View source for Claxton: Notes From a Small Planet by Mark Cocker

{{infobox1
|title=Claxton: Notes From a Small Planet 
|author=Mark Cocker
|reviewer= Luke Marlowe
|genre=Animals and Wildlife
|summary= A gentle, delicate and beautiful little book full of observations about nature, ''Claxton'' is a read that manages to be both immensely relaxing and quietly moving. Full of wonder, beneath the quiet musings lies a passionate call to wake up and take note of all the wonders that nature continually perform around us. 
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes 
|borrow=Yes
|pages=256
|publisher=Vintage
|date=October 2015
|isbn= 978-0099593478
|website= http://www.markcocker.com/
|cover=0099593475
|aznuk=0099593475
|aznus=0099593475
}}

In 2001, author Mark Cocker moved to Claxton, a small village in Norfolk that manages to be wonderfully remote, and yet only a few miles from Norwich. In a series of writings spanning the course of a year, Cocker quietly explores nature in the village, and his relationship to the living things around him, as well as the surrounding landscape. All written with a deep knowledge and a wonderful eye for detail, Cocker truly gets to the heart of the local wildlife and the local community. 

It's no secret that I love nature books – possibly something that began when I moved from rural Lincolnshire to central London. It took me a while to adjust, and thankfully I soon noticed that even city centres are not remotely barren – none of us are ever far from wildlife at all, and yet I imagine most of us would struggle to name more than a few types of bird, or identify many insects from each other. ''Claxton'' is, thankfully, a book for all – nature fanatic or beginner, and is a gentle exploration of the wildlife and landscape that make up Cocker's home. 

I know that within a few pages I was eagerly googling the various animals that Cocker mentions – eager to see with my eyes the creatures Cocker's stunningly lyrical phrases had drawn in my brain. Nothing goes unnoticed – a fly in a web, a toad in a dyke, a tree in a hedgerow. All are given consideration, care, thought, and affection – if you weren't in love with nature before, I can assure you that Mark Cocker will make you fall head over heels with this beautiful land. In fact, I intend to finish typing this and head straight to the park – and maybe for once I'll not stick my headphones in and hurry along, but look up and around, take my time, and marvel in what a wonderful world we live in.
 
Huge thanks to the publishers for the copy – and if like me you're inspired to head out into nature following this lovely little book, Mark Cocker has helpfully supplied a list of all the various species that he spotted in his parish – it may well be worth seeing if you come across any of those yourself!

For further reading, I would recommend [[While Wandering - A Walking Companion by Duncan Minshull]]. A cracking compendium, it features a foreword by Robert Macfarlane – whose books about nature are also most definitely worth a read. 

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