Today sees the publication of local resident Lev Parikian's new book: Into The Tangled Bank. Follow this link to find out how to order your copy and also to read more about Lev including his Birdsong project - a ‘bird a day’ 12-week course designed to help beginners unravel the mysteries of British birdsong, and blog. Also view Lev's YouTube project, now on its ninth episode: 'Bird Brains' with David Darrell-Lambert.
Lev opened Norwood Forum's Wild Norwood Window Wanderland Festival last year. Outside West Norwood Library and Picturehouse, he unveiled the community window designs featuring our Peregrine Falcon family that nested in St Luke's Church clock tower. In pre lockdown times, he ran many free guided bird walks around West Norwood Cemetery, and more recently celebrated International Dawn Chorus Day for the May #StayHomeFeast with a virtual guide (and quiz!) to some of the birdsong you can hear around West Norwood.
What people are saying about Lev's new book:
‘Funny, accessible and full of wonders – a genuine breath of fresh air.‘ – Melissa Harrison, author of All Among the Barley
‘What Bill Bryson did for the travel tale and the secrets of the universe, Lev Parikian might well do for the natural world.’ – Tonto Williams, Electronic Scrapbook blog
We are, allegedly, a nation of nature lovers; but what does that really mean?
For some it’s watching racer snakes chase iguanas on TV as David Attenborough narrates, a visit to the zoo to convene with the chimps; for others it’s a far-too-ambitious clamber up a mountain, the thrilling spectacle of a rare bird in flight. Lev Parikian embarks on a journey to explore the many ways that he, and we, experience the natural world.
Starting in his own garden plot, he gradually moves outwards to local patch, wildlife reserve, craggy coastline and as far afield as the dark hills of Skye.
He visits the haunts of famous nature lovers to get up close to their insatiable curiosity and follows their lead with tired and sometimes soggy-socked footsteps. And everywhere he goes there we are, too, each experiencing nature in our own way: ramblers, dog-walkers, photographers; loving couples, grumpy singles, families; kite-flyers, den-builders, grass-loungers; young whippersnappers, old farts, middle-aged ne’er-do-wells; beginners, specialists, all-rounders; or just people out for a stroll in the sun doing their thing. Warm, humorous and full of telling detail, Lev Parikian’s new book puts the quirks, habits and foibles of ‘how we are in nature’ under the microscope. And in doing so, he explores how our collective relationship with nature has changed over the centuries, what being a nature lover in Britain means today, and what our actions mean to nature.
Follow Lev on Facebook, Twitter and Instagrm: @LevParikianWriter
