When Carol’s world suddenly unravels, leaving her single and jobless, she stumbles upon an unexpected opportunity: leading a ragtag team of countryside conservation volunteers. At first glance, the prospect of nurturing Britain’s diverse wildlife in the great outdoors seems like a dream come true. However, reality paints a different picture: her office is a ramshackle porta-cabin overrun with mice and plagued by leaky ceilings, and the volunteers are far from impressed with her lack of practical skills.

Despite this rocky beginning, Carol gradually earns the respect of her eclectic group of volunteers, forging a tight-knit community that will grow to become essential to each member. This diverse group spans generations, from twenty-somethings to septuagenarians, with each of them looking to get something different out of volunteering, whether it’s a sense of purpose, a fresh start in life or a tick on their community service form. They also bring their unique quirks and life experiences to the mix.

Volunteer days soon evolve into the highlight of Carol’s week, as they bond over their love of nature, mental health battles, and the desire for companionship. As they work together outdoors, the team discover a simple yet powerful recipe for self-confidence, improved well-being and a newfound perspective on life’s challenges. This journey not only brings solace and new joys to Carol’s weeks, but eventually it helps her move on with her life, too.

My Thoughts:

This is a true story of how one woman managed to get her life back on track after losing her job. Carol becomes a leader, a leader who is in charge of a group of volunteers that help to conserve nature. But there are some hurdles that she must jump through. The volunteers are all different ages and have come from different backgrounds so to see them volunteer is a great opportunity for Carol and for them to better their lives. It was lovely to see how they all changed for the better. I think volunteering is a great thing to do as it gives you great satisfaction about helping others or nature in this case and it gets people outdoors and talking to other people. I found this a calming and steady paced read. A good read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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