Down to Earth

We rely on the soil and its rich biodiversity for our food, traditions and folklore, but are we guilty of taking it for granted?

In Down to Earth, Robert Ashton, author of Where are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay? , traces our evolving relationship with the soil from Neolithic flint miners to modern day naturists. By engaging with the people who work the land – gardeners, farmers, gravediggers and archaeologists – he unearths a wealth of practical wisdom, moving from the mysteries of ancient folklore to the urgency of today’s environmental crisis.

Each chapter explores an aspect of our connection to the earth, seeking to deepen our understanding of its importance. All life depends on the soil, and this book serves as a vital call to treat our most precious resource with the reverence and respect it deserves.

‘It all starts and ends here. The soil, the earth. Where there are cultural roots, flinty axes, badgers and bodies. . . . Robert Ashton brings us another fine and wise book that looks forward, back and down’
Professor Jules Pretty, President of Essex Wildlife Trust

‘This reflective travelogue is often as charming as it is unexpected’
Professor Rupert Read, Co-Director of the Climate Majority Project

‘Reading this book is like going for an enjoyable countryside ramble with a knowledgeable and entertaining friend’
Deborah Tomkins, author of Aerth and The Wilder Path