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Singing Like Larks opens a rare window onto the ancient song traditions of the British Isles, interweaving mesmerising lyrics, folklore and colourful nature writing to uncover the remarkable relationship between birds and traditional folk music.
Birds are beloved for their song and have featured in our own music for centuries. This charming volume takes us on a journey of discovery to explore why birds appear in so many folk songs.
Today, folk songs featuring our feathered friends are themselves something of a threatened species: their melodies are fading with the passage of time, and their lyrics are often tucked away in archives. It is more important than ever that we promote awareness of these precious songs and continue to pass them down the generations. Lifetimes of wisdom are etched into the words and music, preserving the natural rhythms of nature and our connection to times past.
An important repository and treasury of bird-related folk songs, Singing Like Larks is also an account of one young nature writer's journey into the world of folk music, and a joyous celebration of song, the seasons, and our love of birds.
Andrew Millham is a nature and folk history writer whose work has been published in publications including BBC Wildlife, Coast and The Countryman. He graduated with a first-class honours degree in environmental science, has received a Field Studies Council Young Darwin Scholarship and, after completing his training with Essex Wildlife Trust, is now a Forest School leader, teaching outdoor skills to primary school children.
– RSPB Book of the Month
"A beautiful, informative and fascinating book. In each chapter [Millham] seamlessly blends the behaviour of the bird with its place in the history of folk song, all written in a lively and engaging style [...] with evident passion for the subject."
– Stephen Moss, bird writer and naturalist
"An accomplished work [...] a heartfelt celebration of both birdsong and the folk songs inspired by birds."
– Countryman
"This gorgeous book leads the reader on an exploration of why birds appear in so many folk songs."
– RSPB Book of the Month
"We absolutely love this book."
– Benji Fallow, young birder and artist
"Handling so many interwoven threads – birds, birds in song, habitats, habitat loss, restoration, people, place and personal experience – in this accomplished way is a rare thing indeed."
– Caught by the River
"How beautiful is this lovely book?"
– Folde, Dorset
"Inspiring."
– Essex Life
"Absolutely charming."
– The Copper Family
