Ruth Binney – författare

Trying to understand the wonders and mysteries of the natural world has been a human preoccupation since the earliest times. It is therefore hardly surprising that from all corners of the globe a wealth of stories, myths and legends about plants has been passed down to us, gathered together in this fascinating volume.

In this fascinating compilation of accumulated wisdom, well-known author Ruth Binney has brought together a wide collection of traditional sayings and superstitions to explain whether, and why, they still work today. With advice on the practical necessities of cooking, gardening, housekeeping and health, as well as proverbial wisdom concerning good behaviour for children, adults and life in general, this invaluable guide will reveal that it’s never too late to learn from experience.

For as long as humans have inhabited the earth, we have lived alongside the multitude of other creatures with which we share our planet. However it is undoubtedly true that today most of us are not as close to the animals around us as our forebears were, and that many of the world's best loved large mammals and most beautiful birds are in danger of becoming extinct. The threats of the 21st century to the animal world make it even more pertinent to explore the many legends and folktales, myths and superstitions that reflect this past closeness, highlight our desire to explain nature's wonders and mysteries, and underline the necessity to preserve for future generations all creatures great and small.Gathered together in this fascinating book are the lore and legends of the animal world, alongside the realities of nature. Yet whatever their natural attributes, in folklore animals can do almost anything. They can be our friends and foes - and of course they can talk to each other. They can be evil witches and devils in disguise, they can bring good luck and bad. And in real life they can be our dearest companions, to the point of sheer worship.An amazing collection of fanciful superstitions, intriguing tales and amusing anecdotes, which any animal lover will truly relish.

Why is 7 such a lucky number and 13 so unlucky? Why does a jury traditionally have '12 good men and true', and why are there 24 hours in the day and 60 seconds in a minute? This fascinating new book explores the world of numbers from pin numbers to book titles, and from the sixfold shape of snowflakes to the way our roads, houses and telephone numbers are designated in fact and fiction. Using the numbers themselves as its starting point it investigates everything from the origins and meaning of counting in early civilizations to numbers in proverbs, myths and nursery rhymes and the ancient 'science' of numerology. It also focuses on the quirks of odds and evens, primes, on numbers in popular sports - and much, much more. So whether you've ever wondered why Heinz has 57 varieties, why 999 is the UK's emergency phone number but 911 is used in America, why Coco Chanel chose No. 5 for her iconic perfume, or how the title Catch 22 was chosen, then this is the book for you. Dip in anywhere and you'll find that numbers are not just for adding and measuring but can be hugely entertaining and informative whether you're buying a diamond or choosing dinner from the menu.

This ingenious and informative new illustrated book reveals the inside stories of more than 50 common and successful weeds, including cultivated 'thugs' which gardeners plant at their peril, and presents its findings as evidence for the prosecution and defence. It then explores the ways in which the weeds are so successful, whether annual, biennial or perennial, and suggests effective ways of removing or controlling them, and for using them wisely. Where important, as with weeds such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, it includes your legal obligations as a gardener to stop these most pernicious weeds from spreading. A useful reference section tells you all you need to know about weeding tools, weedkillers, composting weeds and using mulches to stop them spreading, plus specific details on weeds in lawns and ponds and weeds and the law. So whether you're worried by groundsel or ground elder, nettles or knotweed, bamboo or brambles, or would like to encourage dandelions or clovers to grow exactly where you want them, then these are the verdicts you need.

Are the creatures that visit and live in your garden friends or foes? How can you discourage the bad and nurture the good? And how does each animal fit into the essential garden ecosystem? You'll find the answers in the verdicts, evidence and treatments presented in this innovative new book.Including more than 50 common garden residents from squirrels to starlings, from ladybirds to leatherjackets, and from frogs to flea beetles it tells you how to encourage the forces for good and explains how best to deter or get rid of (ideally organically) those that bring damage, disease or even death to your precious plants. And vitally, it pieces together the key links in the garden food chain and shows how to maintain nature's delicate balance on your plot. As well as the key gardening information you need, you'll discover here the extraordinary ways in which garden wildlife is adapted for success, how to encourage vital pollinators and how to plan planting and cultivation to pre-empt problems. You'll see how to use pesticides safely if you must, and there are hints and tips on the best ways to deal with cats and dogs, chickens and geese in the garden.So whether you want your garden to be a haven for hedgehogs and honeybees, to have fewer slugs and snails, or to be know all the pros and cons of crows and cabbage white caterpillars, then these are the verdicts you need. Garden Wildlife on Trial is the sequel and companion volume to Ruth Binney's successful Weeds on Trial published in 2019 (ISBN 9781910821275).

With a foreword by Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey who concludes that: 'This is the world that Ruth Binney has brought so wonderfully to life in her book'. Inside the country house, what exactly were the duties of the master's valet and the lady's maid? How did these fit into the daily routine? And what were the protocols for visitors? The answers to these, and many more questions, are revealed in this entertaining and intimate guide to the self-contained world of the country house. Here you'll learn the rules of etiquette essential both upstairs and down -for both residents and visitors -marvel at the intricacies of housekeeping, and enter a bygone age of hunts, house parties and grand balls. All these aspects of country house life, and many more, are introduced here through the contemporary maxims used to instruct the members of the household and their guests, from running a large kitchen to entertaining royalty. Each is brought to life with both practical detail and direct, compelling quotes and illustrations from period manuals and advice books, giving every entry a totally authentic feel and 'voice'. Rounding off the book is an informative list of houses to visit, stressing the features that relate directly to the descriptions included in the book.

Measuring some 12,000 miles – not counting its myriad of offshore islands – the coast comprises the most varied, vulnerable and most fascinating places in Britain and Ireland. Contained here are its many highlights, from sea caves to sea otters, from tides to treasure, and from to puffins to pillboxes. But as rising sea levels eat relentlessly at its boundaries our coast is changing ever faster, revealing new stories of our islands’ past whilst bringing into focus its most precious assets that demand protection.Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip into. The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.Here you’ll find the answers to all these intriguing questions:Over 850,000 years ago early humans walked on a beach? Where were their footprints found?Where do minke whales return to the coast year after year?Which seaside grotto is decorated with more than 4.6 million shells?Where is the coast’s largest gannet colony?On which beach can you see the remains of a famous shipwreck at low tide?Did you know that sand dunes can sing – and where can you hear them?Where can you find a mermaid carved in a church – and why?

The flower garden is so much more than a beautiful spectacle full of colour and scent. It holds hidden in its grasp a myriad of secrets which not only present its magnificent blooms in a new light but reveal a history as long as human civilisation. In fact, there is no aspect of life that does not involve garden flowers in some way. In this fascinating book, which deserves a place on the shelf of any gardener or plant lover, are the answers to such intriguing questions as:How could daffodils be a cure for cancer – and dementia too?Which flowers that symbolize remembrance were buried with Tutankhamun in his tomb?How did a passion flower confuse the history of a Renaissance painting of Madonna and Child?Which flowers did the Romans add to the water to kill their enemies?What is the record height for a sunflower, and how does its bloom succeed in moving to face the sun from dawn to dusk each day?How did plant hunters risk their lives to bring us our garden favourites through their daring and persistence?Whether edible or medicinal, deemed lucky or unlucky, and whether native to Britain or brought from lands afar to be bred in a huge number of varieties, every flower chosen for inclusion here will bring the joy of knowledge to the plant lovers, from the favourites of Shakespeare, Van Gogh and William Morris to the flowers that symbolise everything from nations to the deepest emotions. While this is not a practical gardening book it includes for gardeners a selection of less well-known tips for successful growing.

Season by season – and whatever the weather – Scotland’s countryside is an endless source of wonder, enjoyment and discovery, whether on mountains or heather clad moorlands, in glens, rivers and lochs, or its myriad islands. In landscapes that can even light up at night with spectacular auroras, there is something to admire, not least because Scotland is home to many animals and plants rare or absent in other parts of Britain. Here you’ll find capercaille, pine martens and mountain hares, golden eagles and leaping salmon. Scotland even has its own rainforest.As well as its unique natural history, Scotland’s countryside has engrossing tales to tell. It has megaliths as old as Stonehenge, treasured remnants from Roman invasions and cairns with vivid histories. So many places still echo to victory and heartbreak, myth and mystery, and to the deeds of kelpies and selkies. Here you’ll discover why it has inspired so many artists, poets and film makers over the centuries.As you explore Scotland’s countryside, you’ll find the answers to these intriguing questions.How much carbon is stored in Scotland’s precious peatlands?As well as Loch Ness, which other lochs are home to mysterious creatures?What is airglow and how does it form in the Highlands?How, according to legend, did midges prevent Scotland from invasion?Why were red deer once called ‘fairy cattle’? What attributes make red squirrels so active?Where can you find reindeer, ancient horses, jelly lichens and the world’s oldest fossil?

Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: English Countryside explores the flora and fauna, customs and traditions that give the English countryside its unique charm and special identity. From the standing stones and carvings of our ancestors to the modern farming methods and woodland management of today, discover hundreds of fascinating facts about rural England.Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip into. The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

Allotment gardening has never been more popular, and there is no more satisfying way to grow your own fresh produce. But getting an allotment into shape and raising healthy plants is a constant challenge. With this commonsense, practical guide you’ll discover all the best ways to plan and tend your plot year by year, choose the newest and best disease resistant varieties, and find a wealth of ideas for enjoying your abundant harvest in the kitchen. Attractively illustrated as well as practical, it is also a perfect gift for any allotment gardener.With sound advice based on experience, and dozens of invaluable hints and tips, you’ll find the answers here to the perennial questions that are key to allotment success, including:What’s be best way of making compost – and how can worms help?Why are raised beds so good for growing carrots?How and why is it essential to rotate your crops every year?Which vegetables are best planted in blocks, not rows?Is it ever possible to stop slugs in their tracks and deter pigeons? How can you avoid gluts of courgettes? And what are the best and different ways to enjoy them?Which fruit and vegetables are most successful for making jams and chutneys?With dozens of ‘Allotment Choices’ for recommended varieties, from old heritage favourites to the exciting newest arrivals like black tomatoes and purple kale, there are so many wonderful plants to grow, whether you’re new to an allotment or already working the soil. From fork to table, Grow It! is the book you need to inspire and guide your gardening adventure.

From potatoes to plums, and from raspberries to runner beans, the kitchen garden hides a wealth of secrets. This fascinating new book stretches to the roots of civilization and around the world to unearth the stories behind the food we grow and enjoy, not just on the plate but as wine, medicines and even love potions. The wild versions of our fruit and vegetables picked and eaten by our ancestors, some of which still thrive today, are the starting points for the tales of conquest, migration and trade – plus accident and dogged determination – that unfold in these pages, including:• When tomatoes and potatoes first arrived in Britain from the Americas they were reviled as poisonous foods with evil associations.• Lettuce is grown and eaten by astronauts in space stations orbiting the earth.• Without the Spanish Inquisition our carrots might never have been orange.• Peaches are native to China, where for centuries they have been symbols of immortality. • Catherine of Aragon insisted her husband Henry VIII brought cucumbers from Italy for her salads.• Every year, 1.92 million Kent grown strawberries are eaten annually at the Wimbledon tennis championships, a tradition dating to 1877.• Cabbage was cherished by the Egyptians, who depicted it on their reliefs, and believed by the Greeks to cure drunkenness and venomous bites.Such extraordinary facts make this a perfect book for gardeners and food lovers alike. Exploring cottage gardens and allotments, and the country house estates and nurseries where so many improved varieties have been developed, it also introduces the people who helped make their history. For gardeners, this perfect companion to 9781910821428 Flower Garden Secrets includes vital growing tips and heritage varieties to try.