Introducing
The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush
"A Poem For Our Time"
“Upon this spot, in days of old,
A mistle thrush, so I’ve been told,
Would perch high in a tall oak tree.
And sing of life’s rich tapestry.
He sang of bees and butterflies,
Of morning dew and azure skies,
Of maidens dancing at the fayre
With daisy garlands in their hair.”
High in the treetops, a mistle thrush sings of the wonders it sees. But when the trees are lost, its song must change—to one of hope, resilience, and the urgent call to protect our world.
A lyrical and beautifully illustrated children’s poem, The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush is a heartfelt tale about hope, love and fresh starts, and the responsibility we all share for nature’s future.
Shortlisted for the Hammond House International Literary Prize (2018).
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🌿 Key Themes
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The Fragility of Nature – How the mistle thrush’s song represents the delicate balance of ecosystems and the impact of human activity on biodiversity.
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The Power of a Single Voice – How one bird’s song can inspire change, reflecting the idea that small actions can make a big difference in conservation.
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Loss and Renewal – The destruction of trees mirrors real-world deforestation, but the mistle thrush’s resilience symbolises hope and the potential for restoration.
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The Role of Birds in Ecosystems – Highlighting the mistle thrush’s role in seed dispersal and its importance in forest regeneration.
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Poetry as an Advocate for Nature – How lyrical storytelling can evoke deep emotions and inspire people to take action for the environment.
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Interconnectedness of Species – How losing one species affects entire ecosystems, emphasising the importance of protecting biodiversity.
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Children as Future Guardians of Nature – Encouraging young readers to develop a love for wildlife and take responsibility for preserving natural habitats.
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​​​To capture a moment in time...a memory of what has been and of what we have lost. It is set when England and other developing countries were on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. Life was about to change forever and The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush is a nostalgic reminder of this.​ The book therefore, is an excellent resource for schools that wish to compare pre and post industrial life, or are studying The Victorians and the Industrial Revolution.
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The book offers an extensive topic web for primary schools, along with over 60 corresponding activities. It can be found in this PDF file. For more information, please see the Resources page.
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