"Fascinating . . . vivid . . . Fortey creates an astounding portrait of multilayered life in one relatively restricted space . . . [and] conveys unforgettably the staggering variety and abundance of the whole natural world." --The New York Times Book Review

"[Fortey's] remarkable scientific knowledge, intense curiosity, and love of nature mean entries erupt with the same richness and variety as the woods they describe. . . . Fortey's enthusiasm for his new wonderland is infectious and illuminating." --The Guardian

"Deeply knowledgable, enthusiastic. . . . Fortey illuminates its flora and fauna, history and geology with indisputable expertise." --Financial Times

"This remarkable book, always precise, often lyrical, sometimes prickly [shows] just how much can be learned, how much gained by sinking deep into one particular place." --The Standard (UK)

"An eloquent, eccentric, and precise nature memoir." --Kirkus