I am chuffed to bits to learn that Local has been nominated for the most prestigious award in Nature Writing – the Wainwright Prize.

When I began writing the book I was very worried about veering away from my background in travel and adventure writing. I didn’t know whether I’d have anything useful or fresh to say in a field filled with experts and fabulous writers, and I was uncertain that those of you who’ve kindly supported me for years would want to pivot with me towards looking at the natural world more closely – its delights and problems.

While I was writing the book I harboured a very secret, very vain, very unlikely ambition, which was to write something worthy of sitting alongside the wonderful books that have won the Wainwright Prize over the years. So this nomination really means a great deal to me. Thank you so much!