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The Lost Rainforests of Britain

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The Lost Rainforests of Britain

By: Guy Shrubsole
Narrated by: Guy Shrubsole
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION 2023 The Sunday Times Science Book of the Year

As seen on Countryfile

‘If anyone was born to save Britain’s rainforests, it was Guy Shrubsole’ Sunday Times

Shortlisted for the Richard Jefferies Society Literary Prize

Temperate rainforest may once have covered up to one-fifth of Britain, inspiring Celtic druids, Welsh wizards, Romantic poets, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s most loved creations. Though only fragments now remain, they are home to a dazzling variety of luminous life-forms.

In this awe-inspiring investigation, Guy Shrubsole travels through the Western Highlands and the Lake District, down to the rainforests of Wales, Devon, and Cornwall to map these spectacular lost worlds for the first time.

This is the extraordinary tale of one person’s quest to find Britain’s lost rainforests – and bring them back.

*Guy Shrubsole's The Lost Rainforests of Britain was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-04-30*

©2022 Guy Shrubsole (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Ecosystems & Habitats Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Conservation Inspiring Thought-Provoking Habitat Magic Users Ecosystem

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Critic reviews

‘Remarkable … Shrubsole has completely changed the way many people look at the temperate woodlands that remain in parts of western Britain’ Financial Times

‘Fascinating, lyrical … A celebration of these dazzling worlds and a plea to act before they are extinguished’ The Times

‘[The Lost Rainforests of Britain] could be a lament but instead it is suffused with the irrepressible positivity and cheerful enthusiasm of a born campaigner’ Patrick Barkham, Guardian

‘Enchanting and insightful … Wonderfully evocative’ Geographical

‘Excellent … Inspiring’ Unherd

‘A treasure chest full of woodland jewels, rare, precious and beautiful’
Chris Packham

‘A magnificent and crucial book that opens our eyes to untold wonders’
George Monbiot

‘A beautiful, lyrical and urgent book … I cannot recommend it enough’
Nick Hayes, author of the Sunday Times-bestselling The Book of Trespass

‘Utterly enchanting, transporting and spellbinding … A rallying cry for restoring the rainforests of Britain urgently, and an inspiring and informative must-read for anyone interested in rewilding and ecological restoration’
Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden

‘Passionate, powerful, political and practicable, Guy Shrubsole gives us a blueprint for how to bring our missing rainforests back to life in all their riotous, tangled glory. Impeccably researched, convincingly argued and with generous measures of joyful discovery, this really is a spectacular book’
Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell
All stars
Most relevant  
Loved this book and enjoyed the subject matter enormously. Lots of good cross references for someone who wants to read around the subject.

Sound engineering & Narrator good apart from one really jarring aspect: the Welsh pronunciation is so dreadful that you can't always tell what places are being referred to (even as a Welsh speaker). This is a great shame, since the author clearly loves Wales. Unfortunately, not taking the time to learn how to say place names in Welsh rather undermines the narrator's credibility as someone invested in the Welsh landscape and culture.

Factual & Fanciful - great book!

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Really enjoyed this book and actually listened to it twice! Fascinating subject and really hope the book increases awareness of our wonderful temperate rainforests. I also hope it has an impact on the government and the devolved authorities. I’m certainly going to do all I can! Well done Guy :-))

Fantastic book and narration

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Great facts and brilliant insight to an unknown truth about the British Isles. Really enjoyed this book.

Very enjoyable, incredibly fascinating.

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Really enjoyed this audiobook. Hugely fascinating and informative. Well written and documents the plight of UKs rainforest in a captivating and informative way.

Fantastic, informative and passionate

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Really well narrated. Having the author narrate gives a far better sense of story and emotion. He speaks with clarity, knowledge and humour.
Really well researched and clearly a subject close to their heart.

Fascinating and important

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A well written, information and inspiring book about Britain's rainforests. Recommend to anyone interested in nature.

Really enjoyed learning of Britains rainforests

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I loved this book. Guy Shrubsole’s enthusiasm and respect for British countryside is infectious and I’ve come away wanting to do my bit for our lost rainforests.

The book eases you into a lot of complex topics and has some really interesting key takeaways about the environment and agriculture. I’d recommend this to anyone wanting to know more about the history of the UK’s forests and how we can help save them.

A Perfect Introduction To Reclaiming Our Forests

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Have recommended to everyone I know who hasn’t already come across this incredible book. Round of applause to Guy Shrubsole for all his hard work.

Inspiring, engaging and enlightening

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Fascinating information on our rainforests both existing and lost. Enjoyable to listen too as well as informative.

Wiser

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I enjoyed every moment of this booin, and Guy Shrubsole's insightful and enthusiastic reading of his work. I always enjoyed briophites but I'm afraid after this book I took have caught the bug and am now itching to visit some of these precious, mythical and lushly biodiverse habitats.

a deep dive and inspiring tome on Britain's rainforests

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