Book info

• Title A Year on Our Farm
• Author Matt Baker
• Year 2021
• Genre Memoir

Matt Baker finds his calm on the farm. Surrounded by nature with his family, dogs, array of sheep, Mediterranean miniature donkeys and a whole host of wildlife in the farm's ancient woodland, Matt shows us how the power and beauty of the countryside can bring joy to us all. Following the ever-changing seasons of the year, we see woodland animals emerge after a long winter of hibernation and lambs begin to gambol in April. We hear the dawn chorus in the height of summer and see the preparations unfold for the harsh and wild winter months.

Thoughts

Matt Baker is a beloved household name at this point, I knew him from Blue Peter and very much enjoyed his commentary on the gymnastics. I’ve not really been much of a One Show watcher but you can’t avoid seeing him around and about if you ever scroll through the BBC channels. This book is a memoir of sorts, but structured around a year on the farm that he loves so much - it dives back into history and his career up to now and how that informs or has been informed by his love of nature. It’s a good read and made me curious about the farm programme he’s made for Channel 4, it may be worth a watch!

Rating: 4 / 5