Wild Fell

Shortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Conservation, this is the story of a landmark project to restore over 7,000 acres of the Lake District, from the tiniest wildflowers up to majestic golden eagles

'I found myself turning the pages with an inward leap of joy' - Isabella Tree, author, Wilding

In 2015, England's last and loneliest golden eagle died in an unmarked spot among the remote eastern fells of the Lake District. It was a tragic day for the nation's wildlife, but the fight to restore the landscape had already begun.

Lee Schofield, ecologist and site manager for Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Haweswater is leading efforts to breathe life back into 3,000 hectares of sprawling upland habitat. In his search for inspiration, Lee has sought out England's rarest mountain flower and traveled from the wild fells of Norway to the pristine meadows of the Alps.

But in the contested landscape of the Lake District, change is not always welcomed, and success relies on finding a balance between rewilding and respecting cherished farming traditions. This is not only a story of nature in recovery, it is also the story of Lee's personal connection to place, and the highs and lows of working for nature amid fierce opposition.

Wild Fellis a call to recognize that the solutions for a richer world lie at our feet; by focusing on flowers, we can rebuild landscapes fit to welcome the majestic golden eagle again.

A landscape of flowers is a landscape of hope.