My Garden and Other Animals

After the best part of forty years spent either living under his parents’ roof, in the tropical rainforests of three continents, a vast array of student digs or most recently a one-bedroom flat, The One Show’s Mike Dilger has at last bought a house – and with it, a (potentially) glorious garden…

‘Potential’ was definitely the word that sprang to mind the very first time Mike and his partner Christina viewed their new ‘house-and-garden-to-be’ in a small rural village some eight miles south of Bristol.

And so begins their year-long journey to create their very own wildlife sanctuary. From otters to badgers, chickens to hedgehogs, an orchard, a pond and compost bins, to the best birdlife imaginable, what began as a straightforward mission soon became the adventure of a lifetime.

Illustrated throughout with beautiful black-and-white line drawings by Christina Holvey, Mike Dilger’s partner-in-crime, this light-hearted nature tale with a twist will appeal to wildlife enthusiasts and keen gardeners alike.

Reviews

‘Anyone who has ever fed the birds, watched wildlife in their garden, or simply enjoyed getting closer to nature will find this book funny, uplifting and ultimately very moving.’ Daily Mail

‘Those who have seen Dilger on The One Show will know what to expect: bounce, enthusiasm, knowledge and a cheery acceptance of nature's caprices.’ The Independent, featured as a Natural History book of the year 2012

About the author

Mike Dilger is an enthusiastic naturalist and freelance presenter. He spent four years as a research biologist in the tropics of Ecuador, Tanzania and Vietnam and is a regular presenter on nature programmes. Having birded, botanized and entomologised in a huge range of countries, he has accumulated an encyclopaedic knowledge of British and South American wildlife and a strong familiarity with the nature of Vietnam and Tanzania. Mike is also a member of many wildlife charities and has trained as a PADI open water diver.