A Year in the Woods

Colin Elfords A Year in the Woods is an enthralling journey into the heart of the English countryside - with a preamble by Craig Taylor.

Colin Elford spends his days alone - alone but for the deer, the squirrels, the rabbits, the birds, and the many other creatures inhabiting the woods.

From the crisp cold of January, through the promise of spring and the heat of summer, and then into damp autumn and the chill winds of winter, we accompany the forest-ranger as he goes about his work - stalking in the early morning darkness, putting an injured fallow buck out of its misery, watching stoats kill a hare, observing owls, and simply being a part of the outdoors.

Colin Elford immerses himself in the richly diverse and unique landscapes of Britain, existing in rhythm with natural environments. For fans of Robert Macfarlanes Landmarks, Helen Macdonalds H is for Hawk orJames RebanksA Shepherds Life, Colins rare and uplifiting journey will unveil the true nature and beauty of Britains countryside.

This is nature for real . . . Elford describes woodland wonders in short paragraphs of luminous intensityDaily Mail

A poetic insight in the world of hidden NatureCountryman

Stalking sharpens the senses and there is an almost hallucinatory clarity to Elfords writingObserver

Refreshingly unsentimental. Contains some wonderful descriptions and sentences which are so profound they demand a second readingSunday Express

Colin Elford is a forest ranger on the Dorset/Wiltshire border.

Craig Taylor is the author of Return to Akenfield and One Million Tiny Plays About Britain and the editor of the magazine Five Dials.