Sally Coulthard

Murderers’ potions, symbols of prosperity, aphrodisiacs, and fairy furniture—mushrooms have captivated human imagination in countless ways. Discover the enchanting world of mushrooms in Fungi Lore by Sally Coulthard, the author of Floriography and Bird Lore. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the magic, mythology, and mystery of fungi, revealing their profound influence on human history and culture. From the iconic Fly Agaric, with its fairy tale allure, to the grotesque Stinkhorn, emerging like a pungent spear, Sally Coulthard explores 50 of the world's most curious and mystical mushrooms. Learn about the Tippler’s Bane, a mushroom that turns an innocent drink into a lethal potion, and uncover how fungi have inspired medicine, magic, storytelling, and ancient customs. Fungi Lore is more than a guide to well-known mushrooms; it's a journey through the hidden magic of one of nature’s most mysterious organisms. Perfect for nature enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone captivated by the wonders of the natural world.

'Crisp and refreshing' Pen Vogler, The Spectator Sin, cider and apple crumble… the 10,000-year story of the world’s most tempting fruit. The Apple: A Delicious History takes the reader on an extraordinary journey, from the apple’s prehistoric beginnings in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan to the explosion of commercial apple-growing in twenty-first-century China. Zigzagging across the centuries and straddling the globe, Sally Coulthard explores how the apple travelled along the Silk Road from Central Asia to Europe, appearing as an erotically charged symbol in Greek myth and poetry and even featuring in the shopping list of a senior Roman officer stationed on Hadrian’s Wall. She samples the cider that flowed from the emperor. Charlemagne’s orchards in the early Middle Ages, and relishes the crispness of the yellow sweeting, the first new apple variety to be cultivated in seventeenth-century America. And she discovers why, despite the existence of more than 7500 varieties of apple – from the ubiquitous Granny Smith to the purple-skinned Black Diamond of Tibet – only a handful of cultivars are available in modern supermarkets. Amplified by mouth-wateringly appley recipes and the stories behind them, The Apple: A Delicious History embraces not only culinary, horticultural, social and commercial history but also age-old traditions in mythology, folklore and religion. It is the perfect gift book for gardeners and nature lovers – and for anyone who enjoys a drop of cider or a slice of apple pie.

From druids’ oaks to deadly yews, tempting apples to erotic peaches, humanity has, for thousands of years, imbued trees with spiritual and superstitious meaning. Trees have deep roots in our folklore and mythology. Almost everything about them – leaves, branches, roots and fruits – has provided a metaphor for our human needs and desires. From strength to resilience, shelter to sustenance, we have taken each species’ unique qualities and turned them into fables, sayings and symbolism. In her new book, Sally Coulthard branches out into the world of tree folklore and finds an enchanted place where nature and legend intertwine. Whether it’s lovers’ trysting trees, festive firs, boughs of peace or hangman’s favourites, Sally explores 50 of the world’s most iconic species and their intriguing myths and magical associations. Discover the knightly allure of medieval holly, how willow became a symbol of mourning or when the blackthorn became the witch’s tree. Find out why the Greeks adored the fig, the Vikings worshipped the mighty ash, or why the Banyan abounds with protection and fertility. This beautifully illustrated book is more than just a guide to some of the world’s best-known trees; it reveals the richly layered and often curious way we relate to the natural world around us. Blending storytelling and ancient customs, botanical knowledge and cultural history, Tree Lore: The Myths, Folklore and Meaning of Trees plants them firmly in the centre of the human story.

Every day, just before sunrise and straight after sunset, magic happens. Dawn and dusk – those fleeting, half-lit hours – are when the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Skies flare with colour, landscapes shift in mood and an unseen cast of creatures emerges from the shadows. Welcome to twilight. In THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT, author and smallholder Sally Coulthard invites us into this magical in-between realm, where seductive night-blooming flowers open, secretive mammals stir, giant moths reign and fantastical sea creatures ride the tide. Twilight profoundly affects human life too – but in our age of electric light and closed doors, we’ve almost forgotten how to see it. Blending natural history, folklore and memoir, Coulthard reveals twilight as a vital, liminal force: one that has inspired awe for millennia and still has the power to illuminate our daily lives.

From bestselling author, Sally Coulthard, comes this charmingly illustrated guide to our favourite feathered friends and folklore that surround their lives. Even today, birds are hugely symbolic. From songbirds to seagulls, nightingales to morning larks, we still use the cultural language of the avian world. Doves bring peace, storks carry newborn babies. Robins mark Christmas, hens Easter. Blackbirds and thrushes herald the dawn, owls welcome in the night. Even in our modern, rational world, magpies and peacocks still invite superstitions. In her new book, Sally takes a fascinating flight through the myths, magic and meaning of birds. Covering 50 well-loved avian species from across the world, she glides through their folklore, legends and symbolism. From common sayings to strange superstitions, ancient beliefs to modern celebrations, this gloriously illustrated and international guide reveals that Bird Lore is as alive and vibrant as it ever was.

Sally Coulthard dives into a fascinating exploration of the cultural and natural history of the frog.Frogs are remarkable creatures. They have mastered both land and water, and can breathe through their skins and their lungs. Some of them are so poisonous that just one tiny frog harbours enough toxins to kill ten people, while others hold the key to lifesaving medicines. Frogs have colonised some of the most challenging terrains on the planet, from the Arctic to the South African desert, adopting miraculous breeding strategies in the process.Sally Coulthard explores both familiar native British species of frogs and toads and exotic rarities – many of which are under threat – and offers plenty of helpful advice on how to make your garden more frog-friendly.Brimful of extraordinary facts – from frogspawn and froglets to eating habits and hibernation – The Book of the Frog is the ideal jumping-off point for anyone with a fascination for amphibians.

A Waterstones Best Book of 2024: Nature Writing The untold story of rural Britain revealed through its artefacts ?'A really lovely, fascinating book. I dived straight into this clever, joyous, celebration of nature, history, and – of course – the countryside.' Charles Spencer, author of The White Ship For most of human history, we were rural folk. Our daily lives were bound up with working the land, living within the rhythm of the seasons. We poured our energies into growing food, tending to animals and watching the weather. Family, friends and neighbours were often one and the same. Life revolved around the village and its key spaces and places – the church, the green, the school and the marketplace. And yet rural life is oddly invisible our historical records. The daily routine of the peasant, the farmer or the craftsperson could never compete with the glamour of city life, war and royal drama. Lives went unrecorded, stories untold. There is, though, one way in which we can learn about our rural past. The things we have left behind provide a connection that no document can match; physical artefacts are touchstones that breathe life into its history. From farming tools to children’s toys, domestic objects and strange curios, the everyday items of the past reveal fascinating insights into an often-forgotten way of life. Birth, death, celebration, work, crime, play, medicine, beliefs, diet and our relationship with nature can all be read from these remnants of our past. From ancient artefacts to modern-day memorabilia, this startling book weaves a rich tapestry from the fragments of our rural past.

'Crisp and refreshing' Pen Vogler, The SpectatorSin, cider and apple crumble… the 10,000-year story of the world’s most tempting fruit.The Apple: A Delicious History takes the reader on an extraordinary journey, from the apple’s prehistoric beginnings in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan to the explosion of commercial apple-growing in twenty-first-century China. Zigzagging across the centuries and straddling the globe, Sally Coulthard explores how the apple travelled along the Silk Road from Central Asia to Europe, appearing as an erotically charged symbol in Greek myth and poetry and even featuring in the shopping list of a senior Roman officer stationed on Hadrian’s Wall. She samples the cider that flowed from the emperor. Charlemagne’s orchards in the early Middle Ages, and relishes the crispness of the yellow sweeting, the first new apple variety to be cultivated in seventeenth-century America. And she discovers why, despite the existence of more than 7500 varieties of apple – from the ubiquitous Granny Smith to the purple-skinned Black Diamond of Tibet – only a handful of cultivars are available in modern supermarkets. Amplified by mouth-wateringly appley recipes and the stories behind them, The Apple: A Delicious History embraces not only culinary, horticultural, social and commercial history but also age-old traditions in mythology, folklore and religion. It is the perfect gift book for gardeners and nature lovers – and for anyone who enjoys a drop of cider or a slice of apple pie.

The Wildlife Year will help you reconnect with nature and take a walk on the wild side, wherever you live. Nature is right on your doorstep. Whether you’re in the countryside, city or somewhere in between, there is wildlife everywhere if you know where to look. And while it’s trickier to find in some places than others, nature can thrive in the most surprising spaces.The Wildlife Year is a gentle introduction to the events that mark the natural cycle of the year. Best-selling author, Sally Coulthard, will inspire you to discover nature in all its glory and to seek out, observe and enjoy the wildlife around you. Explore the unique properties of the seasons. Discover more about meteorological phenomena like weather events and cloud formations. And even learn how the moon and its cycle affects the natural world. This fascinating introduction will help you identify both our best-loved, and most misunderstood, plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects, with helpful information on where and when to look for them. This book is a glorious celebration of the magic that can be found in each season. Beautifully illustrated, this irresistible guide will encourage you to get outdoors and make a wonderful gift for the nature-seeker in all of us.

Frogs are remarkable creatures. They have mastered both land and water, and can breathe through their skins and their lungs. Some of them are so poisonous that just one tiny frog harbours enough toxins to kill ten people, while others hold the key to lifesaving medicines. Frogs have colonised some of the most challenging terrains on the planet, from the Arctic to the South African desert, adopting miraculous breeding strategies in the process.Sally Coulthard explores both familiar native British species of frogs and toads and exotic rarities – many of which are under threat – and offers plenty of helpful advice on how to make your garden more frog-friendly.Brimful of extraordinary facts – from frogspawn and froglets to eating habits and hibernation – The Book of the Frog is the ideal jumping-off point for anyone with a fascination for amphibians.

A Waterstones Best Book of 2024: Nature Writing The untold story of rural Britain revealed through its artefacts ?'A really lovely, fascinating book. I dived straight into this clever, joyous, celebration of nature, history, and – of course – the countryside.' Charles Spencer, author of The White Ship For most of human history, we were rural folk. Our daily lives were bound up with working the land, living within the rhythm of the seasons. We poured our energies into growing food, tending to animals and watching the weather. Family, friends and neighbours were often one and the same. Life revolved around the village and its key spaces and places – the church, the green, the school and the marketplace. And yet rural life is oddly invisible our historical records. The daily routine of the peasant, the farmer or the craftsperson could never compete with the glamour of city life, war and royal drama. Lives went unrecorded, stories untold. There is, though, one way in which we can learn about our rural past. The things we have left behind provide a connection that no document can match; physical artefacts are touchstones that breathe life into its history. From farming tools to children’s toys, domestic objects and strange curios, the everyday items of the past reveal fascinating insights into an often-forgotten way of life. Birth, death, celebration, work, crime, play, medicine, beliefs, diet and our relationship with nature can all be read from these remnants of our past. From ancient artefacts to modern-day memorabilia, this startling book weaves a rich tapestry from the fragments of our rural past.

The humble chicken has conquered the world.This unlikely descendant of Tyrannosaurus Rex is now so ubiquitous there are more than 20 billion chickens pecking, strutting and scratching around the planet at any one time. And yet, of all animals, the chicken perhaps best represents the contradictory way we humans treat other species: both beloved pet and cheap commodity, symbol of a sustainable good life and brutalised object of factory farming.Sally Coulthard charts the chicken’s fascinating journey from dinosaur to domestication, exploring every aspect of the history of Gallus gallus domesticus. As informative as it is entertaining, Fowl Play tells a remarkable tale of evolutionary change, epic global travel and ruthless exploitation – as well as of companionship, ingenuity and the folly of human nature.

Few of us know what goes on after dark, underneath the moon. Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl, one of the most mesmerising and elusive icons of the countryside.'Fascinating insights... An endearing book for lovers of the barn owl' Daily Mail 'Enjoyable and lyrical... enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints' Country Life 'Packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know' Yorkshire Life 'This is a gorgeous little book' Permaculture MagazineWith its heart-shaped face and silent, graceful flight, the barn owl regularly tops the nation's list of favourite birds. But how much do we really know about this sublime tenant of the night?Here, bestselling author Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl. Full of fascinating insights, conservation advice and the latest research, this affectionate and timely guide also tells the story of a barn owl's early life – from first pip of the shell to leaving the nest – a fascinating time in this captivating creature's journey.

A charming celebration of all things snow.Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow?Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It's the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games – of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It's the weather of childhood – the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves.Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice – the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white...'Super-cute... Packed full of snowy snippets' Sunday Express

A revelatory uncovering of a vanished agricultural way of life by bestselling nature writer Sally Coulthard. 'A gem of a book' Country Smallholding 'Engaging and filled with gentle humour and fascinating facts' Get History 'Shows us the beauty and rich history of everyday things' Country Walking MagazineAcross the foldyard from Sally Coulthard's North Yorkshire farmhouse, stands an old stone barn. When she discovered a set of witches' marks on one of its internal walls, she began to wonder about the lives of the people who had once lived and worked there.Both the intimate story of a building and its hinterland, and a wider social history, The Barn explores a hidden corner of rural Britain that has witnessed remarkable changes. From the eighteenth-century Enclosures to the Second World War, the fortunes of the Barn have been blown, like a leaf in a gale, by the unstoppable forces of new agriculture and industry. Seismic shifts in almost every area of society were all played out here in miniature – against a backdrop of scattered limestone villages and the softly rolling Howardian Hills.

The chicken can fly only a few metres but – somehow – this unlikely evolutionary descendant of Tyrannosaurus Rex has conquered the world. Earth is now home to more than twenty billion chickens, at least ten times more than any other bird. For every human on the planet, there are three chickens.In Fowl Play, Sally Coulthard charts the chicken's fascinating journey from dinosaur to domestication to exploitation, exploring every aspect of the history of Gallus gallus domesticus: its importance to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans as food source and fighting bird; its symbolic roles in religion and folklore and metaphorical function in the language we use; its homely place as egg-providing companion on farms, smallholdings and in suburban back gardens; and its darker modern-day fate as battery bird raised to satisfy society's unquenchable addiction to wings and nuggets.Of all animals, chickens perhaps best represent the contradictory way we humans treat other species; both beloved pet and cheap commodity, symbol of a sustainable good life and brutalised object of factory farming. The chicken is also a bird we feel deeply familiar with and yet know very little about. As informative as it is entertaining, Fowl Play tells a remarkable tale of evolutionary change, epic global travel and ruthless exploitation – as well as of companionship, ingenuity and the folly of human nature.

An inspiring, aspirational and practical guide to building fires both indoors and out.'A cracking book' Sainsbury's Magazine 'Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud' Sunday Times 'A brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations' Yorkshire Post 'Celebrates the heart-warming properties of the hearth' Simple ThingsNothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood – what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out.But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.