One of the UK’s leading writers of natural history books, Richard Mabey, will be at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve on Sunday 5 September to sign copies of his highly acclaimed books, including The Barley Bird: Notes on the Suffolk Nightingale.

Now Norfolk-based, Richard has been hailed by The Times as ‘Britain’s greatest living nature writer’, as well as being a popular naturalist, conservationist and broadcaster. He’ll be at Minsmere from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm, chatting to visitors about his work and signing copies of his books, many of which will be available to purchase on the day.

Speaking about why he writes, and what it means to him, Richard said, “I get an astonishing emotional joy out of the material aspects of the natural world. It is the colour of a feather, the sound of a song that is important to me.”


RSPB Minsmere Visitor Centre Manager, Tim Rose said, “Richard Mabey’s books are always popular as they offer superb insights into the natural world yet are easy to read, helping to bring natural history into many people’s homes. We’re really excited to welcome Richard to Minsmere, giving visitors the chance to discuss his work and meet the man himself.”

Among Richard Mabey’s acclaimed publications are Food for Free, The Unofficial Countryside, The Common Ground and Nature Cure, his autobiographical account of recovery from depression and his relationship with landscape and nature. and was awarded the Whitbread Prize for his biography of Gilbert White. His book, The Barley Bird: Notes on the Suffolk Nightingale was published in spring 2010.

Richard devised, researched and wrote the ground-breaking best seller, Flora Britannica, which won the British Book Awards’ Illustrated Book of the Year and the Botanical Society of the British Isles’ President’s Award and was runner-up for the BP Natural World Book Prize.

Richard has also written columns in many national newspapers and magazines and was awarded an honorary doctorate at the University of Essex for his contributions to nature writing.