A captivating nature memoir telling the story of Britain's Green Belt, our national obsession with the countryside, and the author's childhood, for fans of LOVE NINA, Alan Bennett and THE SHEPHERD'S LIFE.

'Grindrod's evocative and intelligent exploration of the green belt and its place in our national consciousness is part history and part memoir. He deftly weaves the two together, transforming what might otherwise have been a dry, technical discussion of planning and housing policy into a heartfelt narrative' PD Smith, Guardian

'Grindrod writes beautifully about nature, and in particular the way his city-raised parents responded to the sights and sounds of the green belt . . . Outskirts is a lucid, evocative book, suffused with sadness and anger.'
Lynsey Hanley, Financial Times

'In part a memoir about growing up, in part an intimate family history, and in part a history-cum-gazetteer of the green belt, along with a meditation on its uncertain future .... Illuminating and enjoyable.' David Kynaston, Spectator

'Evocative, intelligent and heartfelt... It allows the reader to reconsider parts of the country that they might have taken for granted.' Observer

'A fascinating focus on this disputed, debatable zone.' Robert MacFarlane

Very topical . . . interesting and moving . . . Grindrod has the knack of putting an issue into precisely the right perspective