This is a beautiful small book which would make an ideal present for Mother's Day maybe , or to treat yourself.

Michael Morpurgo lives in a remote community in Dartmoor, Devon. He has been running a charity with his wife, Claire, to give city children and others a chance to work on a farm. We watch as various groups of children arrive throughout the book and feed the newborn lambs, move manure and do the daily jobs that are essential to any farm. They also plant trees which he hopes they will later visit.

This is all part of the great cycle of life that Michael reflects upon as he eagerly awaits spring and then summer. He looks out keenly for the wrens nesting the first returning buzzards and swallows, the primroses and bluebells. etc

Along the way he has walks in the woods and countryside surrounding his home because
"Walking is good for wondering"
He marvels hoe each year
"nature renews and repairs itself..." but also reflects that
"we must nor hinder her anymore"

Nature is at risk because of things like the pollution in the local river. Although Morpurgo acknowledges that the landscape has been changed by mankind since our Bronze Age ancestors, he is conscious that we are making more of an impact on the environment. However, this is not a "preachy" book, but a book firmly rooted in the cycle of life and human life . He sees his family, friends and community as part of this cycle.

Morpurgo quotes poets from ted Hughes (another local for a while) to medieval ballads and has obvious and contagious delight in what he observes. Unlooked for sights, start another train of thought, without it becoming wordy and rambling.
As I read it, I too was becoming impatient that Spring would arrive after a dreary winter, so it gave me hope.

An eloquent, joyful book which reminds us all that Spring WILL come and that we are part of the great cycle of life.

An evocation of spring, and the job it has on the wheel of the year, dragging us through the last of the rainy and cold days (and this was 2024, a notoriously wet and miserable spring) to the growing, bursting, sunny climes of summer. Morpurgo just wishes the bluebells to come to life in the woods on his farm, and for the swallows to readopt their homes in what had been planned to be his garage but is now their des-res, and knows when to stop feeding the wild birds, for that means spring is here and the birds are more independent.

It's a 'nature notes' book from someone who doesn't see the incredibly exotic, who doesn't know the name for everything. One sighting has to be verified by a neighbour before he's sure what flew over. It's not a 'here's my specialist knowledge' kind of memoir, but there is wisdom here. For the book shows us how vital spring is to the world, and how it's still fragile enough to need our help to restore nature to what is was like before us, and how much his charity (bringing city-dwelling kids to the wild landscape of the farm for a week's working break) acts as a spring in someone's life. People, in each year and in their whole time on this earth, may want to jump from being a bud to the halcyon days of summer and plenty, but a spring of variety, insecurity, care and growth is very much for the best.

It's a quick read, and for fairness I saw a digital review copy minus the artwork, and is probably only for those of the same sentiment as the author. I can see some people not quite appreciating it – perhaps I'm one of them, to some extent – but as a populist nature piece, it has all the populism and strong, unshowy writing of the man's typical output. A perhaps cautious recommendation, then, but this – read as it was on the spring equinox – was always able to give pleasure.

Whether you choose to read this book while you are anticipating the Spring Equinox (as I did) or you prefer to read the chapters corresponding to each month of the season, 'Spring' will undoubtedly make you long for the morning chirping of birds and the first flowers in the garden.

Being a person of the extreme, the seasons is the only part of my life where I prefer the 'middle'. I adore autumn and I love spring because Easter has always had my heart and souls and Michael Morpurgo has created a beautiful hymn to the season of the Ressurection and our rebirth.

And we all know that when done right, Nature Writing by British authors cannot be surpassed.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely read. Michael Morpurgo charts the changes brought by spring on his patch in Devon. The March he writes about seems similar to next February we have just had, (fortunately March is considerably drier), so it all feels very familiar. He lives in a farm in the Devon countryside, 'Tarka the Otter' territory we learn; the farm welcomes school children to spend time there and learn a bit about the workings of the farm, something that clearly means a lot to the author, and was lovely to read about.

Early on in the book, he is yearning for bluebells, and the arrival of the first swallows, and it is wonderful to read about the arrival of these; both things I look forward to every year myself, along with other things.

I hope we get books on the other three seasons, these will make lovely additions to my shelf.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion*.

Spring by Michael Morpurgo is a lovely tribute to the season that brings light, hope, life, and brightness. Through Morpurgo's experiences on his farm, we get a mix of humorous, philosophical, encouraging, sometimes sad, and beautiful depictions of what spring brings to nature.

I really enjoyed how Morpurgo blends poems, music, personal anecdotes, and literary references into this book. It reads like a literary diary, a memoir, but also a beautiful story that reminds us how nature goes on, with or without us.

All seasons deserve to be celebrated, and this short, pleasant book does a wonderful job of honoring spring. It's a perfect little gift book for anyone who loves to reflect on life in nature. I found it to be a delightful read that made me appreciate the beauty that spring brings, and it left me feeling quite nostalgic and humble about nature's wonders.

After finishing Wilding by Isabella Tree, I was a little trepidatious heading straight into another 'nature non-fic' straight away, but this book turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. My e-copy was only about 150 pages long, and this gentle little book took me through the many beautiful moments of the lead up to Spring (and Spring itself!) in the Devonshire countryside. Not only this, but Morpurgo writes with heartfelt reflection on a wide range of topics, certainly a book I would return to as I would a book of poetry so benefit from such wonderful prose!

This is such a beautiful short book. It is part memoir and part nature literature, with the author writing about his observations throughout one spring. Michael and wife Clare have lived on the same farm in Devon for decades. He describes the farm and surrounding areas, especially his riverside walk on the banks of the torridge and you are transported there, somewhere between Exmoor and Dartmoor. I loved the observations of different flowers appearing for the first time and the longing for the bluebells to appear. I can relate to that.

My favourite part of the book was the storytelling around the building of the garage and it becomming very expensive accommodation for the swallows. I was instantly envious! I also loved the poetry quoted throughout - from Shakespeare to original writing by the author.

There are also reflections on Michael's charity work, specifically the charity which allows primary school children to spend time on farms, feeding animals, planting trees and helping out however they can.

This is a lovely read and will be enhanced by illustrations, which were not present in the e-copy I received. I found the ending somewhat abrupt, but as the book follows the months through late spring, it suddenly comes to summer and therefore, I suppose, it had to end.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think that with the illustrations this book will become a little gem and a book that an entire family can share. It is quite light but does touch on the realities of both being a farmer and on getting older.

What I found fascinating was comparing the book with my own nature recording journal and seeing just how differently spring unfolds in different parts of the country,

While quite a slender book I think it deserves a prominent place in the nature writing pantheon and is a lovely companion item to the old Ladybird books "What to see in" series.

What a beautiful book to read just as the seasons are changing and the flowers are starting to appear.

Michael Morpurgo marks the coming of spring on his farm in Devon, with the appearance of new buds and lambs. He feels so at ease in the natural world and it’s something he and his wife have passed on to thousands of children through the work of their charity which brings youngsters to the farm to learn more about the world around them. It’s a slow moving, contemplative book which carries you away and a particularly wonderful book to dip into when the news around us seems so chaotic. Lovely.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I’m sorry, it just wasn’t holding my attention.
I’ve read dozens of Morpurgo titles and was very keen (as the end of winter hits) to read this to herald in a new season, but though I could see the merit in it and the joy of nature and farming life, I was rereading every line and not taking anything in.

This was a nice read about spring, my second favourite season.

I love this authors work so this was a treat .
I do think he writes fiction better though.

As I’ve grown older and more anxious, more wary of reality, of the intrusions of social media, of over stimulation I’ve grown to truly value nature. Since Covid struck the world I’ve really grown to love the beauty of nature and how it can relax me, inspire me and mark the passing of life and seasons. This book encapsulates all this. It was a work of beauty and mindfulness. There was nothing not to love about it. I’m still wondering about what those swallows were discussing on the telephone wire. These are the types of thoughts I want to be having. Thank you, Michael and I also want to spend a week on your farm!

Spring is a book of reflections, stories and poetry inspired by the change of seasons, in particular the transition from Winter into Spring. Morpurgo documents his observations of the changes in the natural world as well as in the plants and animals on his farm in Devon over the course of March to June and includes anecdotes from previous Springs.

I always find it fascinating to learn more about author's lives outside of just their books and as someone who has been a massive Morpurgo fan since I was very young I thought it was interesting to see how his farm and the surrounding countryside has clearly influenced his work. The cover and illustrations in the book are absolutely beautiful and I think this book would make the perfect coffee table book to dip in and out of.

That said I didn't find it the most engaging to read from cover to cover as it is fairly quiet and reflective. Additionally as someone who isn't a huge poetry fan I found there was slightly too much poetry included and it got quite tiresome to read, especially as a lot of the poems were written out in their entirety even if just an extract was actually relevant to what was being discussed.

Overall, I wish I had read this book over the coming months in smaller chunks but it was still a relaxing read and an interesting insight into Morpurgo's life.

Michael Morpurgo yearns for Spring in this charming but reflective text. In his home on a farm in Devon, Morpurgo sounds time watching the natural world as it unfurls around him.
This is a contemplative text; it's written in Morpurgo's usual style - description that envelopes your imagination. I was already familiar with his Charity but learning more about it and how passionate he is about restoring nature to allow it to ebb and flow in it's natural patterns.

It's a fairly short read that covers the approach of spring and the joy when the seasons arrives. There are stories of the wildlife around his farm, the birds that visit and the importances of the friendships he's cultivated there over the years.

It would be a lovely gift for Gardeners, farmers or anyone with a keen interest in nature.

A gorgeous nature book from the author of Warhorse. A beautiful, heartfelt book showing Murpurgo’s favourite season at his beloved farm in deepest Devon with his wife. He writes with love and compassion about the ups and downs of the lives of his farm animals, pets and the wildlife in the fields, tors and ancient woodland that surround his farm. Love his ode to spring at the end.

Spring by Michael Morpurgo is a book for anyone interested in nature writing and is an uplifting and entertaining read.

"Seasons are the tides of our lives"

With the impact of climate change increasingly showing changes to the natural world and are our lworlds, the need for a certainty of the seasons has never been stronger as these"tides" seem to be evolving in new directions.

Michael Morpurgo has written a beautiful meditation and tribute to the changing of the seasons- the move from the grey and darkness of winter into the light and new shoots of spring.

This is a gentle and sensitive read- a personal review of life in the Devon countryside and the signs symbolising the arrival of Spring captured in delicate observations; the comings and goings of the bird feeder; walks in the countryside; the birth of new life - sheep and cows and harbingers of Spring ( new shoots of growth and the delights of the swallows arriving)

There is no doubting the reflective quality of the prose interspersed with poetry but also the hope for the future and the younger generations rectifying the errors of the past - the observations of the children staying on the farm are a delight.

There are many wonderful books about the seasons - but this is a personal contemplation and celebration that gives us all hope for the. months ahead. Michael Morpurgo is the consummate children's storyteller but this book- for young and old - is a delight that will help many reconnect and take a closer look at the changes around them in the spring months as well as enjoying the joys of a Devon springtime.

A quiet and reflective delight