Field of Dreams: How we transformed a rural desert into a thriving wildlife garden

When Bob Salisbury and his wife Rosemary moved back to County Tyrone from Nottinghamshire they set about building their new home on a seventeen-acre site. `It was when we first spent time on the land we now owned that Rosemary asked whether I noticed anything odd. Eventually I gave up. “There is no birdsong,” she said. “In terms of wildlife this land is barren.” She was absolutely right!’ This is the inspiring story of how the Salisburys – both enthusiastic but amateur gardeners – transformed an unloved rural wasteland into a thriving, renowned wildlife garden – home to hares, owls, hawks, otters, woodcock, bats and many other species that hadn’t been seen in the area for years. ‘Field of Dreams’ celebrates the Irish countryside and its wildlife with great warmth, humour and lightness of touch – and is a book that reminds us of the profound importance of maintaining a connection with the land.