Sally Coulthard

'This book deserves a place in your bookcase next to Harari's Sapiens. It's every bit as fascinating and is surely destined to be just as successful' Julian Norton. An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis have had on human history. From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story. Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes, and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep, and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading. Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colourful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture. REVIEWS: 'This is such a great book: I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history or sheep – or simply a passion for reading captivating and high-quality prose. It's extremely well researched and written in a very engaging style. It trumped my Clive James memoir, which I put to one side. I read A History of the World According to Sheep within two days. (And that's impressive for me. It usually takes me weeks to finish a book.) You'd never imagine the role sheep have played across the centuries: from the egregious rampaging of Genghis Khan to the success of the Medici dynasty during the Renaissance to the Scottish Highland Clearances of the eighteenth century. The trade in their wool has financed wars; lanolin from their fleeces has fuelled the huge industry in beauty products, and ovine intestines even had a hand in controlling both birth rates and the spread of syphilis. And that's before we get onto jumpers. Or cheese...' Julian Norton, the Yorkshire Vet.

A Short History of the World According to Sheep

Superstitions have captured our imaginations for centuries but we are often unaware of where they came from and why. In her new book Superstition, Sally Coulthard explores the history and background of 50 of these fascinating cultural behaviours, how they affected our everyday, and how many of these beliefs still permeate modern life. From opening umbrellas indoors to not putting new shoes on the table, Sally gets under the skin of these peculiar pastimes and reveals how they started and why they became so popular.

Black Cats and White Rabbits The History of Common Folk Beliefs

Superstition

Flowers can talk. Red roses say 'I love you'. White lilies offer condolence. Poppies invite us to remember. For thousands of years, humans have used flowers as a language, a short-hand for emotions and meanings. Ancient myths and legends are bursting with flowers and their symbolic meaning; Shakespeare scattered floral clues throughout his plays, knowing his medieval audience could decipher the code; the buttoned-up Victorians used 'floriography' or the secret language of flowers to convey forbidden feelings.Valentine's Day isn't complete without a bunch of red roses, mistletoe invites us to sneak a kiss, daises are the flower of childhood innocence, and daffodils speak of Easter and new life. Oxford University students still wear white carnations for their first exams, a red carnation for their final exam and pink in between. In her new book, Sally Coulthard, takes a fascinating look at floriography and shows how we still use this secret language, across the world, even today. She delves into the meanings of flowers and where they came from, whether it's ancient mythology or hedgerow folklore. She finds that many flowers get their meanings from subtle references to their medicinal or deadly properties, while others are linked to ancient rites or religious texts. Some flowers even get their meanings from sympathetic magic or their resemblance to human body parts or other common objects. Covering 50 well-loved flowers and plants, from peonies to sweetpeas, ivy to irises, Floriography is a beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on an intriguing journey across the world through the history, legend, anthropology and literature of flowers, and shows how modern-day society still holds many of ancient beliefs and customs of their ancestors. From the Chinese lotus flower to the Celtic bluebell, the myth, magic and language of flowers is still blossoming today.

The Myths, Magic and Language of Flowers

Floriography

In this beautifully illustrated guide, best-selling author Sally Coulthard demonstrates how to transform your living and working spaces into places that put you in touch with nature. Eight inspiring chapters cover key elements for the 'biophilic home', including materials, views, colour and natural light. Each section explores the links between home, health and happiness, drawing on environmental research and neuroscience while making practical suggestions for bringing the natural world into your home. Bring nature indoors with flowers and plants, rediscover the innate pleasure of real fires and fresh air, and learn how to improve your mood and sleep patterns with dynamic light. Create a space filled with natural elements, patterns, nature's colours, fabrics and textures that lift your mood; find out why natural sounds and water are soothing; and learn how to make small changes that will inspire, invigorate and enrich your relationship with the natural world. 'As best-selling author and designer, Sally Coulthard, reveals in this guide, creating a 'biophilic home' can have a huge impact on your wellbeing; improving your mood and encouraging healthier sleep patterns...Be it plants, materials, colour or light, it's enlightening to see how small changes can make a big difference, while deepening your respect and correlation to the natural world.' FORBES Magazine 'How to embrace the natural world by transforming your interior spaces with specific materials, colours, views and sounds.' Gardens Illustrated 'Humans are mammals, programmed over millennia to respond to the natural world. We may be able to live and work in man-made environments most of the time. But according to a new movement of "biophilic" designers and enthusiasts, we are not thriving...writer Sally Coulthard likens it to the practice of keeping animals in captivity, in surroundings ill-suited to their needs. "We live in a world that is fundamentally mismatched to our evolutionary adaptation - we don't see, hear and feel the things that we are programmed to respond to," she writes.' Financial Times

You + Nature + Home

Biophilia

Book of the Earthworm

A History of the Chicken from Dinosaur to Dinner Plate

Fowl Play

Book of the Barn Owl

Louise Lockhart

new, old and forgotten

Crafted : A compendium of crafts

Short History of the World According to Sheep

Das kleine Buch vom Schnee

An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the humble and loveable sheep have had on human history. From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis—sheel—have been central to the human story. Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes, and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep, and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading. Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colorful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture.

How Sheep Shaped Human Civilization

Follow the Flock

Ever dreamed of having your very own garden retreat? Somewhere you could indulge your favourite pastime, sleep under the stars, or finally achieve your ambition of working from home? Off-the-shelf sheds aren't always the answer—the cheap ones are badly made, freezing cold, and fall apart within a few years, and the expensive ones are, well, really expensive. But what if you could build your very own shed from scratch? What if you had the plans, skills, and materials to create a retreat that was as stylish and well-made as a posh shed but for a fraction of the price? How to Build a Shed is the ultimate practical guide. With its clear easy-to-follow instructions, expert advice, and specially commissioned illustrations, you'll be able to source the materials, choose the right tools, and build your dream shed on a budget. How to Build a Shed is aimed at anyone keen to have a go, even if they've never used a hammer.

How to Build a Shed

Art, craft and all things homemade have never been more popular and the trend for working from home continues apace. But it can be tricky to carve out a space in your house that lets you indulge your passion or earn a living from your creativity. Studio and study spaces are special places – full of creative spirit and practical potential – and there's never been a greater demand for a book that shows you how to carve out a corner that allows you to not only practice your craft, but inspires and facilitates the very work you create. Real-life case studies from seven different countries, ranging from crafters, writers, designers and artists, show readers just what can be achieved on every budget. Many of the studio owners featured have a dedicated and ever-expanding social media following, including fashion designers Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Vickers, woodworker Ariele Alasko, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel, fine artist Lisa Congdon and decor8 blogger Holly Becker. Detailed chapters outline the vital pieces needed to create a functioning and inspirational studio space, while also taking an in-depth look into different styles of studios for craft and creative activities. With Studio, Sally Coulthard shows you that spaces for creativity can be easy to make, look beautiful, and fitted into any home.

Creative Spaces for Creative People

Studio

Few of us know what goes on after dark, underneath the moon. Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl, one of the most mesmerising and elusive icons of the countryside. 'Fascinating insights... An endearing book for lovers of the barn owl' Daily Mail 'Enjoyable and lyrical... enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints' Country Life 'Packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know' Yorkshire Life 'This is a gorgeous little book' Permaculture Magazine With its heart-shaped face and silent, graceful flight, the barn owl regularly tops the nation's list of favourite birds. But how much do we really know about this sublime tenant of the night? Here, bestselling author Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl. Full of fascinating insights, conservation advice and the latest research, this affectionate and timely guide also tells the story of a barn owl's early life – from first pip of the shell to leaving the nest – a fascinating time in this captivating creature's journey.

The Book of the Barn Owl

A revelatory uncovering of a vanished agricultural way of life by bestselling nature writer Sally Coulthard. 'A gem of a book' Country Smallholding 'Engaging and filled with gentle humour and fascinating facts' Get History 'Shows us the beauty and rich history of everyday things' Country Walking Magazine Across the foldyard from Sally Coulthard's North Yorkshire farmhouse, stands an old stone barn. When she discovered a set of witches' marks on one of its internal walls, she began to wonder about the lives of the people who had once lived and worked there. Both the intimate story of a building and its hinterland, and a wider social history, The Barn explores a hidden corner of rural Britain that has witnessed remarkable changes. From the eighteenth-century Enclosures to the Second World War, the fortunes of the Barn have been blown, like a leaf in a gale, by the unstoppable forces of new agriculture and industry. Seismic shifts in almost every area of society were all played out here in miniature – against a backdrop of scattered limestone villages and the softly rolling Howardian Hills.

The Lives, Landscape and Lost Ways of an Old Yorkshire Farm

The Barn

The astonishing, socio-historic uncovering of a vanished agricultural way of life by best-selling nature writer Sally Coulthard. Dominating the farmyard of the house where Sally Coulthard and her husband live in the gentle Howardian Hills of North Yorkshire is a large, stone-built barn. When Sally discovered a set of ancient 'witch-marks' scratched into the wall of the barn, she became intrigued by the sturdy old building and the story behind it. The Barn is hence a socio-historic exploration of a small patch of Yorkshire countryside - hidden, insignificant, invisible to the rest of the world - which has experienced extraordinary changes. From the last of the enclosures to the boom days of Victorian high farming, the fortunes of the barn have been repeatedly upturned by the unstoppable forces of agriculture and industry. Medicine, transport, education, farming, women's roles, war, technology - every facet of society was played out, in miniature, here. The walls of the barn are a palimpsest, written onto - and now about - by three hundred years of history.

How to Chop, Scrunch, Stack and Light a Fire

The Little Book of Building Fires

Crafted is a celebration of craft in the 21st century – a definitive visual guide to all things handmade. Featuring over 73 of the most popular and well-established crafts, Sally Coulthard explores their history, materials and techniques as she offers a deeper insight into some of your favourite crafts and provides inspiration for both new and ancient creative pursuits. After an introductory section covering the culture of craft (its definition, why it matters, history and community), the main body of the book consists of beautifully illustrated entries on 73 of the world's most established crafts. The scope is encyclopaedic and covers Paper, Pen & Print (bookbinding, origami, calligraphy, lino printing), Textiles, Cloth & Leather (fur & leather, embroidery, knitting, dyeing), Pottery, Glass & Stone (porcelain, stained glass, stone carving), Wood, Willow & Nature (basket weaving, wood carving, lime plastering and thatching) and Metal (gold, bronze, cast iron and steel). A comprehensive directory of craft organisations and professional communities and guilds, completes this groundbreaking compendium.

A Compendium of Crafts: New, Old and Forgotten

Crafted

Ever dreamed of having your very own garden retreat? Off-the-shelf sheds aren’t always the answer - the cheap ones are badly made and freezing cold, and the better quality ones are really expensive. But what if you could build your own shed from scratch? How to Build a Shed is the ultimate practical guide. With its clear, easy-to-follow instructions, expert advice and specially commissioned illustrations, you'll be able to source the materials, choose the right tools and build your dream shed on a budget - even if you’ve never used a hammer.

Sally Coulthard

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