The Wood
The Life & Times of Cockshutt Wood
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The Wood
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Narrated by:
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Leighton Pugh
About this listen
Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Wood by John Lewis-Stempel, read by Leighton Pugh.
From 'one of the best nature-writers of his generation' (Country Life) and 2017 winner of the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, this BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' is the story of a wood - both its natural daily life and its historical times. Cockshutt is a particular wood - three and half acres of mixed woodland in southwest Herefordshire - but it stands as exemplar for all the small woods of England.
For four years John Lewis-Stempel managed the wood. He coppiced the trees and raised cows and pigs who roamed free there. This is the diary of the last year, by which time he had come to know it from the bottom of its beech roots to the tip of its oaks and to know all the animals that lived there - the fox, the pheasants, the wood mice, the tawny owl - and where the best bluebells grew. For many fauna and flora, woods like Cockshutt are the last refuge. It proves a sanctuary for John, too.
To listen to The Wood is to be amongst its trees as the seasons change, following an easy path until suddenly the view is broken by a screen of leaves, or your foot catches on a root, or a bird startles overhead. Lyrical, informative, steeped in poetry and folklore, it is both very real and very magical.
©2018 John Lewis-Stempel (P)2018 Random House AudiobooksListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"John Lewis-Stempel is the hottest nature writer around." (Spectator)
"It sounds magical and you just know it will be gloriously written." (Bookseller)
What listeners say about The Wood
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JC
- 17-04-19
Read much like a poem
Beautifully written and the speaker was a joy to listen to. At times it read like a poem which was slightly annoying as I couldn't sink into it as a story or narrative would allow me to. loved it regardless.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 27-05-19
Fascinating glimpse of woodland life
This audiobook is delivered as a month by month description of the flora and fauna of Cockshutt Wood and is fascinating. The narrator tells a variety of interesting tales, and the information is delivered in an accessible way rather than feeling like a lecture on this or that. Recommended for anyone interesting in nature - would make a good gift/ recommendation for friends who have a passion in this kind of area too :)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-10-19
beautiful
jam recipes, whimsical wanderings, land management and wildlife observations. an utter delight. I love John's work.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-07-22
I need to listen again
This is a smorgasbord of info about everything and anything found in, around and to do with woods. It’s beautifully written with subtle humour that is simply genius. Everyone must read this book!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Hoops
- 09-02-19
A Woodman's Year
Daily account/observations of the life of an English wood. Interesting perspective, unsentimental as he works to promote the health and integrity of this small patch of nature.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mr
- 07-12-19
Great. Ideal for woodland dog walking!
Just right. Informative but not dull, well researched but not academic, I loved it. I think its probably our there enough that you might not want this "genre" one after another but a great interruption to my normal listening
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Richardson
- 03-07-19
A joy.
Bought on a whim (Daily deal) but this was an absolute joy to listen to. And now I have Lewis-Stempel’s huge back catalogue to delve into.
A truly fascinating man.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr P
- 08-12-21
Good book, hammy narration
For me, The Wood was jarring transition having just listened to Meadowland.
First, the narration performance of Leighton Pugh is extremely hammy. The first hour I was really struggling with it being overly dramatic, like he was trying to turn the prose into something highly theatrical when no such affectation was appropriate. I don't know if he dialled it down or I just adjusted to it, but the following 5+ hours were less grating.
As a story, this is mostly excellent. Pure joy, interesting backgrounds and histories of the trees, and lots of poetic parts. The closing of the book suffers a little from some repetition (an editor should have caught this) that make it less than a smooth ending. Overall though, it's worth your time.
A solid 4/5 vs. 5/5 for Meadowland.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wrighter
- 31-01-19
Finished it then immediately listened again!
While I often read books more than once, I don't think I've ever done it back to back before!
As soon as I read the book's description I was hooked, but then again I am woodland sort of girl - the kind that looks for fairies hiding under logs and marvels at watching nature's gentle dancing through the seasons.
This language in this book is like rich chocolate, smoothly running through your senses. It's an absolute delight for the nature lover and could very well convert you if you just see woods as places where trees grow.
There's magic in the woods and this book finds it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G. Garrett Groszko
- 24-05-19
An insightful look in to a "wood"
Amazing and interesting. I learned so much and was greatly moved by the respect and observance of nature.
I will listen and read again.
It is full of so much knowledge and wonder.
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