Anna Deacon – författare

'Dip into this beautiful book, and understand the healing nature of wild swimming before you have even taken that first plunge'MIRANDA HART'This book is a joy!'JO WHILEY, BBC Radio 2'Wow! What a book. This is an emotional description of what we wild swimmers know and love. So familiar are the stories that I feel I know them all personally; if I haven't uttered the words myself, I have probably thought them often. Lived it, loved it. Fabulous.'BETH FRENCH, marathon swimmer and inspirational speakerWild swimming changes lives. The thrill of plunging - or dipping a toe - into open water brings joy, confidence, adventure and friendship. It can wash away stress and sadness, pain and grief. Here water is a great healer, a place to feel gloriously, elementally alive and in touch with yourself, with others and with nature.Full of life-affirming personal stories and breath-taking images of scenery and swimmers, Taking the Plunge celebrates the remarkable wild swimming community. Now you too can immerse yourself in its energy, courage and irresistible joie de vivre!With practical advice on how wild swimming works and how to get started - from what you'll need (cossie and a smile!) to where best to go (rivers, oceans, lochs, lakes . . .) - there s never been a better time to take the plunge.

Beech, birch, ash, sycamore, oak. Maple, mango, hawthorn, cherry. Scots pine and Japanese cedar . . . The company of trees is different from that of any other living thing.This is a story of the humans who love trees.From tree sitters to nature lawyers, from climbers to climate strikers, from planters to pruners, from forest therapists to trauma survivors, from city gardeners to rewilders. These are voices of passion, sorrow, anger, nurture, solace and wonder.Trees are our past and our present – our future, too. FOR THE LOVE OF TREES is about why trees matter and what we owe them. It’s about our humanity, our devotion and our sheer awe.

What makes the perfect swim?It's all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe . . . and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake.Whether you're a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer.From the otherworldly fens of the east to the vast dramatic waters of the Lake District, the thundering icy waterfalls of Snowdonia to the secluded sandy coves of Cornwall. Locals who know the secrets of their patch share over 100 spectacular swim spots across England and Wales. Now they are yours to explore too.

What makes the perfect swim?It's all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe ... and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake.Whether you're a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer.From the dramatic turquoise bays of Orkney to the peaty lochs of the Cairngorms, the thundering waterfalls of Skye to the calm depths of a reservoir in the Pentlands. Locals who know the secrets of their patch share over 100 spectacular dookin' spots across Scotland. Now they are yours to explore too.

What makes the perfect swim?It's all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe ... and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake.Whether you're a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer.From the dramatic Atlantic bays to cascading waterfalls and secret pools, the rugged Causeway Coast to the secluded loughs of the Wicklow Mountains, locals who know the secrets of their patch share over 100 spectacular swim spots across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Now they are yours to explore too.

'Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of wild swimming - you won't regret it.'DR RANGAN CHATTERJEEEach of us is just a drop. But together we create ripples.Wild swimming isn't just an activity. It has been a movement, a wave that has surged in popularity across Britain, rippling out and spreading joy. And at the centre of it all are the groups and communities that gather at the water's edge... to dip together, scream together, laugh together, and share stories and support.From menopausal mermaids to student dippers, male mental health groups to Wim Hof enthusiasts, addiction recovery communities to skinny dippers, The Ripple Effect dives into what makes these groups tick and why so many people say it's not just about the water but the marvellous pods of people they find themselves swimming with.

EACH OF US IS JUST A DROP.BUT TOGETHER WE CREATE RIPPLES.The Menopausal Mermaids, Blueballs, Viking Dippers, Cold Water Tingz, the Ripple Effect . . . These are just some of the names of Ireland's wild swimming groups and they all have a story to tell.Wild swimming is a movement, a wave that has surged around the shorelines of the island of Ireland - and it's not just about the activity, but about doing it together . . .Swimming Wild Ireland dives into what makes these communities tick, on a journey that reveals why so many people say it's not only about the water but also about the companionship of swim friends and the joy of finding your tribe.