Escape to the country: the best books about the great outdoors

From wild swimming to eating strawberries in a thunderstorm, Helen Mort picks her favourite works about the joys of green space

‘God bless the great indoors” sing the Lemonheads in “The Outdoor Type”, recounting an ill-fated attempt to impress a new partner by lying about a passion for mountain biking and sleeping under the stars.

Though it might not win your lover’s heart, spending time outdoors is officially good for your health – scientists suggest exposure to green space reduces the risk of disease, stress and premature death. Writers have charted the mental benefits for centuries, and even involved them in their creative process.