Books to celebrate England’s stunning seasons
Angela Harding is a talented writer, artist and printmaker whose beautiful work celebrates the natural world around us. She has illustrated many books and written several of her own, creating a collection of gentle, thoughtful books.
Her stunning quartet of seasonal books is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves nature, art and the simple beauty of the world around us. The collection of four books is also sold as a gift set.
Falling into Autumn: A Printmaker’s View
Autumn season in England casts a golden hue and chill in the air, as nights draw in, birds prepare for migration and animals prepare for winter hibernation. Trees lose their leaves and , and horse chestnut trees drop their seeds (keep conkers and leaf mould away from dogs).
Falling into Autumn is a beautiful combination of artwork and writing, filled with Angela’s personal observations of the season. The book features more than 30 of her favourite prints, alongside reflections .
I am inspired by watching jays gathering acorns, owls hooting and the joy of hearing nightingales. In the shady part of my garden, ferns grow. By the autumn, these same leaves are starting to go brown at the edges.
This seems to be at the same time that the swallows gather to leave. Together with the ferns, they are markers that the summer has gone; that one season has finished and another is about to begin.
Winter’s Song: A Printmaker’s View
Winter’s Song is a beautifully illustrated pocket hardback book celebrating the quiet magic of winter. It makes a thoughtful gift or a comforting bedtime read for anyone who enjoys nature and beautiful artwork.
Angela explores how winter transforms the landscape. Snow, frost and cold weather create a different world, revealing details that are often hidden.
When snow falls heavily, familiar paths and fields can suddenly look completely different. Animal tracks become visible in the snow, showing where hares, rabbits and birds have travelled. The countryside becomes a place of mystery, with every footprint telling a story.
Winter is often seen as a quiet season, but Angela reminds us that it is full of life. Birds continue their search for food, animals adapt to the colder weather and nature continues its cycle of change.
When the snow falls quickly, it brings dramatic change. Hare, rabbit and bird tracks become visible in the lanes and fields.
Read about keeping safe in snow (including pets).
Spring Unfurled: A Printmaker’s View
Spring Unfurled celebrates the excitement and freshness of spring. This beautifully illustrated guide captures the season when the natural world begins to wake after winter.
Angela reflects on how birds know exactly when it is time to travel. As daylight changes and temperatures rise, they return to their breeding grounds. Later in the year, when evenings become cooler and days grow shorter.
The seasons are nature’s clock, bringing birds from distant shores to nest and breed. Seasons have no regard for official times. When the days shorten and the evening air is chilly, they know it’s time to leave.
Did you know all spring bulbs (including daffodils) are not safe near pets? Read more on pet-friendly gardens.
Summer’s Hum: A Love of Birds and Wildlife
The final book in the quartet, Summer’s Hum, celebrates the warmth, energy and abundance of summer.
Angela’s love of wildlife began when she was young. In an interview, she explains that while many children had pictures of pop stars on their bedroom walls, she had pictures of birds. Her fascination with nature has remained throughout her life and continues to inspire her artwork today.
In All Weathers (a journey through rain, fog, wind and ice)
While many people see weather as something to complain about, In All Weathers encourages us to look at it differently — as something to enjoy, explore and celebrate.
Written as a journey through some of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes, this beautifully crafted book takes readers on a series of walks through different types of weather. From the powerful winds of the Isle of Skye to the mysterious fogs of East Anglia, each walk reveals how weather shapes the places around us and changes the way we experience the natural world.
The book reminds us that weather is not simply something that happens in the background. It is a vital part of the landscape, affecting the plants, animals, people and places that make Britain unique.
Matt Gaw is a writer, journalist and naturalist with a deep passion for the countryside and the natural world. He works with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and writes a monthly country diary for Suffolk magazine.
Read about keeping safe in snow (including pets).
