Book of the Month: May

By Melissa HarrisonMay 11, 2026

May’s Book of the Month is Melissa Harrison‘s ‘The Given World’ — a novel observing how the lives of people in the ancient Welm Valley intersect as the village undergoes an uneasy shift. Read an extract from the book below. The spring sun draws life from everything it touches, giving rise, among many in the […]

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Save The Lammermuirs

The Lammermuirs are one of Scotland’s most treasured rural landscapes, known for their wildlife, open moorland, dark skies, hill farming, heritage and tranquillity. This morning, Benjamin Myers wrote to us with news of plans to build an industrial-scale data centre on them. Dear landscape-loving writers and friends, For 13 years I’ve been lucky enough to […]

Diva HarrisJun 8, 2026

Caught by the River

Kerri ní Dochartaigh’s Pleasures of… Spring

In addition to sending paid Steady subscribers monthly interviews with authors of our Books of the Month, once a quarter, we invite a different writer to share their most favourite and pleasurable moments of the season. This month, Kerri ní Dochartaigh delights in Spring’s cracking open. Read an excerpt from the piece below, and log in […]

Kerri ní DochartaighMay 10, 2026

Caught by the River

Now Playing

In advance of this weekend’s Caught by the River event at Elmley Nature Reserve, CBTR editor Diva and co-host Daisy gave over their latest Token Girl DJs Soho Radio show to 2 hours of music celebrating the event. Find herein tracks from the weekend’s lineup, including Andrew Wasylyk, Modern Nature, Kayla Painter, Music to Watch […]

Diva HarrisMay 12, 2026

Caught by the River

Final Timings & Travel Information: CBTR Weekend at Elmley Nature Reserve

Our event at Elmley Nature Reserve is just around the corner, kicking off tomorrow. Although on-site accommodation has sold out, there are a few day and weekend tickets still available, with affordable alternative places to stay accessible by car or taxi. Nearby Sittingbourne has a Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn, with a number of […]

Diva HarrisMay 14, 2026

Caught by the River

Up All Night

Newly published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Imogen Willetts’ ‘Up All Night: A History of Going Out’ is the story of the good times and the great ones. Emma Warren reviews. History shows us that going out goes in waves. For years it might be at high tide, with a wide array of activity taking place […]

Emma WarrenMay 18, 2026

Caught by the River

Loyalty to The Given World: Melissa Harrison, interviewed

May’s Book of the Month is Melissa Harrison’s ‘The Given World’, newly published by Hutchinson Heinemann. In this month’s author interview, Melissa speaks to CBTR’s Tallulah Brennan about imagined rivers, our skewed relationship with the seasons, and the notable omission of farming from the nature writing canon. Find an extract from the interview below. Photo: […]

Diva HarrisMay 20, 2026

Book of the Month: May

Related

Save The Lammermuirs

Kerri ní Dochartaigh’s Pleasures of… Spring

Now Playing

Final Timings & Travel Information: CBTR Weekend at Elmley Nature Reserve

Up All Night

Loyalty to The Given World: Melissa Harrison, interviewed