Of Thorn & Briar

A Year with the West Country Hedgelayer

By: Paul Lamb

Narrated by: Paul Lamb

*** THE INSTANT TOP TEN BESTSELLER ***

HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR THE 2025 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING

SHORTLISTED FOR THE RICHARD JEFFERIES AWARD

Paul Lamb is a hedgelayer. He lives in his wagon and works to the rhythm of the seasons, a way of life that has almost vanished. From the end of summer until the birds nest in the spring, he travels the south-west corner of England, maintaining the ancient boundaries of our nation.

As traditional management techniques are lost to modernisation, hedgerows and the wildlife they support have declined dramatically. Paul has devoted decades to saving and rejuvenating this important but often forgotten part of Britain's countryside.

Of Thorn & Briar is Paul’s spellbinding account of living in partnership with the land, practising his craft with skill and preserving our heritage for future generations. Once you’ve read it, you will never look at the humble hedgerow in the same way again.

‘[A] beguiling book . . . this spare but elegant account is an unexpected delight, and as soothing as a walk down a tree-dappled lane at sunset’ Daily Mail

‘Gentle, evocative and compelling’ Patrick Barkham, The Oldie

‘This is a delightful book and one that deserves to enter the pantheon of distinguished Nature writing’ Country Life

Critic reviews

‘Paul Lamb’s Of Thorn & Briar is that rare variety of nature book: a compendium of accurate, useful information which expects the reader to be more interested in outdoor realities than in the author’s state of health . . . Lamb grippingly evokes the fascination of expert physical labour and its rewards’ (Graham Robb)

‘[A] beguiling book about a year in the life of a 21st-century hedgelayer . . . Written without a hint of the pretentiousness that sometimes mars nature books, this spare but elegant account is an unexpected delight, and as soothing as a walk down a tree-dappled lane at sunset.’ (Constance Craig Smith)

‘Gentle and timeless, Paul is the authentic voice of the countryside. This is the story of a man at one with the land.’ (Lara Maiklem, author of Mudlarking)

‘At times it reads like a travelogue of another place, if not another time, before remembering that it is the southwest of our own country . . . it is impossible not to like Lamb, or this book, which is already a bestseller. He is self-made, and he speaks of his trade and his associates with charm, veneration and conviction.’ (Adam Weymouth)

‘This evocative and quietly enthralling account of [Lamb’s] working year transports you to a gentler way of life’

‘A gentle, evocative and compelling account . . . I’m sure his book will be a big success’ (Patrick Barkham)

‘This is a delightful book and one that deserves to enter the pantheon of distinguished Nature writing’

'A paean to the life of the countryside, this is a wise, heartfelt and deeply meditative book. Living and working in tune with the land, Paul Lamb observes and perfectly captures the unique beauty of the English West Country – its hills, hedgerows, birds and endlessly shifting light' (Laura Pashby, author of Chasing Fog )

‘Paul’s writing has transformed the way I view and connect with our local landscape. As a fellow West Country dweller and avid gardener, it is an immense privilege to learn from such authentic local insights and traditional knowledge.’ (Ramona Jones, @monalogue, author of Growing)

‘It’s as if the Green Man himself had written a hymn to the English countryside, its natural history, its rural craftsmen and those who continue, against all odds, to work this ancient land. Pleasingly old-fashioned, immersive, honest, informative and true, Of Thorn & Briar is written by a master craftsman and a true countryman, a man who has had the courage to tread his own path. Paul Lamb lives it, touches it – the land, its trees, its plants and its people. His world is the cycling of day into night, of winter into summer and back again; he writes about outdoor living and the hard physical graft of the rural labourer, out in all weathers, all seasons. He is part of this land’s story, and after reading his book you’ll not look at a hedge, or small farm, or our land, in the same way again.’ (Dan Boothby, author of Island of Dreams)

Gave me some refuge when I needed it

I used to live in England and loved living there. I'm often drawn to these kinds of books. I love the the English countryside and wanted to learn about Paul and his work as a hedger. I also own a small fence installation business and didn't realize how many similarities I'd find with Paul's work and my own. It put my fence work into a new light and helped me feel differently about my business. It gave me a new perspective on building things for people and the land. It's difficult to run any business but I needed this book to give me a bit of an escape and refuge from the stresses of life and business. Beyond that, I came away with a deep respect for the work Paul does and wish him all the best. Thanks for this book, Paul.