Rivers, canals and many glorious waterways are championed and admired at every opportunity. Sadly, not so the humble ditch; yet they are the all-important capillaries supplying the veins of our far more visual watercourses.

In no way a dry river-bed of hard facts, A Year in a Ditch is informative and a source of knowledge to anyone interested in exploring the delights and habitat created by ditches – many of which are absolutely vital to the success of some of the rarest flora and fauna. Whilst discussing the role of the ditch past, present and future, it also flows full of relevant quirky notes and detail; old wives' tales, quotations and snippets of poetry.

Between its covers, can be found something to fascinate and interest those involved in countryside management, the naturalist, environmentalist, rural explorer, aspiring country dweller – anyone, in fact who would like to know more about the oft-neglected 1,000s of kilometres of ditches that wend their way unobtrusively through the countryside.