Artist Jackie Morris and writer Robert Macfarlane have reunited to publish a new book celebrating Britain's birds. The pair previously collaborated on The Lost Words, a bestselling project that restored words for plants and animals dropped from the Oxford Junior Dictionary.
Their original book became a cultural phenomenon. Grassroots crowdfunding campaigns ensured copies reached more than three-quarters of UK primary schools. The project sparked a movement to reconnect young people with nature through language.
The new bird-focused work aims to highlight species now in decline or endangered across Britain. Morris provides illustrations while Macfarlane contributes text. The Guardian obtained exclusive extracts from the forthcoming book.
The authors want to open readers' eyes to wildlife they may otherwise overlook. By naming these birds and documenting their characteristics, they hope to foster awareness and care for disappearing species. The book targets the same audience as The Lost Words. readers hungry for connection to the natural world.
This project addresses a real gap. Many young people grow up without names for common birds or understanding of which species face threats. Morris and Macfarlane's approach uses art and writing as tools for environmental awareness, not as separate from it.