Suddenly he hears the song of a single skylark - that soaring, tinkling, joyous sound - and he is transported away from the drizzle and dark thoughts. Grounded by the beauty of nature, perspective dawns. No longer the leading role in his own private melodrama, but merely a minor part in nature's great epic. From dawn choruses to the first chiffchaff calls of spring, Charlie Corbett shows how the changing seasons can bring happy natural rhythms to times of hardship National Geographic Traveller

12 Birds to Save Your Life by Charlie Corbett | Waterstones 12 Birds to Save Your Life by Charlie Corbett | Waterstones

This is no misery memoir . . . The story moves apace to its uplifting conclusion, that Nature is the best medicine Country Life At a time of great anxiety and uncertainty, while coping with the untimely death of his mother, Charlie Corbett realised his perspective on life was slipping. In a moment of despair, he found himself - somewhat damp - lying on the side of a lonely hill staring up at a leaden sky, a melancholy drizzle seeping into his bones. After the tragic loss of his mother, Charlie Corbett felt trapped by his pain. Having lost all hope and perspective he took to the countryside in search of solace. There, he heard the soaring, cascading song of the skylark - a sound that pulled him from the depths of despair and into the calm of the natural world. A wonderful blend of the lyrical and practical. Charlie shows us that our relationship with birds and the natural world is not only healing, but an important part of our cultural heritage worth protecting Adam Henson

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A lyrical and life-affirming book that teaches us as much about birds as it does ourselves - a balm for the soul' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path

12 Birds to Save Your Life - Penguin Books UK

A lyrical and life-affirming book that teaches us as much about birds as it does ourselves - a balm for the soul Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path Suddenly he hears the song of a single skylark – that soaring, tinkling, joyous sound – and he is transported away from the drizzle and dark thoughts. Grounded by the beauty of nature, perspective dawns. No longer the leading role in his own private melodrama, but merely a minor part in nature’s great epic. At a time of great anxiety and uncertainty, while coping with the untimely death of his mother, Charlie Corbett realised his perspective on life was slipping. In a moment of despair, he found himself – somewhat damp – lying on the side of a lonely hill staring up at a leaden sky, a melancholy drizzle seeping into his bones.

Can you recognise the cheerful chirrups of the house sparrow? A song thrush singing out at winter’s darkest hour? Or the beautiful, haunting call of the curlew? Such is the power of these creatures to raise you from life’s periodic depths. Through twelve characterful birds, Charlie show us that there is joy to be found in the very smallest of events – if we know where to look, and how to listen. From solitary skylarks to squabbling sparrows, he explores the place of these birds in our history, culture and landscape, noting what they look like and where you’re most likely to meet them. Honest, uplifting and written from the heart, this is a rediscovery of life inspired by a re-discovery of birds Tim Birkhead By reconnecting with the wildlife all around him, through learning to understand, love, and begin to move with the rhythms of the natural world outside his door, Charlie discovered nature’s powerful ability to heal.

12 Birds to Save Your Life by Charlie Corbett | Waterstones

An important book, woven with the countryside and catharsis. Also instructive into which birds to look for and how to recognise their calls and song. Written by a true countryman and loving son The FieldCharlie Corbett (C1 1990-95) has written a book, “ 12 Birds to Save Your Life – Finding Happiness in Nature“, due to be published in June. Totally absorbing and completely engaging on so many levels . . . Charlie has opened my eyes to the constant joy of the sights and sounds of the birds that surround us. It is a book that really will save lives' Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural Causes