Discover the healing power of nature through the stories of these characterful birds, whose song is never far away . . . 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. 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 Field

I've always had a strong affinity for birds, and anytime I try my hand at drawing, I can never help but draw birds. I recall from my childhood how my relatives kept hundreds of pigeons as pets in a room larger than the one I currently rent in Delhi. The first book I ever read about the bond between people and their birds, and it still triggers memories of it more than any other book was H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald so when I saw Charlie Corbett's book cover with the lovely bird collage and the title, "This book provides nature's lessons in happiness," I dove at it like a barn owl might while hunting his prey quietly. 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 HensonCharlie 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 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

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 lying on the side of a hill in the rain, alone with his thoughts. By reconnecting with the wildlife all around him and learning to move with the rhythms of the natural world, Charlie discovered nature's powerful ability to heal.His story is very personal and emotional and really resonates with you as he was dealing with some very sad times in his life, which we can all relate to. And by watching birds it taught him to live in the now and find solace in the everyday. Life isn't all rainbows and unicorns, but there are those magical little moments that fill your heart with joy and those are the times to savour! Discover the healing power of nature in this life-affirming guide to the birds living all around us. 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 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.

I really enjoyed his personal anecdotes throughout and seeing how he never felt alone when he was in nature - it was a way to find escape, and learning the joy of never chasing nature! Letting it come to you makes it even more special, and as a keen birdwatcher myself I totally understand that feeling.This is no misery memoir . . . The story moves apace to its uplifting conclusion, that Nature is the best medicine Country Life 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 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. He had gone out alone with no real purpose in mind and found himself lying on a hill in the rain. His mind was full of dark thoughts and he couldn’t see the point in carrying on anymore. When he heard the song of a skylark above. It was a timely distraction. It was listening to that bird that changed his outlook on life.

Weaving his journey through grief with a remarkable portrait of the birds living right on our doorstep, 12 Birds to Save Your Life is an invitation to stop, step outside, and listen. This is no ordinary ornithology, but one that portrays the very essence of each bird through a very human lens and shows us that both solace and joy can be ours by merely observing with an open eye and an open heart' John Wright, author of The Forager's Calendar For the lover of nature - or the twitcher - in your life, this is the perfect book to keep them happy in their armchair . . .Each chapter is dedicated to a different bird - such as robin, skylark, wren, magpie, to name but a few - and has a wonderful viewpoint behind it about how seeing different birds elicit a different emotion in him as he watches them and goes to show how nature is always there to comfort, distract and focus the mind elsewhere! 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? 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. Grief is an intensely personal thing that people cope with, in their own way. When Charlie Corbett lost his mother after a short but aggressive cancer he began to realise that his perspective on life was slipping away.