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Back to nature Richard Mabey's poetic reference book on British plants became a classic. But then the author fell into a deep depression and couldn't write. Now he marks his triumphant return with an intimate account of his illness and the restorative power of the natural world
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IN 1996, Richard Mabey published one of the great books of our
day, Flora Britannica. It's a huge, beautifully illustrated work of
reference about the role of plants in British culture, incorporating
thousands of contributions from the public, all woven together by
Mabey with his own reflections and observations, in the belief that
such folklore "may yet be the best bridge between science and
subjective feelings, and between ourselves and other species".
I, like many others, have treasured Flora Britannica from the
moment it appeared. I've given it to as many people as I can and I
keep it ...
