To Have or to Hold (nature’s hidden relationships)

To Have or to Hold is a thrilling exploration of nature’s relationships, nominated for the Wainwright Prize. Learn about eight symbiotic relationships, trying to survive climate and biodiversity crises, to regulate ecosystems and strengthen resilience.

What can nature teach us, about living together?  These relationships don’t happen by accident, there are dynamics involves. Species form (and sever) relationships everywhere, from temperate rainforests to the open ocean, and from quiet tidal pools to chalk grasslands.

In this book, Sophie travels (using low-carbon methods) around the British Isles to relish the inter-connectedness between species, and sharing some of their tales. A call to avoid exploiting nature’s resources, instead to love and cherish what remains, to shape a more restorative life alongside nature.

This miraculous book blindsided me. I raced through its pages as though reading a beautifully written thriller, while learning so much about things I never knew existed. Joanna Lumley

From mint-sauce worms (they are bright green due to algae!) to tree lungwort (toxic to pets), this is a glorious guide to coupling in the animal, plant and fungal kingdoms. Guy Shrubsole

She is one of the best nature writers of our time, her ability to make readers giggle and feel empowered and motivated to do something, is like no other. This is an absolute masterpiece. Megan McCubbin

About the Author

Sophie Pavelle is a US-born science communicator who now lives here. She has done a lot of good work for wildlife (especially beavers) and her writing appears in many newspapers and magazines.

Her first book Forget Me Not was praised for encouraging action against biodiversity loss, due to climate change.