Conservation of wildlife and habitats Books

Book SynopsisThe enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children's Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book AwardAn irresistible ocean-loving yarn' The TimesWinner of the Edward Stanford Children's Travel Book of the Year 2023Shortlisted for BAMB Indie Book Awards for Children''s Fiction 2023THEIR BOND COULD SET THEM FREE Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help.Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale ?Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi PinfoldTrade Review‘From the author of the bestselling The Last Bear comes another engrossing tale that blends ecological awareness with deftly plotted adventure’ Waterstones, Books of the Year 2022 ‘If you know any little ones curious about the world, then this tale of a young boy who bonds with a whale and grows by learning about its life and environment is a beautifully illustrated and touching read’ Wanderlust ‘The Last Bear, Hannah Gold’s award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety — and The Lost Whale reprises that theme’ Daily Mail ‘A winning book from a master storyteller’ Irish Independent ‘Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themes’ Fiona Noble Bookseller ‘A powerful and deeply moving story’ Daily Mail ‘The author’s passion for the natural world currently under threat makes their book outstanding’ New Statesman, Best Children’s Books of the Year ‘Lyrical page-turner’ Observer ‘An irresistible, ocean-loving yarn’ The Times ‘Simply beautiful – tender, heartfelt and hopeful with such crystal-clear storytelling. . . Rio and White Beak’s story will stay with me for a long time’ Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home ‘Beautifully crafted story of hope and healing’ Katie Heap, Scope for Imagination ‘Magnificent! The Lost Whale will lift your heart as high as the ocean is deep’ Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild ‘The most spellbinding read. I raced through this book, completely engrossed in Rio and his quest to find White Beak. My book of the year so far’ Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

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Book Synopsis‘A poignant, practical and moving story of how to fix our broken land, this should be conservation's salvation; this should be its future; this is a new hope’ – Chris PackhamIn Wilding, Isabella Tree tells the story of the ‘Knepp experiment’, a pioneering rewilding project in West Sussex, using free-roaming grazing animals to create new habitats for wildlife. Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope.Winner of the Richard Jefferies Society and White Horse Book Shop Literary Prize.Forced to accept that intensive farming on the heavy clay of their land at Knepp was economically unsustainable, Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell made a spectacular leap of faith: they decided to step back and let nature take over. Thanks to the introduction of free-roaming cattle, ponies, pigs and deer – proxies of the large animals that once roamed Britain – the 3,500 acre project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife numbers and diversity in little over a decade.Extremely rare species, including turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons, lesser spotted woodpeckers and purple emperor butterflies, are now breeding at Knepp, and populations of other species are rocketing. The Burrells’ degraded agricultural land has become a functioning ecosystem again, heaving with life – all by itself.Personal and inspirational, Wilding is an astonishing account of the beauty and strength of nature, when it is given as much freedom as possible.Highly Commended by the Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize.Trade ReviewThis must be the most inspirational nature book of the year . . . a narrative of conservation, courage, vision and miracles... The story of what happened is thrilling . . . the Knepp Conservation Project is world-famous: a beacon of hope . . . Read this book and marvel. -- Bel Mooney, 'The Year's Best Books on Nature' * Daily Mail *Particularly timely . . . an excellent primer, and anyone who is interested in how we share the planet — what it looks like, what we eat, and what nature can teach us — should read this book. * Sunday Times *A poignant, practical and moving story of how to fix our broken land, this should be conservation's salvation; this should be its future; this is a new hope. -- Chris Packham, presenter of The Really Wild ShowI recently read Wilding, by Isabella Tree, where she and her husband take their over-farmed, not-profitable estate, and rewild it. Thousands of species return. It will have you in tears. Life exploding again - the reverse of most stories today. Hugely recommended. -- Caitlin Moran (on Twitter)The remarkable story of an astounding transformation. -- George Monbiot, author of FeralWilding shines brilliantly . . . . Isabella Tree writes [. . .] with infectious enthusiasm . . . The project she writes about so winningly . . . is inspirational – and inspiration is needed. * Evening Standard *A hugely important addition to the literature of what can be done to restore soil and soul . . . Tree writes with grace about a legion of doubts, obstructions and delays. The book contains moments of lyricism and revelation. -- Caspar Henderson * Guardian *Close to my book of the year. If there’s anything better, I haven’t read it yet . . . An uplifting story and points towards a different sort of farmed future. -- Marcus Berkmann, 'Best Books for Summer Reading' * Daily Mail *'Wilding is both a timely and important book . . . Isabella Tree imagines the last migrating turtledove departing Knepp and flying over a Europe “that is being recolonized by beavers, wolves, wolverines, jackals and bears.” And it is in that changing landscape that hope resides.' -- Tim Flannery * New York Review of Books *Every farmer (and perhaps every conservationist) in Britain needs to go and spend a day at Knepp. The Knepp ‘wilding’ project is a vitally important experiment for working out what we can do to let Nature back into our farmed landscapes . . . This book tells this vital story and deserves to be widely read. -- James Rebanks, author of A Shepherd’s LifeRead Wilding by Isabella Tree . . . Thrilling. -- India Knight * The Times *This honest, thoroughly researched and deeply hopeful book will appeal to everyone - especially farmers - who is concerned about how intensive farming practices are degrading the environment and how to restore nature to ravaged lands. -- Ten Of The Best Books About Climate Change, Conservation And The Environment of 2018 * Forbes *This inspiring and encouraging book demonstrates how nature can shake off the ravages of industrial farming and heal itself. -- John Meadley, founder of Pasture for LifeA thrilling, inspiring and deeply moving story of a wildlife revolution on an ordinary English farm, Wilding shows us what we have lost and what we could regain if we change our relationship with the countryside. -- Patrick Barkham, author of BadgerlandsWilding describes the inspirational story of a pioneering rewilding experiment that is changing the way we look at Nature, the countryside and conservation. Beautifully written, it marks the moment when the task at hand can no longer be about slowing down the inexorable decline of wildlife, but to begin the job of restoration. -- Tony Juniper, former Executive Director of Friends of the EarthAnyone with any interest in land – from a window-box to a National Park – needs to read this book. -- Simon Barnes, author of The Meaning of BirdsSo often we read of the countryside in shock and so seldom to we learn of its recovery. This is a pioneering, wonderful book, blooming with humour, practicality, science and lessons learned; a story whose heart beats in the same neck of the woods as Walden. Read Wilding and restore your belief in the return of nature. -- Nicholas Crane, author of The Making Of The British LandscapeCharming, inspirational and thought-provoking. Beautifully captures the magic and excitement of the Knepp rewilding project. -- Professor Dave Goulson, author of Bee QuestWilding is truly the most magnificent and inspiring book. -- Adam Nicholson, author of The Seabird's CryIsabella Tree’s riveting book captures the excitement of an immensely powerful new idea: that to save our beleaguered wildlife, we should move beyond conserving what remains – we should restore what we have lost. Fascinating in its detail and thrilling in its sense of possibilities, this is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of the natural world in the demanding times to come. -- Michael McCarthy, author of The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and JoyA compelling account of a brave and far sighted venture. At a moment when the future of our countryside hangs in the balance, Isabella Tree helps us understand how we become locked in by our personal experience and perspectives. A riveting, gloriously written read which expands our imagination, and fuels our commitment to reversing the cataclysmic decline of virtually all species, other than our own. -- Helen Browning, Chief Executive of The Soil AssociationI read Wilding at one go. It is both highly engaging and (equally important) very informative about a unique experiment in nature conservation, set in the context of the depressing decline in Britain’s wildlife. Wilding the Knepp Estate is one of the most exciting wildlife conservation projects in the UK, and indeed in Europe. It’s truly wonderful, and it fills me with hope. -- Professor Sir John Lawton, President of The Institution of Environmental Sciences, Chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 2005-11 and author of the 2010 report Making Space for NatureBrilliantly researched and scripted, this riveting and powerful book will revolutionise farming and nature conservation. -- Matthew Oates, National Specialist on Nature at the National Trust and author of In Pursuit of ButterfliesAt a time when we’re hammering the environment, this is a hopeful book about how the natural world can be reborn if we put the right creatures on our land, step back and let it flourish. -- Simon ReeveAn excellent book. -- Colin Tudge * Literary Review *Table of ContentsSection - i: Timeline Section - ii: Map of the Knepp estate Introduction - iii: Introduction Chapter - 1: Meeting a Remarkable Man under a Remarkable Tree Chapter - 2: At Odds with Everything Chapter - 3: The Serengeti Effect Chapter - 4: The Secret of Grazing Animals Chapter - 5: A World of Wood Pasture Chapter - 6: Wild Ponies, Pigs and Longhorn Cattle Chapter - 7: Creating a Mess Chapter - 8: Living with the Yellow Peril Chapter - 9: Painted Ladies and the Perfect Storm Chapter - 10: Purple Emperors Chapter - 11: Nightingales Chapter - 12: Turtle Doves Chapter - 13: Rewilding the River Chapter - 14: Bringing Back the Beaver Chapter - 15: Pasture-fed Chapter - 16: Rewilding the Soil Chapter - 17: The Value of Nature Section - iv: Appendix: Knepp Wildland Advisory Board Section - v: Sources Section - vi: Bibliography Acknowledgements - vii: Acknowledgements Index - viii: Index Section - ix: List of Illustrations

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Book SynopsisWatch a thousand years unfold in the life of one magnificent tree! A tiny acorn grows . . . into an enormous oak tree! It lives for a thousand years - then a new acorn sprouts, beginning the cycle of life all over again. With its rich, poetic rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this is a captivating celebration of nature and wildlife.

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Book SynopsisA lavish edition of Katherine Rundell's gloriously illustrated and fascinating bestiary, featuring three new additions to the treasure trove of vanishing wonders.''Exquisite and timely.'' Maggie O''Farrell''A rare and magical book. I didn''t want it to end.'' Bill Bryson''A witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's wondrous creatures.'' Observer''A total miracle.'' Max PorterA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES AND FOYLES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITINGThe world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings.A pangolin's tongue is longer than its body. It keeps it furled in a nifty pouch near the hip.A swift flies 200,000 miles in its lifetime. That's far enough to get to the moon and back -- then back to the moon.There's a fable that storks deliver babies. In fact, the Nazis used them to air-drop propaganda.A lavishly illustrated compendium of the staggering lives of some of the world's most endangered animals, this sumptuous, expanded and updated edition of The Golden Mole is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck to fall for the likes of the wondrous pygmy hippo, the seahorse, the narwhal and, as astonishing and endangered as them all, the human.Katherine Rundell''s book The Golden Mole was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-11-2023---------Readers love The Golden Mole:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Sometimes you stumble across a book and you know you''ll always treasure it. This is that book!''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Beautiful in every detail ... a book to go back to time and time again.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A love letter to the animals of our world. A beautiful read.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Beautifully written, intelligently researched and full of wonder.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A most topical and relevant book, beautifully presented and written with depth and humour.''

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Book Synopsis''One of the most influential books about the natural world ever published'' Paul Kingsnorth, Guardian''There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot,'' begins Aldo Leopold''s totemic work of ecological thought. Ranging from lyrical observations of the changing seasons over a year on his Wisconsin farm to his hugely influential idea of a ''land ethic'' signifying moral equilibrium between humans and all other life on earth, A Sand County Almanac changed perceptions of the natural world and helped give birth to the modern conservation movement.''An unequivocal statement of conscience that will carry down the generations ... his argument seems more urgently true now than ever'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewWise and lyrical meditations on environmental ethics, human and natural history, and the passage of time. Some measure of how fiercely good it is: a well-read, retired U.S. Army colonel once told me that he considered Leopold to be better than Shakespeare * Helen Macdonald *These beautiful essays, based on the restoration of an exhausted 80-acre farm in the sand country of central Wisconsin, are full of insights rooted in intelligent humility that inform naturalists to this day * Isabella Tree *A classic ... there are moments of soft beauty [and] his epigrams are whipcrack smart -- Robert Macfarlane * Wall Street Journal *A trenchant book, full of vigor and bite * The New York Times *One of the seminal works of the environmental movement * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisThe world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings.Rare and magical book.' Bill BrysonA witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's most wondrous creatures.' ObserverExquisite and timely.' Maggie O'Farrell** Shortlisted for the Waterstones and Foyles Book of the Year **** Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing **In The Golden Mole, Katherine Rundell, the award-winning author of Super-Infinite and Impossible Creatures, takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's strangest and most awe-inspiring animals, including pangolins, wombats, lemurs and seahorses. But each of these animals is endangered. And so, this most passionately persuasive and sharply funny book is also an urgent, inspiring clarion call: to treasure and act to save nature's vanishing wonders, before it is too late.Deeply affecting, intimate and wildly funny . . . I loved it.' Edmund de WaalA wondrous ode to nature's astonishing beauty and an elegy for all the life we are in the midst ofdestroying.' Amia SrinivasanAn exuberant celebration of everything from bats, crows and hedgehogs to narwhals and wombats . . . Rundell is incapable of writing a dull sentence.' ObserverThere is a constant joy in the book . . . A sense throughout of delight and wonder, and a reminder thatthese emotions also matter may even save us. This is the point.' New StatesmanKatherine Rundell''s book The Golden Mole was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 04-11-2023

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONNo matter where we live, ''we are all ocean people,'' Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the ocean of today.In elegant, evocative prose, she takes us into the realms of animals that epitomize current increasingly challenging conditions, from emperor penguins to sharks and orcas. Yet despite these threats, many hopeful signs remain, in the form of highly protected reserves, the regeneration of seagrass meadows and giant kelp forests and efforts to protect coral reefs.Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the ocean.

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Book SynopsisIn April 2019 Lord Ashcroft published the results of his year-long investigation into South Africa's captive-bred lion industry. Over eleven pages of a single edition of the Mail on Sunday he showed why this sickening trade, which involves appalling cruelty to the 'King of the Savannah' from birth to death, has become a stain on the country. Unfair Game, to be published in June 2020, features the shocking results of a new inquiry Lord Ashcroft has conducted into South Africa's lion business. In the book, he shows how tourists are unwittingly being used to support the abuse of lions; he details how lions are being tranquilised and then hunted in enclosed spaces; he urges the British government to ban the import of captive-bred lion trophies; and he demonstrates why Asia's insatiable appetite for lion bones has become a multimillion-dollar business linked to criminality and corruption, which now underpins South Africa's captive lion industry.

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Book SynopsisWhen Adrian Potter retires from a life of teaching in West Yorkshire, his interests turn to a local badger group. He takes over the ''Badger Phone'', which he comes to realise is something of a hot potato. He is inundated with calls: reports of sightings, requests for advice about feeding, complaints about badgers digging up lawns. Adrian, reborn as the ''Badger Man'', travels West Yorkshire with two other enthusiasts in tow: Pam, and Derek, a retired miner with ruined teeth. However, it doesn''t stop with badgers. Adrian soon finds himself taking on fox and deer incidents, because no network of care exists for these other larger mammals. Interrupted Journeys is an unconventional memoir about one man''s experiences with animals that lead hidden lives, and the consequences when they collide with our world. It movingly describes the author nursing wounded badger cubs, rescuing injured roe deer, liberating trapped foxes, as well as encounters with a host of other animals. And it thrillingly reveals a man who finds a second childhood in later life through contact with nature.

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Book SynopsisPeter Matthiessen was a naturalist, explorer and writer. His works of fiction include At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Far Tortuga and the acclaimed 'Watson Trilogy'. His explorations resulted in many fine works of non-fiction, among them The Snow Leopard, The Cloud Forest and The Tree where Man was Born. He died in 2014, aged 86.Trade ReviewA beautiful book, and worthy of the mountains he is among -- Paul TherouxWhat began as a practical search for the rare snow leopard, revered Buddhist emblem, developed into a quest for the meaning of Being. An enjoyable combination of mountaineering and mysticism * Observer *It's a tale of an inner struggle for calm, and would be an inspiring and sustaining desert island companion -- Emily BarrAs much the chronicle of an inner journey as it is the learned recording of an unfamiliar territory...a timeless account * Independent *An evocative account of a remote and timeless place and its people * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis**A SUNDAY TIMES GARDENING BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020**'A must-read for every gardener who wants to up their game for wildlife and do their bit for the planet.' -- Isabella Tree'A refreshing, uplifting and positive look at the true value of a garden.' -- Alan TitchmarshThe perfect book for any gardener looking to get back in touch with their wild side.The rewilding of public spaces and farmland is vitally important to conservation, but how can we support native species and provide rich habitats on our own doorsteps?In this practical, beautifully illustrated guide horticulturalist and Gardener's World presenter Frances Tophill shows you how to plan and maintain a beautiful garden that will attract bees and birds as well as a throng of unsung garden heroes. Whether you have a small balcony or a large open space, discover the joys of welcoming natural ecosystems back into your garden - along with a host of new visitors.

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Book Synopsis'I found myself turning the pages with an inward leap of joy' - Isabella Tree*WINNER of the Richard Jefferies Award for Nature Writing**Shortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Conservation*'Exquisite' GUARDIANIt was a tragic day for the nation's wildlife when England's last and loneliest golden eagle died in an unmarked spot among the remote eastern fells of the Lake District. But the fight to restore the landscape had already begun.Lee Schofield, ecologist and site manager for RSPB Haweswater, is leading efforts to breathe life back into two hill farms and their thirty square kilometres of sprawling upland habitat.Informed by the land, its turbulent history and the people who have shaped it, Lee and his team are repairing damaged wetlands, meadows and woods. Each year, the landscape is becoming richer, wilder and better able to withstand the shocks of a changing climate.But in the contested landscape of the Lake District, change is not always welcomed, and success relies on finding a balance between rewilding and respecting cherished farming traditions. This is not only a story of an ecosystem in recovery, it is also the story of Lee's personal connection to place, and the highs and lows of working for nature amid fierce opposition.Trade ReviewA thrilling, inspiring journey into the restoration of our uplands. I found myself turning the pages with an inward leap of joy. Reasoned, intelligent, compassionate, well-informed, this is a story of hope and renewal for both nature and farming. -- Isabella TreeAuthentic, honest and clear-sighted - Lee Schofield offers a practical and hopeful example of how to return nature to all our landscapes using imagination, compromise, humility and sheer hard work. This is an important book and fully deserves its place alongside James Rebanks and other contemporary Lakeland classics. -- Patrick BarkhamA passionate, haunting yet optimistic account of the battle to heal a damaged landscape and restore nature to a corner of the Lake District. -- Dave GoulsonIn a country defined as the seventh most nature depleted on Earth, in a region plagued by flooding and climate-chaos, here comes Lee Schofield's brilliant book full of positive action and hope for the future. Wild Fell is a record of environmental achievement, of the RSPB's mission to restore the places and wild nature of Haweswater. But it's also a political tract, and throws down a gauntlet to us all to make the Lake District a national park that is genuinely worthy of the title. -- Mark CockerAs the competing needs of agriculture and conservation jostle for ascendency, land management in Britain has reached a tipping point. Candid, raw and searingly honest, Lee Schofield offers a naturalist's perspective of the challenges unfolding in the ancient yet ever-changing landscape of Haweswater and shares with us his gloriously vibrant vision for the future. -- Katharine NorburySaving nature is a tough job. In Wild Fell we get to understand why people do it: real soul-deep passion. -- Simon BarnesExhilarating... His writing, like the extinct, extant and envisioned landscapes he describes, is studded with moments of immense beauty - you can almost smell rock and moss and nectar, hear butterflies and grasshoppers flit and whirr, feel the shadow of a great wing passing between you and the sun. * British Wildlife *Wild Fell leaves you in no doubt that if we don't protect our wild blooms, there won't be any bugs and there won't be any birds and, ultimately, any people. * BBC Countryfile Magazine *Warm, personal, political and detailed, Wild Fell invites people into the evolving conversation about the future of our natural world. * Cumbria Life *Like the rivers it has rebent, the Haweswater project is re-wiggling farming into a more sustainable alignment with nature. And by similarly refusing to operate in siloed straight lines, Schofield's own journey towards greater collaboration may have lessons to teach both of the UK's rural tribes. * New Statesman *Schofield is a delightfully companionable guide - evoking huge vistas alongside small, exquisite, multisensory details - you can almost inhale the scent of thyme and warm rock wafting from the pages. -- Amy Jane Beer * Guardian *Wild Fell documents a powerful journey through a bruised, beloved English landscape, expertly told from Lee's unique perspective. Sensitive, full of empathy and charged with a fierce, solution-based vision for a restorative, productive future alongside the natural world. I felt utterly compelled by his wise, deft prose, and am so grateful this book has been written. A remarkable debut. -- Sophie PavelleBeautifully written, with an urgent sense of the need to protect our endangered landscape, this is a manifesto for a wilder future. * Daily Mail *Not all farming is toxic. Even rewilders should be able to admire the survival of the cultural tradition of Herdwick sheep farming in the Cumbrian uplands. Read Schofield and make up your own mind. His story of managing the land around Haweswater, in the eastern fells, is compelling... It's an idyll every bit as seductive as the ones set out by Shakespeare or English landscape painting. * Spectator *The book that needed to be written about the Lake District. * Caught by the River *A poetic journey of restoring nature in an iconic landscape. Wild Fell informs and inspires. -- Jake FiennesA visionary, practical and lyrical book on restoring land, from one of the best in the game, on the front line of nature restoration. -- Benedict MacdonaldLee Schofield's Wild Fell is a soaring elegy to nature, a book infused with a deep love of place, and a stirring call to restore wildlife to our landscapes. Written with wit, verve and humility, Wild Fell is above all a story of hope, weaving together deep insights about botany and the history of the land with a wisdom won through years of practical experience. -- Guy ShrubsoleWild Fell is a beautiful, powerful book that subtly navigates great and complex challenges. -- George Monbiot

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Book SynopsisThe Slender-billed Curlew, Numenius tenuirostris, 'the slim beak of the new moon', is one of the world's rarest birds. It once bred in Siberia and wintered in the Mediterranean basin, passing through the wetlands and estuaries of Italy, Greece, the Balkans and Central Asia. Today the Slender-billed Curlew exists as a rumour, a ghost species surrounded by unconfirmed sightings and speculation. The only certainty is that it now stands on the brink of extinction. Birds are key environmental indicators. Their health or hardship has a message for us about the planet, and our future. What does the fate of the Slender-billed Curlew mean for us, and for the natural world? What happened to it, and why? In Orison for a Curlew Horatio Clare journeys through a fractured Europe in search of the Slender-billed Curlew, following the bird's migratory path on an odyssey that takes us into the lives of the men and women who have fought to save the landscapes to which the bird belongs. This is a story of beauty, triumph, and the struggles of conservation. It is a homage to a bird which may never be seen again.Trade Review"Busy and vigorous humanity is the subject to which Clare is best suited; he has a sharp ear for it, and thanks to Clare's generosity toward his subjects, the wealth of backstory and anecdote in his Orison practically hums with it." Times Literary Supplement;"Clare finds hope in the grit and vision of the conservationists he meets on his travels." The Independent

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES' BESTSELLER AND SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT BOOK OF THE YEARWINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT CONSERVATION AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE This is a book about abandoned places: ghost towns and exclusion zones, no man's lands and fortress islands and what happens when nature is allowed to reclaim its place.In Chernobyl, following the nuclear disaster, only a handful of people returned to their dangerously irradiated homes. On an uninhabited Scottish island, feral cattle live entirely wild. In Detroit, once America's fourth-largest city, entire streets of houses are falling in on themselves, looters slipping through otherwise silent neighbourhoods.This book explores the extraordinary places where humans no longer live or survive in tiny, precarious numbers to give us a possible glimpse of what happens when mankind's impact on nature is forced to stop. From Tanzanian mountains to the volcanic Caribbean, the forbidden areas of France to the mining regions of Scotland, Flyn brings together some of the most desolate, eerie, ravaged and polluted areas in the world and shows how, against all odds, they offer our best opportunities for environmental recovery.By turns haunted and hopeful, this luminously written world study is pinned together with profound insight and new ecological discoveries that together map an answer to the big questions: what happens after we're gone, and how far can our damage to nature be undone?More praise for Islands of AbandonmentExtraordinary Just when you thought there was nowhere left to explore, along comes an author with a new category of terrain Dazzling' SPECTATORA haunting look at how nature fights back Beautiful, evocative' SUNDAY TIMESFlyn's brave, thorough book sets out to explore places where angels fear to tread The result is fascinating, eerie and strange There is some thrilling writing here' KATHLEEN JAMIE, NEW STATESMANWonderful' ADAM NICOLSONExhilarating' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘Extraordinary … Just when you thought there was nowhere left to explore, along comes an author with a new category of terrain – not scenes where man has never trod, but places where he has been and gone … Dazzling’Spectator ‘Exhilarating … A story of the extraordinary resilience of life in some of the most desolate, ravaged and polluted landscapes on earth’Daily Telegraph ‘Fascinating and brain-energising. It is full of detail and colour that sends one googling, to look up pictures and find out more. It is also an optimistic book … I’ll cling to that bit of unfashionable hope’The Times ‘Brave, thorough … The result is fascinating, eerie and strange … There is some thrilling writing here, a fine way with the telling detail, and a plea for radical revisioning of what we mean by “nature” and “wild”’Kathleen Jamie, New Statesman ‘Consistently rewarding, eloquently provocative … a brave book, in more ways than one’New Humanist ‘Scintillating … she writes beautifully … Flyn's research is meticulous, but what makes the book so extraordinary is the originality of her thought’The Herald ‘A thoughtful, fascinating read’Independent ‘Brilliant … Flyn paints vivid pictures … both clear and compelling’Daily Telegraph, five stars ‘Filled with understanding and adventure … Written with a beautiful attention to detail and a generous and imaginative frame of mind. The wonderful and surprising thing is how much reassurance and sense of possibility comes out of it at every turn’Adam Nicolson ‘Certainly a book of the year for me’ Sebastian Faulks ‘Cal Flyn takes us on a mercurial expedition into the strange lands of human surrender … Thoughtful, careful, fascinating, poignant, mysterious, surreal, compelling, pace pitch-perfect. I could go on … and on’Keggie Carew, author of Dadland

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Book SynopsisAS FEATURED ON ''BBC RADIO 4 ''GOOD READS''.Woodlands Awards 2019: Woodland Books of the Year''The oak is the wooden tie between heaven and earth. It is the lynch pin of the British landscape.'' The oak is our most beloved and most common tree. It has roots that stretch back to all the old European cultures but Britain has more ancient oaks than all the other European countries put together. More than half the ancient oaks in the world are in Britain. Many of our ancestors - the Angles, the Saxons, the Norse - came to the British Isles in longships made of oak. For centuries the oak touched every part of a Briton''s life - from cradle to coffin It was oak that made the ''wooden walls'' of Nelson''s navy, and the navy that allowed Britain to rule the world. Even in the digital Apple age, the real oak has resonance - the word speaks of fortitude, antiquity, pastoralism.The Glorious Life of the Oak explores our long relationshTrade ReviewA beautiful object and a very British story written with real lyricism - some of the finest sentences I've read. -- Neil Oliver * BBC Radio 4: A Good Read *Lewis-Stempel is one of the best of the new generation of nature writers, an oak himself in that particular corner of the literary forest. As a working farmer, from a long line of Herefordshire farmers, he has daily exposure to his source material. In books such as Meadowland, The Running Hare and, most recently, The Wood, he has distilled his knowledge and his enthusiasm into a style that is as rich and earthy as its subject. * Spectator *Our greatest nature writer * Books Are My Bag *A lively little book * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFew of us know what goes on after dark, underneath the moon. Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl, one of the most mesmerising and elusive icons of the countryside. 'Fascinating insights... An endearing book for lovers of the barn owl' Daily Mail 'Enjoyable and lyrical... enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints' Country Life 'Packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know' Yorkshire Life 'This is a gorgeous little book' Permaculture Magazine With its heart-shaped face and silent, graceful flight, the barn owl regularly tops the nation's list of favourite birds. But how much do we really know about this sublime tenant of the night? Here, bestselling author Sally Coulthard shines a light on the barn owl. Full of fascinating insights, conservation advice and the latest research, this affectionate and timely guide also tells the story of a barn owl's early life – from first pip of the shell to leaving the nest – a fascinating time in this captivating creature's journey.Trade ReviewA beautifully written book about a beautiful bird. Fact-filled, yet totally engaging -- David Ramsden MBE, Barn Owl TrustAn enjoyable and lyrical read, enhanced by Vanessa Lubach's arresting lino prints, which really bring the book to life * Country Life *Looks set to be a bestseller... Beautifully illustrated and full of fascinating insights * Yorkshire Post *Sally Coulthard brings us another immensely readable biography of British Isles fauna... This little book packs in everything the amateur nature enthusiast would want to know about one of Britain's most thrilling nocturnal creatures * Yorkshire Life *With fascinating insights and tips on how to attract them... This is an endearing book for lovers of the barn owl * Daily Mail *Coulthard's style is never less than effortlessly readable, and it is a measure of the delicacy of her touch that she is successfully able to marry the poetry of Edward Thomas with the rigorous research of a scientific study * Yorkshire Times *

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Book Synopsis'BRITAIN'S FINEST LIVING NATURE WRITER' - THE TIMESA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' from 'indisputably, one of the best nature-writers of his generation' (Country Life) Written in diary format, The Wood is the story of English woodlands as they change with the seasons. Lyrical and informative, steeped in poetry and folklore, The Wood inhabits the mind and touches the soul.For four years John Lewis-Stempel managed Cockshutt wood, a particular wood - three and half acres of mixed woodland in south west Herefordshire - that stands as exemplar for all the small woods of England. John coppiced the trees and raised cows and pigs who roamed free there. This is the diary of the last year, by which time he had come to know it from the bottom of its beech roots to the tip of its oaks, and to know all the animals that lived there - the fox, the pheasants, the wood mice, the tawny owl - and where the best bluebells grew. For many fauna and flora, woods like Cockshutt are the last refuge. It proves a sanctuary for John too. To read The Wood is to be amongst its trees as the seasons change, following an easy path until, suddenly the view is broken by a screen of leaves, or your foot catches on a root, or a bird startles overhead. This is a wood you will never want to leave.Trade ReviewIt is a pleasure to be in the company of a man who is so attuned to his woody world ... He is good at sketching nature, fixing a vivid image in the mind's eye of a reader ... Lewis-Stempel has rightly won himself the reputation as being among our best nature writers ... The Wood is an entertaining, illuminating, well-turned read -- Robbie Millen * The Times *John Lewis-Stempel is the hottest nature writer around. * Spectator *A heartfelt and evocative diary of a year among the trees…it’s his observation of the natural world – the sight, the sound, the smell of it – that is so memorable. He has a distinctively brisk, muscular style of writing that has a poetic intensity and concision. * Guardian *Lyrical diary documenting a year in nature ... he’s brilliant on birds and their habits. -- Helen Brown * Daily Mail *Another triumph. Natural, translucent, full of half-glimpsed depths....just like a wood itself. -- Philip Marsden

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Book SynopsisFrom central Glasgow to rural Wiltshire, a husband-and-wife team track down Britain's enigmatic mammals

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Book Synopsis'Shearwater is sheer delight, a luminous portrait of a magical seabird which spans the watery globe' Daily Mail.'Charming and impassioned ... a rich tribute to an extraordinary bird.' Horatio Clare, author of A Single Swallow and Heavy Light.A very personal mix of memoir and natural history from the author of Liquid Gold.Ten weeks into its life, a Manx shearwater chick will emerge from its burrow and fly 8,000 miles from the west coast of the British Isles to the South Atlantic. It will be unlikely to touch land again for four years.Part memoir, part homage to wilderness, Shearwater traces the author's 50-year obsession with one of nature's supreme travellers. In the finest tradition of nature writing, Roger Morgan-Grenville, author of Liquid Gold - described by Mary Colwell (Curlew Moon) as 'a book that ignites joy and warmth' - unpicks the science behind its incredible journey; and into the story of a year in the shearwater's life, he threads the inspirational influence of his Hebridean grandmother who instilled in him a love of wild places and wild animals.Full of lightly-worn knowledge, acute human observation and self-deprecating humour, Shearwater brings to life a truly mysterious and charismatic bird.Trade ReviewCharming and impassioned ... a rich tribute to an extraordinary bird. -- Horatio Clare, author of A Single Swallow and Heavy LightA truly lovely book. -- Mary Colwell, author of Curlew MoonThis is wonderful: written with light and love. A tonic for these times. -- Stephen Rutt, author of The Seafarers: A Journey Among BirdsA delightful account of a lifelong passion for seabirds. -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of The Swallow: A BiographyA memoir lit by wry humour and vivid prose. -- Brian Jackman, author of Wild About BritainThis is a book that birders will enjoy because it is stitched together around a fairly amazing bird, but if you've never heard of shearwaters you will still get a lot out of this book if you are interested in nature, in adventures, in foreign parts, in landscapes or in people ... a very good read. -- Mark AveryA great read * birdwatching.co.uk *[A] lovely blend of natural history and memoir ... Morgan-Grenville beautifully blends science, memories, and wonder in this striking homage to an amazing bird. * Booklist *Shearwater is sheer delight, a luminous portrait of a magical seabird which spans the watery globe * Daily Mail *A captivating mix of memoir, travel and ornithological obsession ... A book not just for seabirders or island-addicts, but for all who have ever gazed longingly out to sea and pondered vast possibilities and connections. * BBC Wildlife magazine *[A] pleasant mixture of facts and an imagined narrative of the shearwater ... readers will enjoy relaxing into the story. * Library Journal *A book that delights, informs, amuses and concerns you page by page * Winchester Today *

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Book SynopsisA Wood of One's Own is a lyrical, beguiling and inspiring story; a potent reminder of nature's delicate balance, and its comforting and abiding presence.Trade Review'So beguiling... Pavey's writing is everywhere amiable' Times Literary Supplement'[In planting her wood] the satisfactions are many... her book is a gentle, generous extension of that... one all her readers can share in' The Lady'Pavey's love for her small patch of land shimmers off the page [in this] narrative of warmth, honesty and great spirit made all the more beautiful by Pavey's own lively and accomplished drawings... this lovely book is itself a gift encouraging country-dweller and townie alike to marvel at the infinite possibilities at the heart of a single tree' Daily Mail, Book of the Week'Captivating... If this book was not as much a pleasure to write as it is to read, I'll eat my hat and gardening glove... Pavey's unassuming memoir celebrates the imperfections of rural life and the virtues of spontaneity... the non-bravura style attractively illustrated with Pavey's black-and-white sketches makes this book a winner' Kate Kellaway, Observer‘A delightful account… with intriguing digressions into local history and culture. [Pavey] writes with warmth and spirit, and brings this space to life in all its detail of plants, trees and wildlife’ Penelope Lively‘A lovely story – a super book’ Steve Yabsley, BBC Radio Bristol and Somerset‘Draws together childhood memories, local history… and literary penumbra’ Sunday Telegraph‘A lyrical story of desire and determination, soft and gentle, warm and wise in a wicked world’ Camden New Journal‘Practical and full of helpful advice which has been artfully baked-in throughout. If someone asks you what you'd like for Christmas or a birthday don't hesitate to reply, A Wood of One's Own' Woodlands.co.uk

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Book Synopsis''Captivating. Will change the way you think about the natural world, and your place in it'' Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallIn Feral, George Monbiot, one of the world''s most celebrated radical thinkers offers a riveting tale of possibility and travel in the wildHow many of us sometimes feel that we are scratching at the walls of this life, seeking to find our way into a wider space beyond? That our mild, polite existence sometimes seems to crush the breath out of us? Feral is the lyrical and gripping story of George Monbiot''s efforts to re-engage with nature and discover a new way of living. He shows how, by restoring and rewilding our damaged ecosystems on land and at sea, we can bring wonder back into our lives. Making use of some remarkable scientific discoveries, Feral lays out a new, positive environmentalism, in which nature is allowed to find its own way.Trade ReviewA genuine landmark * The Sunday Times *George Monbiot is always original - both in the intelligence of his opinions and the depth and rigour of his research. In this unusual book he presents a persuasive argument for a new future for the planet, one in which we consciously progress from just conserving nature to actively rebuilding it -- Brian EnoA Book of Revelations for our times -- Farley MowatFeral has really opened my mind to the history and possibilities of our landscape. It reflects a very real need in us all right now to be released from our claustrophobic monoculture and sense of powerlessness. To break the straight lines into endless branches. To free our land from its absent administrators. To rewild both the landscape and ourselves. It is the most positive and daring environmental book I have read. In order to change our world you have to be able to see a better one. I think George has done that -- Thom YorkePart personal journal, part rigorous (and riveting) natural history, but above all unbridled vision for a less cowed, more self-willed planet, this is a book that will change the way you think about the natural world, and your place in it. Big, bold and beautifully written, his vision of a rewilded world is, well, truly captivating -- Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallIt could not be more rigorously researched, more elegantly delivered, or more timely. We need such big thinking for our own sakes and those of our children. Bring on the wolves and whales, I say, and, in the words of Maurice Sendak, let the wild rumpus start -- Philip Hoare * Sunday Telegraph (Book of the Week) *This is prose style as auditory experience; what majesty the eye notes in the landscape is echoed in the vocabulary. ... This is nature writing prepared to go off at a tangent when it needs to, prepared to explore the byways of our passions. Yes, there is a wildness here and it's a welcome one * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe Times Nature Book of the Year 2020Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award A Finalist for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award''Remarkable. If only every endangered species had a guardian angel as impassioned, courageous and pragmatic as Jonathan Slaght'' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding''Gripping'' Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the TalePrimorye, a remote forested region near to where Russia, China and North Korea meet in a tangle of barbed wire, is the only place where brown bears, tigers and leopards co-exist. It is also home to one of nature''s rarest birds, the Blakiston''s fish owl. A chance encounter with this huge, strange bird was to change wildlife researcher Jonathan C. Slaght''s life beyond measure.This is the story of Slaght''s quest to safeguard the elusive owl from extinction. During months-long journeys covering thousands of miles, he has pursued it through its forbidding territory. He has spent time with the Russians who struggle on in the harsh conditions of the taiga forest. And he has observed how Russia''s logging interests and evolving fortunes present new threats to the owl''s survival. Preserving its habitats will secure the forest for future generations, both animal and human - but can this battle be won? Exhilarating and clear-sighted, Owls of the Eastern Ice is an impassioned reflection on our relationship with the natural world and on what it means to devote one''s career to a single pursuit.''Slaght makes the people, wildlife and landscape of the Russian Far East come alive. I haven''t enjoyed a book on remote Russia as much as this since Ian Frazier''s Travels in Siberia'' Sophy Roberts, author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia''True epic. Powerful, passionate'' Charles Foster, author of Being a BeastTrade ReviewSlaght has a rare gift for startling evocations of the natural world...A refreshingly old-school, tautly strung adventure -- Helen Macdonald * Guardian *Excellent...The brutality of human habitation is counterpoised with the brutality of the natural world. The reader becomes, like the author, "stunned by the quiet violence of this place." -- Clement Knox * The Times *This is a tale of man's endurance, determination and perseverance in search of this elusive and beautiful creature ... wonderful -- Bill BaileyThe remarkable story of one man's heroic quest to save the astonishing fish owl. If only every endangered species had a guardian angel as impassioned, courageous and pragmatic as Jonathan Slaght. -- Isabella Tree, author of WildingA gripping account of the author's obsessive quest to save one of the world's most magnificent birds. -- Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex and author of A Sting in the TaleA vivid dispatch from the front line of conservation, Owls of the Eastern Ice is engrossing and uplifting; an inspiring story of vital work undertaken with utter determination in wild and distant places. -- Horatio Clare, author of Orison for a CurlewSlaght's story reveals the patience and determination of a true conservationist. And the ears and eyes of a poet. Above all, he makes the people, wildlife and landscape of the Russian Far East come alive for armchair travellers. I haven't enjoyed a book on remote Russia as much as this since Ian Frazier's Travels in Siberia -- Sophy Roberts, author of The Lost Pianos of SiberiaTrue epic. A powerful, passionate and highly readable reflection on the wildness both inside us and out there in the forest. -- Charles Foster, author of Being a BeastA fascinating account of one man's quest to conserve the magnificent fish owl of Eastern Asia, this is a book that feels both urgent and relevant. -- Christopher Skaife, author of The RavenmasterFrom the very first pages, Slaght grips readers with vivid language and tight storytelling ... The cast of characters he brings to life - both human and avian - illuminate the delicate symbiosis of the natural world and shed a welcome light on the remarkable creatures that are too little known. Top-notch nature writing in service of a magnificent, vulnerable creature. * Kirkus *A detailed and thrilling account of efforts to conserve an endangered species. . . Slaght evinces humor, tirelessness, and dedication in relating the hard and crucial work of conservation. Readers will be drawn to this exciting chronicle of science and adventure, a demonstration that wilderness can still be found. * Publishers Weekly *A thoroughly engaging read which will appeal both to those specifically interested in owls, as well as those with a wider interest in the natural world. Will make armchair and keyboard conservationists envious and uncomfortable in equal measures -- John Gray, The International Owl SocietyThis is an epic tale of hangovers, violence and obsessive ornithology. It is a superb depiction of a far-flung corner of the world where bears, tigers and men battle with relentless environment and each other. It is a powerful antidote to saccharine nature writing; Slaght encounters such a host of pickled gritty characters that you could imagine the Coen brothers adapting it for the screen. -- The Times Nature Book of the YearWonderful... If [COP26 organisers] picked it up in the jet-lagged early hours they might find their dreams haunted, as mine have been, by huge, endangered owls swooping low through their subconscious, reminding them what survival might mean -- Tim Adams * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisEmbark on an action-packed, first-class tour and explore the homes of Earth''s most awe-inspiring animals!This illustrated children''s atlas brings the animal kingdom to life like never before through spectacular, specially commissioned 3D maps and artworks. A fact-filled adventure of a lifetime awaits, are you ready?Inside the pages of this visually stunning animal encyclopedia, you''ll discover: - 3D maps show the habitats and geographic location of more than 100 incredible animals- Text on each spread providing relevant background information about each animal- Maps revealing the shrinking territories of some species to inform kids about endangered animals and how to protect themFrom African savanna elephants and Arctic wolves to giant pandas and polar bears, this educational book for kids shows you exactly where and how over 100 extraordinary animal species live. Detailed 3D maps and dynamic images give you a peek inside the habitat

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Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT GIFT FOR NATURE LOVERSTo see a hare sit still as stone, to watch a hare boxing on a frosty March morning, to witness a hare bolt . . . these are great things. Every field should have a hare.' The hare, a night creature and country-dweller, is a rare sight for most people. We know them only from legends and stories. They are shape-shifters, witches' familiars and symbols of fertility. They are arrogant, as in Aesop's The Hare and the Tortoise, and absurd, as in Lewis Carroll's Mad March Hare. In the absence of observed facts, speculation and fantasy have flourished. But real hares? What are they like? In The Private Life of the Hare, John Lewis-Stempel explores myths, history and the reality of the hare. And in vivid, elegant prose he celebrates how, in an age when television cameras have revealed so much in our landscape, the hare remains as elusive and magical as ever.Trade ReviewIn vivid prose, [John Lewis-Stempel] celebrates how, in an age when television cameras have revealed so much in our landscape, the hare remains as magical and elusive as ever. * Slightly Foxed *In elegant prose, [John Lewis-Stempel] celebrates the elusive magic of these beautiful night creatures. * Evening News *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF BOOK OF THE YEAR, NARRATIVE NON-FICTION BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2021Rediscover the natural world with the multi-award winning phenomenon and youngest ever major literary prize winner in UK history.'Miraculous memoir . . . profoundly moving' Observer 'Dara is an extraordinary voice and vision: brave, poetic, ethical, lyrical' Robert Macfarlane 'It's a diary but essentially timeless . . . It's really, really special' Chris PackhamALSO WINNER OF: THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2020, AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARD FOR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2020, BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARDS FOR NON-FICTION 2020; SHORTLISTED FOR: WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 & LONGLISTED FOR: THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2020 ___________ 'This diary chronicles the turning of my world, from spring to winter, at home, in the wild, in my head.'Evocative, raw and lyrical, this startling debut explores the natural world through the eyes of Dara McAnulty, an autistic teenager coping with the uprooting of home, school, and his mental health, while pursuing his life as a conservationist and environmental activist.Shifting from intense darkness to light, recalling his sensory encounters in the wild - with blackbirds, whooper swans, red kites, hen harriers, frogs, dandelions, Irish hares and more - McAnulty reveals worlds we have neglected to see, in a stunning world of nature writing that is a future classic.Diary of a Young Naturalist is a powerful and scintillating portrayal of the beauty of the natural world, as it shines a light on autism and of overcoming severe anxiety. It is a story of the binding love of family and home, and how we can help each other through the most difficult of times. ___________ BIG ISSUE BOOK OF THE YEAR HAY FESTIVAL BOOK OF THE YEARA TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 'An extraordinary diary' The Times'A torrent of pure, unmediated fervour . . . This is writing at its wild and unruly best' Dr Rachel Clarke 'Diary of a Young Naturalist is not only one of the finest pieces of modern nature writing produced on this island in recent years, McAnulty is one of our best young writers in any genre' Irish Independent'An exceptional new voice. Dara McAnulty celebrates nature in such a fresh way and illuminatesour understanding of autism' Martha Kearney, chair of the Baillie Gifford Prize 2020'One of the most talented and passionate writers of our era' Steve Silberman, award-winning author of NeuroTribes ___________Trade ReviewDara's is an extraordinary voice and vision: brave, poetic, ethical, lyrical, strong enough to have made him heard and admired from a young age. * Robert Macfarlane *It's a diary but essentially timeless. It's about enduring, it's about passion, beauty and connection. It's really, really special. * Chris Packham *Dara is only 16 and autistic, and is already on his way to becoming one of the most talented and passionate writers of our era. * Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes *Feeling illuminates every page of this miraculous memoir ... His portrait of loving parents raising three neurodivergent children on poetry, punk and puffins is profoundly moving ... intimate, sensitive, deeply felt * Observer *Like reading William Blake or Ted Hughes, it really is a strange and magical experience...surely one of the most talked about nature books, or any books, this year * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Richard Jefferies Society and White Horse Book Shop Literary Prize 'splendid' -Guardian 'visionary' -New Statesman Britain has all the space it needs for an epic return of its wildlife. Only six percent of our country is built upon. Contrary to popular myth, large areas of our countryside are not productively farmed but remain deserts of opportunity for both wildlife and jobs. It is time to turn things around. Praised as 'visionary' by conservationists and landowners alike, Rebirding sets out a compelling manifesto for restoring Britain's wildlife, rewilding its species and restoring rural jobs - to the benefit of all.Trade Review'A splendid new book... all rational argument seems to be on his side' -- Professor Tim Flannery * The Guardian * 'A wonderfully imaginative book, which shows how things could be with our rapidly declining areas of countryside, instead of how - despairingly - they are now.' -- Rod Liddle * The Spectator * 'A visionary yet practical book.' -- John Burnside * New Statesman * 'It has shaped how I think about my farm, and the choices we make about our land...' -- James Rebanks 'An expose, a plea, and a vision of a better future.' -- Simon Reeve 'Ben Macdonald has an impressive track record as a field naturalist, wildlife film-maker and writer, and this passionate, authoritative, up-to-date and, ultimately, optimistic book is a worthy comparison to such seminal works as George Monbiot's Feral and Mark Cocker's Our Place.' -- Jonathan Elphick * BBC Wildlife * 'Having read a number of the recent books about rewilding, I was tempted to think, oh blimey, not another one! I am now tempted to say, they left the best till last...' -- Bill Oddie 'Rebirding is beautifully written, based on deep, personal experience and a genuine love of the subject. You may not have come across Ben Macdonald before now; but believe me, you will hear a lot more from him in the future.' -- Stephen Moss 'With Monbiot's Feral and Isabella Tree's Wilding, Rebirding sits separate from both and is in fact an essential third book to read if you've enjoyed the others. In short, it's a captivating, fascinating and inspiring read' -- Ed Stubbs * Birdwatch Magazine * 'This is the best book on nature, conservation and rewilding I read in 2019 - perhaps one of the best I've ever read. I finished reading it with a real sense of hope for the future.' -- Alex Roddie * Great Outdoors Magazine * 'A book about a key subject at a key time, passionate and deeply thought-through. Anyone concerned with the future of the natural world in Britain will want to read it.' -- Mike McCarthy, author of The Moth Snowstorm 'A beautifully written, thoughtful and yes, provocative book' -- Dr. Martin Harper, Conservation Director, RSPB 'This is a stimulating and important book, beautifully written and well researched... It provides a compelling vision for the future' -- Dr. Carl Jones, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust 'A must read and a good read...the type of book that grabs and keeps my attention. You should read it and I think you may well enjoy it a lot.' -- Dr. Mark Avery * www.markavery.info/blog/ * 'I thoroughly recommend the book and applaud its breadth and detail... Macdonald's book has really surprised me. I have learned much I did not know about Britain's early bird faunas, and even the history of its mammals... The level of treatment and scholarly references are on a par with conservation science books' -- Peter Taylor * ECOS Magazine * 'This has to be the one book you read this year if you read no other, as its messages are myriad and its import undeniable. This is most definitely my book of the year and possibly the whole decade!' -- Bo Beolens * Fatbirder * 'Rebirding is an exceptional book from an exceptional author. Visionary, courageous, critical, Benedict maps out how we might finally turn things around, rewilding our national parks, restoring natural ecosystems and allowing our wildlife a far richer future.' * Surfbirds * 'A captivating, fascinating and inspiring read' * Birdwatch *Table of Contents1 - Taming Britain 2 - The Anthropocene 3 - The First Imperative 4 - The Lost Stewards 5 - A Question of Scale 6 - Memory 7 - A Wild Economy 8 - The Wild Highlands 9 - New Forests 10 - The Golden Hills of Wales 11 - A Grouse Moor Wild 12 - Pelican Possibility 13 - Our Birds 14 - Conservation Begins

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Book SynopsisSelected for The Times Best Gardening Books of the Year 2023Every garden, large or small, in a town or in the country, even one formed completely by pots, can be a living dance of lavish colours, glorious scents and pollen-rich flowers alive to the sound of bird song and the buzz of bees. In Planting a Paradise, Arthur Parkinson, bestselling author of The Flower Yard, focuses on what to grow through the seasons with an array of planting ideas and recommended varieties to inspire the experienced and novice gardener alike. From his newly found love of muscari, narcissi and seeding grasses, to circuses of dahlias, luscious herbs, figs and crab apples, the result is not only a stunning living harvest but also an oasis for wildlife at a time when we need this style of gardening more than ever. Praise for The Flower Yard:'Simply gorgeous' - Nigel Slater'The Kew-trained king of the small-space garden' - Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe Times and Irish Independent: BEST NATURE BOOKS OF THE YEARGreat nature writing needs to be informative, detailed, accurate, lyrical, and, above all, to instil a sense of gratitude and wonder. John Lewis-Stempel succeeds in all these things triumphantly. From amorous toads to the eye-popping mating habits of water boatmen, a magical celebration of pond life by one of our finest, most evocative nature writers.' Daily MailPonds: small bodies of water, both naturally formed and artificial, home to wondrous, multitudinous life-forms. Ponds define our childhood: frogspawn, goldfish, feeding the ducks, but also our village life, our farms, our landscape. And they are multi-layered - from carp circling the bottom to water boatmen, coot, and birds dragonflies overhead. In Still Water, John immerses himself in the murky depths, both literarily and figuratively, to explore the still waters of the British countryside through each month of the year.Trade ReviewA beautifully written celebration of one of the natural world's most fertile founts of biodiversity and artistic inspiration ... A call to arms. * BEST NATURE BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2019, The Times *The master of nature-writing takes readers through the changing life of a pond season by season. * Radio Times *Great nature writing needs to be informative, detailed, accurate, lyrical, and, above all, to instil a sense of gratitude and wonder. John Lewis-Stempel succeeds in all these things triumphantly. From amorous toads to the eye-popping mating habits of water boatmen, a magical celebration of pond life by one of our finest, most evocative nature writers. * Daily Mail *One of England's most noted nature writers ... Still Water is a scintillating mirror of ourselves. -- Derek Turner * BOOK OF THE WEEK: The Lady *UK farmer and nature writer John Lewis-Stempel has won much acclaim for his perfectly observed reflections on pastoral habitats and their residents. Still Water explores "the deep life" of ponds with characteristic wit and beauty from the two-time Wainwright Prize winner. -- Hilary A White * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisTurn your outdoor space into a sanctuary for nature and join the rewilding movement today!Introducing Wild Your Garden, a practical guide to rewilding your outdoor space, with advice, inspiration and step-by-step projects brought to you by Gardeners'' World and Springwatch guests The Butterfly Brothers. We all have the potential to make the world a little greener, and Wild Your Garden shows you how to create a garden that can help boost local biodiversity. You don''t need specialist knowledge or acres of land. If you have any outdoor space, you can make a difference to local wildlife, and reduce your carbon footprint, too! So what are you waiting for? Dive straight in to discover:-Practical illustrated step-by-step projects for all level of gardeners-Tips and advice to adjust to the principles of wild gardening -Inspiration for rewilding your garden space and encourage local biodiversity to thrive Whether you wish to transform a paved-over yard into a lush oasis, create refuges to welcome and support native species, or turn a high-maintenance lawn into a nectar-rich mini-meadow to attract bees and butterflies, this great gardening book has something for everyone to discover. The Butterfly Brothers are expert landscape gardeners specializing in wildlife-attracting projects of all sizes across the UK. Having worked closely with Chris Packham, Alan Titchmarsh and even Sir David Attenborough, they will show you how to easily support wildlife and reap all the benefits Mother Nature has to offer, no matter the shape and size of your garden. In fact, Alan Titchmark once said: It''s up to every single one of us to do our bit for wildlife, however small our gardens, and The Butterfly Brothers know just how that can be achieved.Did you know that the concept of rewilding is being increasingly seen as a viable tool in the fight against rising C02 emissions? So let''s all work together to do our part for the planet! Whether it''s plummeting pollinator numbers, building bird boxes or crafting a woodland wonderland, this gardening guide is jam-packed with top tips and tricks for wilding your garden and becoming one with nature!The ideal gardening gift for the nature lover in your life, those looking to take steps to reconnect with nature, or those who wish to protect local wildlife from the comfort of home!Trade ReviewLearn how to turn your outdoor space into a haven for wildlife with easy-to-follow projects from The Butterfly Brothers * Gardens Illustrated *This new book by The Butterfly Brothers shows how to unlock the potential in your garden and boost local biodiversity. From transforming a paved area into a lush oasis to support native species to turning a lawn into a nectar-rich mini meadow, the brothers guide you every step of the way. * Woman's Weekly *Loaded with ways to promote biodiversity, the hardback will help you boost the fauna in your outdoor space, whether it's a palatial plot or a bijou balcony. balcony. From digging your own pond to building an insect hotel, the brothers will show you how to create a lush oasis for nature, and reduce your carbon footprint too. * Your Home *Re-wilding the garden is a real buzz topic among gardeners, and this latest book by The Butterfly Brothers goes into great depth about how to do it. * Garden Answers *

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Book SynopsisNot since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery - Richard Dawkins In this book a master scientist tells the great story of how life on earth evolved. E.O. Wilson eloquently describes how the species of the world became diverse, and why the threat to this diversity today is beyond the scope of anything we have known before. In an extensive new foreword for this edition, Professor Wilson addresses the explosion of the field of conservation biology and takes a clear-eyed look at the work still to be done.Trade Review"Not since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery" - Richard Dawkins"

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Book SynopsisThe life and times of the people of Tristan da Cunha, the most remote inhabited island on Earth.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis__________________ Our Earth is more beautiful and more diverse than we can possibly conceive of. The Book of Vanishing Species is a stunning homage to the planet’s most mysterious, bizarre and wondrous creatures and plants. Their stories are captivating, from the eyeless and tiny dragonlike olm to the hawksbill turtle, whose gender will be determined by the temperature of the sand it is born in. These species may have survived for hundreds of thousands of years by cleverly adapting to their environments, but their future remains far from certain. The book brings to life red cranes as they dance and bow for the sheer joy of movement, trees that breathe out a haze of misty atmosphere for insects that only feast on one kind of flower, a deep-ocean snail quietly building its shell from iron... and each one of them is illuminated with an exquisite illustration. As you turn the pages, there emerges a network of life that stretches across and around the planet in a dazzling web of existence. This is both a love letter to life on Earth, and an urgent summons to protect what is precious and lovely in this world. Trade Review‘Bea Forshall’s images make the heart sing, but her beautiful, revelatory text also makes one weep. From dung beetles to lemurs, we may lose these extraordinary creatures. Forshall makes us fall in love with them, all over again. Let’s hope, to stir us into action, so these wonders don’t join the ranks of dodos and Tasmanian tigers' * Isabella Tree *'This wonderful book, with Beatrice Forshall's superb engravings, serves to remind us of the wonder and beauty of some of the species that may disappear for ever unless we take action to save them - now and before it is too late' * Dr Jane Goodall *'Through her prose and illustrations, Forshall makes a passionate case for protecting each and every one of these species' * The Times *'Forshall might not have a scientific background, but her poetic, human perspective and unique artistry are incredibly moving... The Book of Vanishing Species is both a celebration of our world and an urgent call to action' * BBC Wildlife Magazine *'Forshall's synthesis of artisanal craft, the artist’s eye and the sensibilities of an idealistic yet clear eyed environmentalist…is thrilling' * Sir Tim Smit *'Beatrice draws you into the sublime wonder of the Brazil nut tree, snakes head fritillary or the albatross and then, with gentle frankness enlightens you on their plight. Somehow it left me feeling more motivated, not just devastated, which is a testament to the skill of the author' * Geetie Singh-Watson *'As well as a beautiful celebration, this book is a call to arms' * Chloë Ashby *'Our disappearing flora and fauna are lovingly described and wittily illustrated in Beatrice Forshall's homage to what we are about to lose' * Daunts Books *

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Book SynopsisDespite the 1989 global ivory trade ban, poaching and ivory smuggling have not abated. More than half of Tanzania's elephants have been killed for their ivory since 2007. A similarly alarming story can be told of the herds in northern Mozambique and across swathes of central Africa. But why the new upsurge? The popular narrative blames a meeting of two evils - criminal poaching and terrorism. But the answer is not that simple.Since ancient times, large-scale killing of elephants for their tusks has been driven by demand beyond Africa's range states from the Egyptian pharaohs through the industrialising West to the new wealthy business class of China. Elephant hunting in Africa is also governed by human-elephant conflict, traditional hunting practices and the impact of colonial exploitation and criminalisation.Ivory follows this complex history of the tusk trade in Africa, and explains why it is corruption, crime and politics, rather than insurgency, that we should worry about. In this ground-breaking work, Somerville argues that regulation - not prohibition - of the ivory trade is the best way to stop uncontrolled poaching.Trade Review'Part historical overview, part polemic and call for policy change, [Keith's] book is dedicated not only to those who gave or risk their lives to conserve elephants but also to "those who have the courage to question the ruling orthodoxy" that burnings and bans save elephants. The author's own appetite for questioning - from the "flexible meanings" of the word "poaching" to the high ideals and more nuanced realities of NGOs' work - makes for informative reading.' * Times Higher Education *'[A] meticulously documented record of an economic activity that has spanned millennia . . . Somerville has made a valuable contribution towards documenting the history of the ivory trade.' -- The Times Literary Supplement'Combating elephant poaching in Africa has become an international priority, attracting Hilary Clinton, Jackie Chan and Prince Harry to its cause. Drawing on decades of experience as a seasoned journalist, Keith Somerville eloquently writes about the politics of ivory poaching in Africa and shows why we should care.' * Dr Alex Vines OBE, Head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House and Senior Lecturer at Coventry University *'Keith Somerville has written a pioneering study in the field of wildlife conservation. Based on a formidable list of sources, the argument is well constructed and superbly expressed. The text will prove an invaluable guide to both scholars and those engaged in the struggle to preserve an asset of incomparable value.' * Professor Jack Spence OBE, Kings College London *'This is an urgently-needed book that strips away the myths around the fast-changing scene of ivory poaching. For this task there is nobody better than Keith Somerville, who has kept a beady eye on Africa for many years.' * Jasper Humphreys, Director of External Relations, The Marjan Centre for the Study of Conflict and the Non Human Sphere, Department of War Studies, King's College, London *'Somerville's analysis of the booming ivory trade under colonial rule is masterly: more firearms, more organized trading, and greater demand for ivory in the West meant escalated killing. He shows the more pernicious, lasting effect to be the alienation of indigenous people from control over wildlife, which happened when British game officials banned Africans from hunting while encouraging white trophy pursuers.' * Robert Eagan, Library Journal *'[A] devastating and majestic history of the supply chain from Africa. […] Somerville has produced the best academic account to date of the history of the supply side of this catastrophic trade.' * Joanna Lewis, Africa at LSE blog *'This excellent book clearly captures the reasons for killing elephants in Africa, and the perils we face in trying to save them. The historical and political dimensions of the phenomenon are often under-stated, but here corruption is shown to be at the heart of the ivory trade, and human conflicts have provided the arena in which large-scale corruption takes place.' * Lucy Vigne, ivory and rhino horn researcher *'This thoroughly researched volume delves into intricate detail regarding the historical and current status of elephants and ivory trading. An excellent addition to an advanced course or seminar on conservation biology, sustainable use, or wildlife policy.' -- CHOICE

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis'Enthralling' Daily MailIn 1998, Françoise Malby-Anthony founded a game reserve with her late husband, dedicating their lives to the protection of these beautiful, troubled animals. The Elephants of Thula Thula is the profound, compelling story of their life's work.Françoise Malby-Anthony is the owner of a game reserve in South Africa with a remarkable family of elephants whose adventures have touched hearts around the world. The herd’s feisty matriarch Frankie knows who’s in charge at Thula Thula, and it’s not Françoise. But when Frankie becomes ill, and the authorities threaten to remove or cull some of the herd if the reserve doesn’t expand, Françoise is in a race against time to save her beloved elephants . . .The joys and challenges of a life dedicated to conservation are vividly described in this charming and moving book. The search is on to get a girlfriend for orphaned rhino Thabo – and then, as his behaviour becomes increasingly boisterous, a big brother to teach him manners. Françoise realizes a dream with the arrival of Savannah the cheetah – an endangered species not seen in the area since the 1940s – and finds herself rescuing meerkats kept as pets. But will Thula Thula survive the pandemic, an invasion from poachers and the threat from a mining company wanting access to its land?As Françoise faces her toughest years yet, she realizes once again that with their wisdom, resilience and communal bonds, the elephants have much to teach us.Trade ReviewFrançoise’s descriptions of the empathetic behaviour of elephants, both towards each other and towards the humans who love them, are beguiling * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisIn a unique new collaboration, Collins have paired up with the respected British Trust for Ornithology, bringing together the most authoritative and up-to-date information in this new field guide to the common birds of Britain and Ireland.This unique new identification guide features all of the birds that have occurred five or more times in Britain and Ireland, including all species that breed regularly in the region, plus those that winter here, or occur as common passage migrants.The book has been written and illustrated as much with the beginner in mind as the experienced birdwatcher. Designed to be used in the field, the text and photographs describe and illustrate the key features needed to identify a species with confidence, and to separate it from similar, or confusion', species. As a general rule, the species accounts follow the taxonomic running order provided by the British Ornithologist's Union (BOU). But for the benefit of the reader, in some instances the running order hasTrade ReviewPraise for Paul Sterry’s previous titles: 'Wonderfully descriptive photographs' BBC Wildlife ‘Whether you are a keen amateur or someone with a passing interest, this book will satisfy your needs.’ The Sea 'Packs in lots of well-chosen detail in compact form' British Wildlife ‘A bookshelf essential’ The Field

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Book SynopsisA lyrical celebration of birdsong, and the rekindling of a deep passion for nature.''At this time of year, blackbirds never simply fly: instead, like reluctantly retired officers, they''re always on manoeuvres, and it''s easy to see from their constant agitation that for them every flower bed is a bunker, every shed a redoubt and every hedge-bottom a potential place of ambush''As the world went silent in lockdown, something else happened; for the first time, many of us started becoming more aware of the spring sounds of the birds around us. Birdsong in a Time of Silence is a lyrical, uplifting reflection on these sounds and what they mean to us.From a portrait of the blackbird - most prominent and articulate of the early spring singers - to explorations of how birds sing, the science behind their choice of song and nest-sites, and the varied meanings that people have brought to and taken from birdsong, this book ultimately shows that natural history and human history cannot be separated. It is the story of a collective reawakening brought on by the strangest of springs.Trade ReviewA delightful meditation on the wonder of birdsong, and how it helped us at a moment of crisis -- Stephen MossThis is a joyous and profound meditation on birdsong and what it means to us, a book that brings to life an essential part of the natural world that most of us take so much for granted that we scarcely notice it -- PD Smith * Guardian (Book of the Day) *Lovatt's approach is fresh, joyful and uncomplicated. Birdsong in a Time of Silence recalls a spring we will never forget but also reminds us that the pandemic grew out of our disregard for nature, and could presage ecological disaster -- Nicola Chester * Financial Times *This is a lyrical, exhilarating work of utter loveliness * Saga *Beautifully observed... exhilaratingly original... [Written with] exquisite prose that soars as high as his beloved birds -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *

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