Ben Jacob’s The Orchid Outlaw is probably my favourite book I’ve read this year. Part memoir, part-commentary, the book is a shocking and engaging exploration of Britain’s failure to protect its native wildlife and the impact this has had on our wider environment. Jacob deftly weaves his own story into this exploration, offering an exciting narrative of unexpected vigilantism, rescuing wildflowers before they can be crushed and covered over by car parks and housing estates. 

One of the things Jacobs recognises, a thing wish more commentators would recognise, is that an audience needs to be shown why they should invest in a given topic. Jacob’s own narrative of realisation and call to action leads readers into a world they never realised existed. His pursuit makes us, in turn, want to know more, and – important for any text on ecology – start acting. I’ve already wandered through my garden looking for what native wildflowers I’m harbouring – I’m pretty sure after a chapter or two you’ll want to as well.

This is easily the most engaging book on environmentalism this year – in no small part because it’s not just about the environment. It’s about being human. It’s about pursuing passion. It’s a really, really good story.