Wild Treasures: A Year of Extraordinary Encounters with Cornwall’s Wildlife – Hannah Stitfall

Published By: Gaia
Pages: 272
Released On: 25/04/2024

Hannah Stitfall is a TV presenter and zoologist, who regularly gets up in the early hours of the morning to try and catch sight of some of Cornwall’s best hidden wildlife. She will spend hours on end waiting for a creature to appear among a hedgerow, scurrying across Cornwall’s open fields or taking flight across its towering cliffs and sandy beaches. In these brief, magical moments, Hannah is able to see and capture animal behaviour that the general public rarely get to witness.

In this book, Hannah shares her incredible stories, beautiful photographs and often funny meetings with Cornwall’s wildlife through the course of a year. From brown hares boxing in the grass in the spring, watching an otter cub hunt in the wetlands in winter, to witnessing the unique bioluminescence of a glow-worm in the summer, Wild Treasures is a remarkable diary, informative guide and joyous celebration of our nation’s wonderful creatures.

*****

Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the gifted proof this title in return for an honest review and spot on the book tour.

I did what everyone does with a non-fiction book and skip straight to the photos, which are gorgeous, showing some of the native wildlife – even Hannah’s own dog! I love images in a book, it helps bring the writing alive. There’s also a few illustrations which I like. More illustrations in adult books please!

According to the inside cover, the illustrations are done by Elin Manon. She also designed the cover and I must say, it’s gorgeous, and would really catch the eye in a bookstore. At first glance, it looks like a wonderfully captured photograph, but if you look deeper you can see the hand drawn touches Erin has added. The different animals, the grass and flowers, the sea against the rocks. It’s just glorious.

Anyone who has been to Cornwall knows how beautiful it is there. But apart from the day-to-day wildlife you encounter, it’s not something you really consider, or at least I haven’t, so this was a lovely introduction to the wider world of Cornish life.

You can tell Hannah has a passion for the countryside and wildlife and, obviously, Cornwall. It’s right there in every word she uses. To things that might be everyday to her life there (the landscape for starters), she has induced magic into. She’s not only depicted the glory of wildlife in its natural habitat or the setting of Cornwall, she’s managed to write about the smells and the noises in nature that can often be impossible to fully explain.

Each section corresponds to a month of the year, and they’re quite short sections. You don’t feel short-changed or anything, it’s actually quite nice. Each section is about 15-20 pages, some more, some less. It gives you enough to enjoy but doesn’t waffle.

You can read it, as I did, from cover to cover as if a novel, or you can dip in and out, read certain bits as and when, read about the month you’re currently in. Each way has its own merits.

I am not a summer person. I am a winter and autumn person. And as long as it’s playing by the rules, then sometimes a spring person. I like rainy days, snowy footsteps, and layers of blankets. I can’t stand heat and sweat, and those days where you feel too hot even in your birthday suit. And whilst I cant’ say Hannah has converted me (that would be a miracle) she has provided a good argument as to how the warmer months can positively impact upon our environment and wildlife. I will admit though, watching a family of deer or listening to birdsong in the dry and warm is more pleasant than in the lashing rain and freezing cold. But she’s given enough time to all seasons of the year, each given their own personal value.

I think this is a good book for almost everyone. Whether you’re a nature lover or a photographer, a newbie or old-hand, a reader, a reading newcomer, an artist, the old, young, and in between. It has something for all. It’s not too technical or too showy. It doesn’t try to be smarter than it is. This means it is easy to read and enjoyable. You learn a lot but it doesn’t feel like work. It’s interesting and fun and gorgeous and I can see this being on a lot of people’s wishlist this year.