Our first Book of the Month for 2024 is Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness by the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award winning author Alastair Humphreys.
Escape into the overlooked adventures and insights from one man’s year of deeply exploring a 20km map of suburban England.
What surprises might you uncover in your own neighbourhood if you set aside assumptions and paid closer attention? After two decades of grand expeditions spanning the globe, Adventurer Alastair Humphreys embarked on a project to get to know his uninspiring corner of England through undertaking weekly microadventures within one local map.
Armed with curiosity, his camera and a selection of apps, Alastair set out to traverse the area on foot and by bike, noticing and researching everything he encountered. From winter frosts to summer meadows, ancient woodlands to housing estates, farmers’ fields to fly-tipped rubbish, Alastair embraced his local map in meticulous square kilometre segments.
What emerged is a chronicle brimming with humour, history, emotion and insight. A story about slowing down and opening your eyes to the wonders and issues in plain sight on your own doorstep. A reminder that you don’t need to burn carbon travelling the world to find connection, perspective and inspiration. You just need to look closer to home.
Beautifully illustrated with Alastair’s photographs, Local reveals afresh the abundant nature, forgotten tales and present-day stories hidden within the complex map of every community. It will inspire you to fall in love with your own neighbourhood, to forge new routes and purpose, and to undertake microadventures across the landscapes within your daily orbit.
Local is available now for £12.99
Watch Alastair Humphreys introduce Local: