A Wagon in the Woods

A tale of restoration and homecoming—Wainwright Prize-winner James Aldred shares his deep passion for the New Forest after acquiring a plot of land and a disused Gypsy vardo begging to be restored in this ancient landscape he's been enchanted by since childhood.

Imagine your dreams coming true—you acquire a Gypsy wagon you've cherished from childhood and a plot of land in the enchanting New Forest. But the wagon is in disrepair, and your new neighbours are frosty and watchful. Join James Aldred on a captivating journey, encountering master craftsmen, British wildlife, and a deep passion for a remarkable landscape.

There are some moments in childhood that are frozen in time, vivid and vital, an anchor. When James Aldred tracked down an old Gypsy vardo, a traveller's wagon he once played in, he found himself inside one such moment again. Though brambles had overtaken its rotted boards and its wheels were barely there, it transported him to a magical summer in the New Forest forty years ago. Newly determined to make the forest his home, and to restore the wagon to its former glory, he embarked on a remarkable journey.

In his evocative memoir, Aldred chronicles his return to a cherished childhood landscape, rich with the history of the Romany Gypsies who once roamed freely there. As he painstakingly restores the wagon, Aldred delves into both the New Forest's natural history and storied past, tracing its roots back to the 16th century and even further to the time of William the Conqueror. Camera traps reveal otters hunting in the brook, while the nearby goshawk nest and fox earth speak to the area's thriving wildlife. Seasonal wonders abound, from the autumn rut of wild fallow deer to the diverse array of British reptiles and rare birds.

A Wagon in the Woods is more than a tale of restoration; it is a heartfelt homecoming after decades of exploration. Through the eyes of his family, Aldred rediscovers the New Forest, finding it more fascinating and beautiful than he ever imagined. Masterfully observed, it is a celebration of both people and place, and the timeless bond between land, history and the enduring spirit of adventure.