The Circling Sky: On Nature and Belonging in an Ancient Forest

The Circling Sky is a 2018 Wainwright Prize shortlisted author that combines childhood memoir, nature observation, and a journey to the New Forest of Hampshire. It reflects on childhood, the history of the habitat, and the Gypsies who lived there, and also serves as a polemic on our collective and individual responsibility for the land and world we live in.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

From a 2018 Wainwright Prize shortlisted author, "The Circling Sky" is a captivating blend of childhood memoir, exquisite nature observation, and an inspiring journey to one of the UK's most significant natural habitats, the New Forest of Hampshire. In the form of several journeys, beginning in January 2019, Neil Ansell returns to the New Forest, close to his birthplace, for solitary walks. Throughout these walks, he experiences breathtaking sightings and observations of birds, trees, butterflies, insects, and the stunning landscape. This memoir also serves as a reflective exploration of childhood, the history of the New Forest, and the Gypsies who once lived there for centuries before being expelled to neighboring cities. Moreover, "The Circling Sky" becomes a thought-provoking polemic on our collective and individual responsibility for the land and world we inhabit, as well as the ways in which we care for it.

Neil Ansell is an exceptional guide throughout this captivating journey of nature writing. "The Circling Sky" is a true delight that will captivate readers with its vivid descriptions, insightful observations, and profound messages about the natural world and our place within it.

Weight: 246g
Dimension: 133 x 198 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472272379