A treasure trove of stories experiencing the joy Nature brings

A wonderful book that inspires us to get closer to Nature by observing and engaging with the natural world around us. Written by writer, birdwatcher and conductor, Lev Parikian, Into The Tangled Bank represents a deep dive into the importance of connecting with Nature with endearing stories gleaned from spending time being with Nature at home, in the garden, on pavements, in the local park and other places where Nature thrives.

As a passionate ambassador for tiny wild things, any Nature book that starts with the line, 'I'm lying, as you do, on the pavement' is one that will immediately draw me in. Just as we would crouch down to listen closely and attentively to a child relating an important story so we need to get low down and close to observe the microcosmic world of tiny creatures in the wild. When we do, we get to experience the intricacies of thriving habitats, wherever they may be.

Lev brings these micro-experiences to life with a gentle humour that brings the book to life and draws you into the natural world seen through the eyes of someone who cares about these things. It's a reminder that to enjoy Nature, it doesn't have to be dramatic or out of reach. Nature is life and the daily endeavours of even the most smallest of beings, reflect the busy-ness and productivity of our own human existence.

It is a truism that 'going out to be in Nature is now an unbreakable habit, a way to nourish body, mind and soul all at once.' It is also true that many people don't realise they are experiencing Nature and that being oblivious to this fact denies the opportunity to engage in something quite beautiful - however stunningly dramatic and however small. A great point is made that Nature programmes on TV have turned us into 'armchair Nature lovers' preventing us from going outside to experience the joys of Nature in our own back yards.

My favourite part of the book resides in the first chapter: Home Sweet Home, whereby Lev observes the presence of a lone spider sitting in the sink. There is washing up to be done and for this wonderful author, a dilemma arises - how to remove the spider safely from the sink so that he can continue with the domestic duties. As he rightly says: 'Some people, I dare say, would flush it down the sink; others - harder-hearted, crueller, but also quicker - might despatch it with a quick blow from a suitable instrument.' 

The preferred method, 'honed throughout a childhood in a house with innumerable shady crevices, is to coax it onto a square of kitchen paper and hope it doesn't make a bid for freedom up my sleeve while I carry it to pastures new.'  What a lovely way to treat our smallest wild creatures, bringing to mind the old saying; 'When we look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.' Meaning, if humanity focused on protecting and preserving the tiniest of creatures, the Earth would be a much cleaner, happier and safer place to live for us all.

And so, from this endearing beginning, I settled in to enjoy the rest of the book. A rich tapestry of experiences and poignant reminders of the fact that we are an integral part of the natural world and our conscious engagement and appreciatation of it serves to greatly enrich our lives.

This no more apparent than the experience of gardening and the dreadful taming and tidying of Nature that goes on. It's an approach that tramples over any life that existed before the laying down of lawns and the spraying of chemicals on troublesome weeds.

'This taming of Nature has varied in degree down the ages, but the heart of it is the imposition of human influence on the wild - the illusion of balance achieved only by constant efforts to keep Nature in check.' I so agree with this statement and that the quest for perfection in a garden - as a form of self-expression - is wholly misguided. 

It takes away the joy of allowing Nature to thrive as naturally as possible on land we may have the privilege to call our own. It takes away the challenge of meeting our natural world half-way and working together to find the right balance.

An untended garden is not the answer but every gardener knows deep-down that this need for perfection (in the excessively trimmed, mowed, strimmed, weed-killing and clipped sense of the word) is unattainable and a thankless task for those who invest so heavily in keeping wild plants and wildlife at bay.

Other such keen observations and insights can be found in every chapter of this delightful book. For this reason, I highly recommend Into The Tangled Bank for Nature-lovers, walkers, gardeners, land owners and anyone with even the slightest interest in the joys Nature brings.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

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Into The Tangled Bank by Lev Parikian