From crowded train stations to quiet woods, and from city centers to our own back gardens, birds remind us that nature is everywhere. As children we are fascinated by these magical flying creatures that live amongst us, and as adults we have a fondness for our feathered friends.

Numerous books about different habitats and markings exists to help us find and identify birds, but for the first time one of Britain's finest storytellers has gathered together the best folk tales about birds. Suitable for all ages and charmingly illustrated by Lakeland artist Becca Hall, this is an essential collection of stories for all who love the natural world.

'You and me, me and you, we all bring something to the stew, From the tales we tell, to the food we've got, we all bring something to the pot.'

Over the last fifty years, Taffy Thomas has shared the stage with noted Lakeland chefs, who have tickled his palate with tastings and information about dishes and ingredients, which he uses to season these magical stories, telling the oral history of food.

This feast of traditional tales is spiced up with the rhymes and riddles that always enrich Taffy's work, as well as charming illustrations from artist Dotty Kultys, and will appeal to all who savour stories and food.

This unique collection of folk tales from Cumbria were collected as fragments that the author has had to breathe life back into. From the lore of the land to ghost stories, fairy stories, tales of the oak men, and the true historical tales that inspired many of the famous and haunting legends of Cumbria's wild landscape, no chair by the fireside is complete without it. These tales will make you want to visit the places where they happened and meet some of the characters who told them to the author.

Traditional seasonal folk tales for the dark of winter

In this enchanting new book, one of England's most celebrated storytellers has gathered together traditional tales which have their roots in the deep cold and long, dark nights of midwinter. The collection includes tales acquired from more than 30 years studying and taking part in ancient seasonal customs, and discovering the folk tales intrinsically linked to those customs, such as the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels (Devon), the Viking Up Helly Aa (Shetland), and the Haxey Hood Game (Lincolnshire). This is a book to curl up with in front of an open fire on long winter nights.

Did you know that if you look closely around Scafell Pike in the winter you might find a great dragon? Or that hidden in the forest around Egremont you might catch a glimpse of the fabled fairy folk? What, you don't believe me? Read these tales then take a look for yourself. This collection is full of stories that Taffy has told over the years, and that children love to hear time and again. Including a gang of smugglers and an ugly-face pulling competition, not only will children love to read them, or listen to them being read, the tales will also stimulate an interest in the area, and help children engage with their own surroundings.

From crowded train stations to quiet woods and from city centres to our own back gardens, birds remind us that nature is everywhere. But do you know which is the king of the birds? Has anyone ever told you how the brave swallow got its forked tail? And what of the owl, who was really a baker's daughter? Take a look inside The Magpie's Nest, where a hoard of stories, riddles and rhymes is waiting for you. Suitable for all ages and charmingly illustrated by Lakeland artist Becca Hall, this is an essential collection of stories for all who love the natural world.