When We Went Wild

Book excerpt: From the bestselling author and rewilding pioneer Isabella Tree, When We Went Wild is a heartwarming, sustainably printed picture book about the benefits of letting nature take the lead, inspired by real-life rewilding projects. Nancy and Jake are farmers. They raise their cows and pigs, and grow their crops. They use a lot of big machines to help them, and spray a lot of chemicals to get rid of the weeds and the pests. That's what all good farmers do, isn't it? And yet, there is no wildlife living on their farm. The animals look sad. Even the trees look sad! One day, Nancy has an idea... what if they stopped using all the machines, and all the chemicals, and instead they went wild? The author’s own experience of rewilding her estate at Knepp has influenced conservation techniques around the world that are bringing nature back to the countryside and bringing threatened species back from the brink. Ivy Kids brings you beautiful, sustainably printed books to rewild your child. They are hopeful, joyful stories and nonfiction about nature and the environment that are charmingly illustrated and printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, locally in the UK, and using renewable energy. Praise for Wilding, the author’s bestselling memoir: ‘This must be the most inspirational nature book of the year…a narrative of conservation, courage, vision and miracles… The story of what happened is thrilling… the Knepp Conservation Project is world-famous: a beacon of hope… Read this book and marvel.’ – Bel Mooney, ‘The Year’s Best Books on Nature’, Daily Mail