- Chris Fitch

Wild Cities: Discovering New Ways of Living in the Modern Urban Jungle

By Chris Fitch

Nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. But today the majority of the world’s population lives in some form of urban environment. And by 2050, two-thirds of humanity will live in towns and cities.

The sound of birds, the smell of tree oils, the presence of free-flowing water – these are all vital to our wellbeing. Studies have shown that a daily walk in the woods can improve our health and happiness, that those who can observe a natural scene through a hospital window will recover faster. So as the human footprint of brick, concrete and metal expands, how do we protect our connection to the natural world?

In Wild Cities, Chris Fitch leads us around the world in search of answers, visiting pioneering cities and meeting the people working at the forefront of this issue. From the tiny urban forests in Tokyo and the star-rich skies of Flagstaff, to the meandering river of Munich and lions prowling through gardens in Nairobi, this is a globe-spanning look at how to bring nature into the places we live – and how to create the wild cities of the future.

Author: Chris Fitch
Format: Hardback
Release Date: 10 Apr 2025
Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-0-00-855718-8
Chris Fitch was born in Westminster, before spending his childhood in the tropical South Pacific rainforests of the Solomon Islands. After graduating from Royal Holloway University of London with a BA in Geography, he worked in wide variety of media roles, including as a correspondent for Monocle 24 global radio. He later became senior staff writer at Geographical (the official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society) reporting from some of the most remote parts of the planet, learning first-hand about the world’s biggest problems, from climate change to species extinctions.His first book, Atlas of Untamed Places, was published in 2017, and nominated for an Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. In 2019, he began writing for international brands such as Lonely Planet and The Atlantic, as well as completing his third book, Subterranea, published in 2020. He has lived in a wide variety of countries, including New Zealand, South Korea, and Brazil, and is now based in Portugal.

PRAISE FOR CHRIS FITCH'S SUBTERRANEA -

'An original and timely odyssey into our mysterious underworld … Thrilling proof that science and imagination share the ground beneath our feet' Nicholas Crane, presenter of BBC2's Coast and Great British Journeys -

'An incredible and evocative journey into the most exotic and unknown realms on the planet … Here is a book that makes you stop and wonder at every page; a deeply engaging guided tour through an eerie world where mankind's old myths and legends seem to acquire a mesmerising reality' Sinclair McKay -

'With evocative maps and stunning photography, Subterranea shows that the underground realm is just as captivating as the above-ground world around us' Daily Mail -

'A great way to escape from the outside world by diving into the depths of another. 5 STARS *****' How It Works Magazine -