Hodder & Stoughton snaps up another two from Bersweden

Botanist Leif Bersweden is writing another two books for Hodder & Stoughton "telling the story of our wild plants and the place they occupy in our lives today”.  

Non-Fiction publisher Rupert Lancaster acquired world rights in Where the Wildflowers Grow: My Botanical Journey Through Britain and Ireland, as well as a second book on urban botany to be published in 2024, from Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown.  

Where the Wildflowers Grow, to be published in June 2022, is "a passionate call to arms to save our remaining flora before it’s lost," Hodder & Stoughton said. "Leif’s story is an urgent one that echoes the growing environmental zeitgeist of our age."

Bersweden’s debut The Orchid Hunter: A Young Botanist’s Search for Happiness (Hodder & Stoughton) was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. 

“Leif’s lifelong interest in nature began with a focus on wild plants from the age of seven,” the publisher said. “Growing up in rural Wiltshire, he taught himself to identify the local flora. Botanising – the art of simply wandering along and noticing the plants growing around you – was simply a relaxing activity full of intrigue and discovery. But the interest took hold, and Leif went on to study plant science in greater depth, most recently completing a genetics PhD at Kew Gardens.  

“Now Leif brings his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for wildflowers to the page. Over the course of 2021 he has journeyed around Britain and Ireland, botanising through the seasons, from Cornish coastal roads to Caledonian pine forests, even handling carnivorous plants on the Norfolk Broads. Where the Wildflowers Grow follows Leif geographically and chronologically through the year, to tell the story of our wild plants and the place they occupy in our lives today.” 

The blurb reads: “Why have we written plants into stories and steeped them in folklore and superstition? What can plant hunting do to help us develop a sense of place? How can we begin to develop emotional connections with plants? Through exploring themes like these, Where the Wildflowers Grow will build a picture of what our wild plants are and why the reader should go out to look for them.” 

Lancaster commented: “Leif is a brilliant communicator. His enthusiasm for wildflowers is extremely engaging – he makes the intricacies of the natural world come to life. Twitter, Instagram and YouTube have given him such a great platform to a community who are all committed to making sure our wildflowers aren’t lost to future generations.” 

Bersweden said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Rupert and Hodder to bring the exciting world of wild plants to a wider audience. I’ve been on some amazing adventures and I’m so excited to start sharing them.”