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'This book deserves a place in your bookcase next to Harari's Sapiens. It's every bit as fascinating and is surely destined to be just as successful' Julian Norton. An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis have had on human history. From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story. Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes, and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep, and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading. Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colourful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture. REVIEWS: 'This is such a great book: I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history or sheep - or simply a passion for reading captivating and high-quality prose. It's extremely well researched and written in a very engaging style. It trumped my Clive James memoir, which I put to one side. I read A History of the World According to Sheep within two days. (And that's impressive for me. It usually takes me weeks to finish a book.) You'd never imagine the role sheep have played across the centuries: from the egregious rampaging of Genghis Khan to the success of the Medici dynasty during the Renaissance to the Scottish Highland Clearances of the eighteenth century. The trade in their wool has financed wars; lanolin from their fleeces has fuelled the huge industry in beauty products, and ovine intestines even had a hand in controlling both birth rates and the spread of syphilis. And that's before we get onto jumpers. Or cheese...' Julian Norton, the Yorkshire Vet.
In this beautifully illustrated guide, best-selling author Sally Coulthard demonstrates how to transform your living and working spaces into places that put you in touch with nature. Eight inspiring chapters cover key elements for the 'biophilic home', including materials, views, colour and natural light. Each section explores the links between home, health and happiness, drawing on environmental research and neuroscience while making practical suggestions for bringing the natural world into your home. Bring nature indoors with flowers and plants, rediscover the innate pleasure of real fires and fresh air, and learn how to improve your mood and sleep patterns with dynamic light. Create a space filled with natural elements, patterns, nature's colours, fabrics and textures that lift your mood; find out why natural sounds and water are soothing; and learn how to make small changes that will inspire, invigorate and enrich your relationship with the natural world. 'As best-selling author and designer, Sally Coulthard, reveals in this guide, creating a 'biophilic home' can have a huge impact on your wellbeing; improving your mood and encouraging healthier sleep patterns...Be it plants, materials, colour or light, it's enlightening to see how small changes can make a big difference, while deepening your respect and correlation to the natural world.' FORBES Magazine 'How to embrace the natural world by transforming your interior spaces with specific materials, colours, views and sounds.' Gardens Illustrated 'Humans are mammals, programmed over millennia to respond to the natural world. We may be able to live and work in man-made environments most of the time. But according to a new movement of biophilic designers and enthusiasts, we are not thriving...writer Sally Coulthard likens it to the practice of keeping animals in captivity, in surroundings ill-suited to their needs. We live in a world that is fundamentally mismatched to our evolutionary adaptation - we don't see, hear and feel the things that we are programmed to respond to, she writes.' Financial Times
We need bees. We rely on them not only to pollinate our planet but to sweeten our lives with the fruits of their labours - honey, beeswax, Royal Jelly. These tiny, hardworking insects have transformed our lives with their quiet diligence; fertilising much of our food, most of the wild plants we rely on, and giving us thousands of years of sugary pleasure, candlelight and beauty treatments. But bees are in danger. Across the planet, bee numbers are plummeting. Honey bees, fat, fluffy bumblebees and key species of solitary bees are disappearing from our gardens, fields and wild spaces. Over the past 50 years, the UK has lost more than half its solitary bee numbers and three species of bumblebee have gone extinct. In the rest of Europe, nearly one in ten species of wild bees are facing extinction, in the US about a quarter of all wild bees have disappeared in the past ten years alone. Thankfully, we can do something if we act now. In The Bee Bible, best-selling author Sally Coulthard shows us fifty positive ways we can all save bees; from planting flowers bees love to mowing less, buying the right honey to influencing public spaces and government policy. Whether you garden for bees, shop with bees in mind, campaign for bees, or just learn a bit of bee-whispering, little things can make a big difference. Just ask a bee.
Ever wondered why we touch wood, salute magpies, skip over cracks and throw salt over our shoulders? Then Sally Coulthard has the answer as she gets under the skin of these peculiar pastimes in her new book Superstition. Exploring the history and background of fifty of these fascinating cultural behaviours, discover how they affected our everyday life and why many of these beliefs are still pertinent today. Superstitions reveal the hopes, fears and preoccupations of our ancestors and give a fascinating glimpse into how they lived. Seemingly bizarre folk beliefs and practices - in farming, marriage, craft, love, feasting, birth and death - often have their roots in real-life worries and desires. By looking at the material circumstances and challenging environments of our forefathers we start to understand how strange rituals and rules give comfort and reassurance, whether it's hoping for a good harvest, wishing our loved ones a safe journey or trying for a baby. Pick a side. This is a book with two covers, giving you the chance to decide if you want to enter the light or dark side. With its gorgeous folk illustrations and light-hearted tone, Superstition aims not only to give readers a fascinating insight into recent history but also bring a smile of recognition that, perhaps, we've got more in common with our superstitious ancestors than we'd care to admit.
Hedgehogs, with their quiet determination and bristling, bumbling ways, are seen by many of one of life's most enduring symbols of the countryside and town gardens. This shy, snuffling, enigmatic animal has captured the imagination of children and adults for centuries - from Beatrix Potter's Mrs Tiggywinkle to Sonic the Hedgehog. Full to the brim with fascinating insights and countryside lore, The Hedgehog Handbook explores different facets of this much-admired mammal - from its wildlife habits to its literary heritage, how different cultures have viewed the hedgehog and what we can do to help preserve this icon of rural life. Fun, sweet and warm hearted, The Hedgehog Handbook is a month-by-month celebration of one of the countryside's best-loved creatures. Packed with inspirational quotes, entertaining facts, folklore and literary references, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for prickles.
Crafted is a celebration of craft in the 21st century - a definitive visual guide to all things handmade. Featuring over 73 of the most popular and well-established crafts, Sally Coulthard explores their history, materials and techniques as she offers a deeper insight into some of your favourite crafts and provides inspiration for both new and ancient creative pursuits. After an introductory section covering the culture of craft (its definition, why it matters, history and community), the main body of the book consists of beautifully illustrated entries on 73 of the world's most established crafts. The scope is encyclopaedic and covers Paper, Pen & Print (bookbinding, origami, calligraphy, lino printing), Textiles, Cloth & Leather (fur & leather, embroidery, knitting, dyeing), Pottery, Glass & Stone (porcelain, stained glass, stone carving), Wood, Willow & Nature (basket weaving, wood carving, lime plastering and thatching) and Metal (gold, bronze, cast iron and steel). A comprehensive directory of craft organisations and professional communities and guilds, completes this groundbreaking compendium.
Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow? Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It's the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games - of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It's the weather of childhood - the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves. Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice - the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white...
Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow? Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It's the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games - of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It's the weather of childhood - the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves. Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice - the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white...
Ever dreamed of having your very own garden retreat? Off-the-shelf sheds aren't always the answer - the cheap ones are badly made and freezing cold, and the better quality ones are really expensive. But what if you could build your own shed from scratch? How to Build a Shed is the ultimate practical guide. With its clear, easy-to-follow instructions, expert advice and specially commissioned illustrations, you'll be able to source the materials, choose the right tools and build your dream shed on a budget - even if you've never used a hammer.
Hedgehogs, with their quiet determination and bristling, bumbling ways, are seen by many of one of life's most enduring symbols of the countryside and town gardens. This shy, snuffling, enigmatic animal has captured the imagination of children and adults for centuries - from Beatrix Potter's Mrs Tiggywinkle to Sonic the Hedgehog. Full to the brim with fascinating insights and countryside lore, The Hedgehog Handbook explores different facets of this much-admired mammal - from its wildlife habits to its literary heritage, how different cultures have viewed the hedgehog and what we can do to help preserve this icon of rural life. Fun, sweet and warm hearted, The Hedgehog Handbook is a month by month celebration of one of the countryside's best-loved creatures. Packed with inspirational quotes, entertaining facts, folklore and literary references, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for prickles.
Hedgehogs, with their quiet determination and bristling, bumbling ways, are seen by many of one of life's most enduring symbols of the countryside and town gardens. This shy, snuffling, enigmatic animal has captured the imagination of children and adults for centuries - from Beatrix Potter's Mrs Tiggywinkle to Sonic the Hedgehog. Full to the brim with fascinating insights and countryside lore, The Hedgehog Handbook explores different facets of this much-admired mammal - from its wildlife habits to its literary heritage, how different cultures have viewed the hedgehog and what we can do to help preserve this icon of rural life. Fun, sweet and warm hearted, The Hedgehog Handbook is a month by month celebration of one of the countryside's best-loved creatures. Packed with inspirational quotes, entertaining facts, folklore and literary references, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for prickles.
Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood - what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out. But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.
Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood - what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out. But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.
Art, craft and all things homemade have never been more popular and the trend for working from home continues apace. But it can be tricky to carve out a space in your house that lets you indulge your passion or earn a living from your creativity. Studio and study spaces are special places - full of creative spirit and practical potential - and there's never been a greater demand for a book that shows you how to carve out a corner that allows you to not only practice your craft, but inspires and facilitates the very work you create. Real-life case studies from seven different countries, ranging from crafters, writers, designers and artists, show readers just what can be achieved on every budget. Many of the studio owners featured have a dedicated and ever-expanding social media following, including fashion designers Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Vickers, woodworker Ariele Alasko, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel, fine artist Lisa Congdon and decor8 blogger Holly Becker. Detailed chapters outline the vital pieces needed to create a functioning and inspirational studio space, while also taking an in-depth look into different styles of studios for craft and creative activities. With Studio, Sally Coulthard shows you that spaces for creativity can be easy to make, look beautiful, and fitted into any home.
When we describe a home as being 'full of character', we mean that it's individual or exceptional in some way. Character comes from a variety of sources, some from the property itself, and others from the people who live there, while the act of bringing character into a home is a layering process, one that starts with the bones of the building and finishes with the decor - the human element. In this new book, interiors expert Sally Coulthard explains just what it takes to turn an uninspiring space into a personality-packed home, whether it's a cottage, an apartment or a modern family house. Each chapter focuses on a particular element - for example, the importance of family and loved ones, and making an interior feel like a social space - and explains why this element matters and how to bring it into your home. Inspirational features, in the form of 'Keys to Character' boxes, offer tips on incorporating individuality into even the most unpromising of spaces, from making the most of period details and mixing old and new furnishings to introducing artwork and displaying photographs.
Are you a wannabe property developer who doesn't know where to start? Or maybe you've developed a property before but you want to be smarter and more prepared for your next project. There's a lot at stake in property development, and getting it right is far from easy. A badly planned and ill-considered project can consume vast quantities of both time and money - two of the most precious resources for any developer. Luckily, The Property Developer's Book of Checklists is on-hand to help you maximise your time, your money and your profit. This unique book is packed with essential information, help and advice on every aspect of property development, so you can rest assured that you'll have everything covered. From planning your project, handling the finances and dealing with contractors, right through to letting or selling your property, you'll find every part of the project considered from every conceivable angle. The book will help you to avoid costly mistakes and save you from making ill-judged decisions, but if problems or crises do arise the book is on-hand to give you vital help and advice on getting through them. All of the help, advice, tips and information in The Property Developer's Book of Checklists is easy to access and simple to follow. There's no complicated jargon or technical terminology and you'll find everything you need in one of the 90 detailed checklists.
