Tuesday 14 September 2021

Woodston, The Biography of an English Farm

 

I first came across this author in 2009 when his book  "The Wild Life: A Year of Living Wild was published. 
Walking around his Herefordshire farm one October, John Lewis-Stempel saw a trout flash in the brook, mushrooms sprinkle the fields, a squirrel eat hazelnuts, and thought: Wouldn't it be wonderful if one could live just on what Nature provided for free? 
 He spent a year foraging, catching and eating only food from his farm. 
Then more recently I read his books....... 'The Running Hare' , 'The Secret Life of the Owl' and the small Candlestick Press booklet 'The Wood In Winter. I've owned his book 'Meadowland' but must have sold it in the pre-move clear out. He has written many others, both Natural History and books about the soldiers of World War I.
 
Woodston, The Biography of an English Farm, is his most recent book. It tells the story of a farm situated on the Herefordshire/Wales border from Neolithic to the present. Using old books and records he finds the owners through history and details of the way they farmed the land. His family have had links to the farm from times long gone and his Grandfather became Farm Manager there in the 1930's and he, himself, has farmed not far away for many years so is ideally placed to write this fascinating book.

Amazon describes it well....................
With his combined skills of farmer and historian, Lewis-Stempel digs deep into written records, the memories of relatives, and the landscape itself to celebrate the farmland his family have been bound to for millennia. Through Woodston's life, we feel the joyful arrival of oxen ploughing; we see pigs rootling in the medieval apple orchard; and take in the sharp, drowsy fragrance of hops on Edwardian air. He draws upon his wealth of historical knowledge and his innate sense of place to create a passionate, fascinating biography of farming in England

Although this is a history of one farm it applies to many in the area and (apart from the growing of hops) many more across the country.
I loved it - it should be compulsory reading for anyone moving from town or city to the countryside! 
 
The piece included in the  Notes at the back of the book about Foot and Mouth disease which JL-S got published in UnHerd magazine in 2001 should be read by everyone too, especially since the pandemic.

I'm going to reserve some of his other books from the library as soon as I have space to do so(they have a limit of 25 books on reserve per person). Oddly they don't have a copy of The Wild Life which I decided I'd like to re-read so I've found a cheap copy on Abebooks.

Back Tomorrow
Sue


24 comments:

  1. I have enjoyed some of his books too Sue. At the moment I am loving Chris Packham and his step daughter touring round the countryside - are you watching it on BBC2?

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    1. I'm not a huge fan of Chris Packham I find him difficult to watch! so haven't been following that programme but I'm glad you are enjoying it

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    2. I hated the book about his life, poorly written, clawing for attention. Should have stayed in the classroom desk drawer where it belonged. Put me off book clubs for life, first book I had to read. As for wanting to make pigeons a protected bird he is nuts.

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    3. Rachel............For a moment I thought you were talking about John Lewis Stempel and was puzzled but then I realised you were writing about Chris Packham's book which I have no clue about and no intention of reading!

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    4. I was just following on the Packham thread. As for farming books in general I avoid them as they touch a raw nerve with me and those I have touched depress me.

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  2. A friend has loaned me this to read so it's in the (huge) pile. I'll get there. I've read a few of his other books but found the living off the land one a little stretch for the imagination and think he was tucking into steak a couple of times a week without letting on. I think it was the garden snails (YUK) and the foraging for Ramson bulbs in something like November which stretched my incredulity a bit.

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    1. It's worth a read - Ive forgotten how odd the Wild Food book was so will re read

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  3. You certainly find some interesting books Sue.
    I never liked Chris Packham but since reading about his life I have changed about him and I enjoyed his new program and his step daughter is very knowledgeable.
    Hope you get your books soon.
    Hazel 🌈🌈

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    1. I've got a good lot coming from the library again next week too

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  4. I've not heard of this author before but I'm certainly interested. Ive added one of his books to my wish list
    X

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  5. I finished reading Woodston a few weeks ago and thought it a terrific read and learnt several things about wildlife that I wasn't aware of. As for the Chris Packham and Megan series on TV, I really can't see the point of it other than it being another case of Chris keeping his stepdaughter on TV and therefore earning her money, all they do is spend half an hour making jokes.

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    1. Woodston is one of my favourite reads this year.

      I'm doing no more commenting on Chris Packham - not the subject of this post at all

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  6. I will have to put this book on my list. One day I need to contact local historical society to find out more about this 1839 house we now own.

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    1. Hope you are able to find out more about your home

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  7. I was interested in this author and the books. I looked up in my library listings in Winnipeg, and they have two of his books. The one I have reserved is called Where Poppies Blow about the British soldier, nature and the Great War, and the other one is about the early life of James Herriott. He sounds like an interesting and prolific author. I enjoyed reading your post.

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    1. What a shame that there are only two. The War one won an award - are you able to suggest books for the library to buy like we can here?

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    2. Yes, I could do that, that's a good thought, thank you Sue.

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  8. Will try to get this book to add to my collection
    Wendy (Wales)

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  9. I will look for the JLS book on the English farm. As our cold winter begins and my land and gardens are snow covered and frozen, reading is always enjoyed. Experimenting with growing artichokes indoors will be a new challenge.

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    1. Artichokes indoors sound difficult - but always good to try a new idea

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  10. This sounds like a very interesting read. I can't imagine following any of the farms here in such a manner.

    God bless.

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