Apart from a few forays overseas, Hugh Wilson has spent his life on Aotearoa New Zealand’s South Island/Te Wai Pounamu, absorbing the landscape, language, vegetation and wildlife of his much-loved native motu. For the second half of this long life he has lived on Hinewai Reserve, in the southeast corner of Banks Peninsula, as kaitiaki of the now 1600 rewilding hectares of natural ecological restoration there. Over the years he has loved sharing what knowledge he has gleaned, partly face to face with visitors to Hinewai (and earlier with visitors to the national parks he worked in as a young man), partly through public talks and walks, and partly with numerous publications illustrated with his pen and pencil drawings. More recently, whenever he can find time from the almost relentless demands of Hinewai kaitiakitanga, he has created drawings simply for their own sake. Around the time of his eightieth birthday, two of his old climbing mates suggested he gather together a selection of what he refers to as his ‘doodlings’ to be published as a book. This is the result. Hugh imagines that browsing through this book might be a bit like accompanying him on a ramble through his beloved landscapes, fielding facts and anecdotes about some of the plants, birds and other surrounding wonders, perhaps alerting you to details you might otherwise have missed. Out in the bush with Hugh, you might be too polite to interrupt his enthusiastic explanations. Leafing through the book, though, you can read as much or as little of the facts and fables as you want to, or just enjoy looking at the pictures.
Format: Hardback
Imprint: Quentin Wilson Publishing
