The author, a lecturer in anthropology, discovers two men who have been living in Regent's Park for the past five years. Intrigued by their life choice, she seeks them out and becomes a friend. 

Nick and Pascal live and sleep outside in central London. They have done so for nearly 20 years but don't identify as homeless. For the past five years they have sheltered under the hornbeam trees in Regent's Park.

Emma Tarlo meets them when out walking. She decides to bring them food, first taking homemade soup in a flask and then progressing to various more substantial meals delivered in a tiffin on her bike. The descriptions of her meals are part of the joy of this book - so comforting and sustaining!

The men are appreciative of her efforts but are always keen to reciprocate. They want to share what they have too. In addition to eating together, they talk and a friendship grows.

Recording the events of a year, through the weather and the seasons, where Emma visits almost daily, we learn about the hardships and pleasures of the men's extraordinary lifestyle, and there is an exploration of what is meant by freedom.

The men have a large support network where people have come alongside them to provide food and drink. And we are told that even though it's important to give, there is also an art to receiving. 'It requires relinquishing total control, being permeable to others and open to what they might bring to our lives even if there is always a vulnerability to that.' 

They also have tremendous resilience of course. The hornbeams in the title are the trees under which they have made their home and which offer them shelter. When it rains, though, 'the tree doesn't protect you but it gives you time. It takes ten minutes for the rain to drip through the branches, so you have ten minutes to get organised.' And they have discovered that they need to stand when it's raining, even at night and for hours at a time. 'It's not good to stay lying down in the rain. It gets to your chest.' 

This is a brilliant book. It's hugely uplifting and inspiring, gentle and soothing, while also challenging and thought-provoking. Wonderful.