This is Nicoloson's story of the house that he bought in the Sussex Weald, Perch Hill, with his wife [a:Sarah Raven|543010|Sarah Raven|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-a7c55399ea455530473b9f9e4da94c40.png]. He had just stumbled out from a divorce and was looking to put roots down in a place they could call their own in a part of the English country that he know and loves.

They pull everything together to buy the farm, and set about making it work for them as a part time farm and Sarah cutting garden business, He writes about the successes and the failures as they transform their landscape and property from a shabby home to a warm home. They struggle at times finically, but as Sarah's business grows, they have more opportunity to improve their lot there.

The house is deeply rooted in the landscape, being 400 or so years old, and the farm has existed for 100 years or so. Nicoloson tells of how he brings the practices of the past into the modern era from the hedges to the meadows that he brings back. He grew up loving this part of the weald too, as his family are from Sissinghurst, located around 15 miles away, and he feels a responsibility to those past peoples to use the land responsibly.

Was on the verge of giving this four stars, it is more of a 3.5. I liked the writing style and the way that he writes about this landscape, the people and places is very evocative, but I didn't think it was quite a good as [b:Sea Room: An Island Life|2440815|Sea Room An Island Life|Adam Nicolson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347657824s/2440815.jpg|863062] which is a wonderful book. I can recommend it if you love the Sussex countryside, as he brings it to life in a wonderful way. ( )