we think about animals.

A Times Book of the Year

‘A heartwarming tale of life on the land’ Alan Titchmarsh

‘There’s love and loss, challenge and adversity, but above all it’s warm, insightful and inspiring’ Helen Skelton

‘Will inspire any reader to look at the countryside – and all those who work there – with newfound appreciation’ Jimmy Doherty

‘Uplifting, charming and beautifully written’ Adam Henson

Emma Gray was just twenty-three when she moved to an isolated farm in Northumberland, becoming Britain’s youngest solo shepherdess. In the seasons that followed, Emma fell in love with its rolling fields, surrounding forest and sturdy farmhouse, tending her sheep and training her dogs – and even found romance.

But when Emma finds herself suddenly alone again, heartbroken and recovering from a serious accident, she wonders if her isolated existence is still such a sensible idea. Even if she recovers, how could she make a proper living on Fallowlees Farm?

In her heartwarming book, Emma tells the story of how she picked herself up and expanded her cattle herd, added more horses to her menagerie, and became one of the country’s most successful breeders and trainers of Border Collies – unexpectedly discovering true love and lasting happiness along the way.

Written with warmth and humour, My Farming Life is a joyous celebration of nature and community, and a delight for anyone who’s ever dreamed of living closer to the countryside.