National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods by Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders

National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods by Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders
Buy National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods by Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Children's Non-Fiction
Reviewer: John Lloyd
Summary: For if you want to live in the wilderness for any length of time, as opposed to merely watching it on TV.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 96	Date: June 2017
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978085763917X
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I am a man who likes his creature comforts. Always have been, always will – and creature comforts don't involve snuggling down in a sleeping bag, however comfortable, to watch creatures, as far as I'm concerned. Luckily, however, many people are of another bent entirely – they find no problem in getting out and about, taking whatever weather and wildlife can throw at them, and spending time out of doors for the hell of it. This book is the first stage to that, and needs to be read in full before you step out your front door. And even if it's your only stage, it will still be pleasantly educational…

Designed firmly with a primary school audience in mind, this covers all the basics of the wilderness experience. We start with what to take, which is more than enough for me from the get-go, what with all the cooking and sleeping equipment and health and safety protocols that need to be followed. A consideration of where to camp follows, as does advice on making certain shelters, making camp showers, camp cooking, and so much more. We get some nature notes, leaving us with the hopeful expectation of finding a beaver amongst other species, some common trees identified, and a check-list of animal tracks and droppings for our own domestic safaris. And, in case our stay outside has been extended for some unforeseen reason, how to create water supplies, how to eat grubs and what plants we should definitely avoid eating until help arrives.

This covers all bases, then, and there certainly is a lot on hand in such a small, 'pocket'-sized volume, especially considering the friendly and colourful illustrations that are on every page as well. It did raise a few issues with me – one moment moss should not be for insulation of our tepee, as it might be an ancient or rare one, the next it's fine to dig up and squelch water out of. I never understood the simple guidelines to the camp shower. And there's an inherent irony in the advice for when you're parched, of sucking on a clean pebble – no wonder you're thirsty, you've just washed a rock with your last drop of water…

But enough already of my snide bias against this kind of activity. As a book the benefits of it are there for all to see – simple, pithy advice, easily spotted sections telling us what not to do as well as what we should be thinking of, and more. When we get to map-reading and compass-using we're reminded of the predominance of mobile phone maps in our life – well, we've already been told phones are for emergency contact only, and the book's damned right – we should be competent enough to live in nature, for all its benefits. While some of this smacks to me of knowledge to be used only in such an emergency, a lot of it is also sensible advice for what even I can see is a rewarding pastime. So ignore my predilections, find a woodland dell to dwell in, and go for it. What we learn, and how we're made to think, here, is a great step along the way.

I must thank the publishers for my review copy.

The very young are inspired to explore the woodland – and bring things safely indoors to craft with, what's more, in the pages of Forest Life and Woodland Creatures by DK.

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You can read more book reviews or buy National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods by Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods by Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders at Amazon.com.

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