Book 7 in the Fennel's Journal series.

The Quiet Fields is rooted in the humus-rich soil of the countryside. It’s about the remote rural places where Nature exists undisturbed, where we may sit and ponder ‘The Wonder of the World’. It's my homage to the nature writing of BB and the wonder of natural places, revealing a Lost England that still exists if you know where and how to look. It's the most sentimental and astutely observed of my books, discussing the ‘true beauty’ of Nature - of which we are part. If you’ve ever yearned to hear birdsong during a busy day, then this is the book for you.

Chapters

• Introduction – To be outdoors.
• The Call of the Wild – The importance of finding the Quiet Fields.
• First Light – Writing, for the love of nature.
• Silent White – Snowfall causes mixed emotions.
• Signs of Spring, From Within - Life, returning.
• Birdsong – Fennel relaxes by a hedgerow.
• The Company of Trees – Our woodland friends.
• Spring into Summer – A dawn walk marks the change of season.
• A Summer Sunset – A moment of sheer brilliance.
• Heaven's Above! – The beauty of the night sky.
• The Lazy Days of Summer – Fennel considers the seasons.
• The Air We Breathe – The life-giving properties of wild places.
• ...And Then it Rained - Nature's ability to heal us.
• A Winter Fire - Remember, Remember...
• Inside Out, Outside In – To be outdoors, indoors.
• Through Artist's Eyes – Fennel asks us to see the detail around us.
• The Last Cast.

Publication details

• Published by Fennel’s Priory.
• First shared as handwritten letters in 2011
• Limited edition collectors' magazine published in 2012
• Kindle eBook published in 2013
• Hardback published in 2025

Book specification

• Dimensions: 216 x 140 x 13 mm (8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 in)
• Page count: 168 pages
• Language: English
• Copyright © Fennel Hudson 2011, 2025
• Hardback ISBN 978-1-909947-26-9

Favourite Quote from The Quiet Fields

"The countryside, with its vast horizons, fresh air and ever-changing seasons is, by its very nature, more life-giving and adventurous than any amount of modern indoor living. It inspires a love of natural history – everything from the birds that sing in the trees to the quality and richness of the soil beneath our feet. Most of all, it creates the desire to exist more naturally. And in doing so, we appreciate the balance of life."

Reader Testimonials

“Fennel’s writing reminds me of the works of Roger Deakin. It inspires me with faith in the quiet life and that although I may be isolated, I am certainly not alone.”

“Artist, author, naturalist and countryman. Fennel has a lifestyle to inspire the most bricked-up townie.” 

“Fennel has captured the essence of the countryside – that is, its almost human character. So brilliantly has he compared and contrasted it with the nature of we humans. It’s not so much a ‘balanced study’, more a ‘study of the balance’ between Nature and Man.”

“Witty and emotive, Fennel’s writing conveys passion for a slower-paced and quieter life.”