Natural History Books

Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the iconic theropod dinosaurs, with stunning recreations of T-Rex, Velociraptor and many more.

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Book SynopsisCollins Complete Guide to British Muchrooms and Toadstools allows everyone to identify mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the species you are most likely to see.By only covering Britain and Ireland, fewer species are included than in many broader European guides, making it quicker and easier for the reader to accurately identify what they have found.Extensive details on size, shape and colour are given and over 1,500 photographs help you identify each species.This is the essential photographic guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain and Ireland.Trade ReviewPraise for the Collins Complete series: '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 Magazine

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Book SynopsisFind out all about different types of trees around the world in this fact-filled non-fiction book.Find out all about different types of trees around the world in this fact-filled non-fiction book.Blue/Band 4 offers longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Non-fiction uses signs, labels and diagrams.This book focuses on adjacent consonants with long vowel phonemes.Pages 14 and 15 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.Reading notes within the book provide practical support for reading Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds with children, including a list of all the sounds and words that the book will cover.

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Book SynopsisJohn Stewart Collis was born in 1900. His father was a Dublin solicitor and Collis was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1925 he published a biography of George Bernard Shaw and he later went on to write other biographical works and also became a pioneer of the ecological movement in Britain. During the Second World War his wife and daughters were evacuated to the United States and he worked for the Land Army as an agricultural labourer - accompanied by his beloved dog, Bindo. His memoirs and meditations on rural life, While Following the Plough (1946) and Down to Earth (1947) were first published together as The Worm Forgives the Plough in 1973, which has become a classic of nature writing.Trade ReviewHe is the poet among modern ecologists, a natural philosopher who , whether he is writing about trees or rainbows, an iceberg or a piece of chalk, never takes a fact without linking it to an idea, or an idea without connecting it to a fact. His book dispenses information in the language of the imagination, and by peeling back the film by which everything appears dully familiar, reveals a vision of the world miraculously transfigured -- Michael Holroyd * The Times *Collis' divine gift is to explain the extraordinary nature of the ordinary * Sunday Times *A philosopher who had a shining view of the natural world, and was able to divine the magic inherent in phenomena so commonplace that we take them for granted * Guardian *These jottings establish the man as one of the greatest recorders of English agricultural life -- Val Hennessey * Daily Mail *A little classic * The Oldie *

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Book SynopsisEthical dilemmas and decision-making are a persistent feature of the everyday operations of animal shelters and animal protection organizations. These organizations frequently face difficult decisions about how to treat the animals in their care, decisions that are made all the more difficult by limited funding, material resources, and human labor. Moreover, animal protection organizations must also determine how to act within and toward the wider social and institutional environment in which non-human animals are routinely exploited. The first section of The Ethics of Animal Shelters contains practical recommendations developed by ethicists in response to the ethical challenges identified by employees of the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These challenges arise across the organization''s activities, including its internal structure; shelter operations; public campaigns and advocacy work; dealing with the public, animal agriculture and governmental agencies; and their work with feral animals. The second section offers philosophical analyses of the ethical challenges unique to animal shelters. Issues explored include the killing of shelter animals; shelter animals'' diets; medical decision-making procedures; adoption policies; and the role shelters might play in transforming social attitudes and norms.Table of ContentsNotes on contributors Acknowledgements Exploring the ethics of animal shelters: An introduction Part I The Ethics of Animal Shelters: Guidelines and Recommendations Valéry Giroux, Angie Pepper, Kristin Voigt, Frédéric Côté-Boudreau, Nicolas Delon, Sue Donaldson, François Jaquet, Will Kymlicka, Angela Martin and Agnes Tam Part II 1. The value of death for animals: an overview Nicolas Delon 2. Caring in Non-Ideal Conditions: Animal Rescue Organizations and Morally Justified Killing Angie Pepper 3. Decision-making under non-ideal circumstances: Establishing triage protocols for animal shelters Angela Martin 4. What If They Were Humans? Non-Ideal Theory in the Shelter François Jaquet 5. Being Popular and Being Just: How Animal Protection Organizations Can Be Both Agnes Tam and Will Kymlicka 6. Companion Animal Adoption in Shelters: How "Open" Should It Be? Valéry Giroux and Kristin Voigt 7. Transformative Animal Protection Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka Afterword Élise Desaulniers

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Book SynopsisA powerful look at one of the most important issues facing our world today - climate change.This climate change book for kids explores the past, present and future of our climate. Get the facts and figures about how our planet''s climate is changing, what the consequences will be and what you can do to help make a change!Discover everything you need to know about the climate crisis with this children''s educational book. It includes:- The perfect introduction to a subject that fascinates children and ties in with a key school topic- Fresh new look with updated photography, fun diagrams, and new eyewitness features- Updated information by expert consultants in the field- A unique visual approach that immerses children on every page and an added wall chart is full of facts and imagesDK Eyewitness Climate Change explains why human activities are making the planet heat up. Learn all about the causes of climate change, such as fossil fuels and pollution. Explore the effects that global warming has on humans and animals across the world, from more frequent hurricanes and wildfires to melting ice caps and rising sea levels. Packed with incredible facts about our Earth''s climate and written in easy-to-grasp text, this children''s book will help cultivate the climatologists of tomorrow and inspire kids to help fight the climate emergency. Stunning photographs offer a unique eyewitness view of the dramatic changes that are affecting the weather, the environment, and the way we lead our lives.With a groundbreaking visual approach and clear, child-friendly text, DK Eyewitness books have been a trusted favourite for parents, teachers, and school-age children since 1985. Now with an exciting makeover, this popular series has been reinvigorated for the next generation of information-seekers and stay-at-home explorers!

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Book SynopsisThis book is an eye-opening celebration of the wonderful diversity of animals that live in British seas, and the colourful and fascinating ways they go about their lives. With 500 new photographs, the 4th edition is by far the largest revision of Great British Marine Animals to date.Trade Review'This book is recommended to anyone with an interest in marine life, from armchair naturalists and curious kids to university-level biologists and beyond. ...so much more than a species list - it's a guide to how we can search for them and at the same time understand their lives.' SCUBA MAGAZINE; '...well edited, incisive and highly informative. A treat to read and a joy to browse - the images alone could sustain a coffee-table art book.' DIVE MAGAZINE; 'I cannot recommend it highly enough, to marine biologists and non-marine biologists alike...' THE MARINE BIOLOGIST; '...includes even more stunning underwater photography and captivating text than its predecessors.' PMNHS BULLETIN; 'It is nothing less than a triumph: a gasp on every page...' THE TIMES on the 3rd edition (before the upgrade!)Table of ContentsForeword by The Wildlife Trusts and Marine Conservation Society 1. Introduction (with spreads showing typical animals found in different habitats) 2. Sponges 3. Cnidarians (sea anemones, corals, hydroids & jellyfish) 4. Crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, prawns, shrimps & barnacles) 5. Worms 6. Molluscs (chitons, sea snails, sea slugs, bivalves, cuttlefish, octopus & squid) 7. Bryozoans 8. Echinoderms (starfish, brittlestars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers & feather stars) 9. Sea squirts 10. Fish Behaviour - examples of different aspects Glossary References for more information Organisations promoting conservation and awareness of marine animals Index of species, common and scientific names

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Book SynopsisFrom the author ofRewild YourselfandHow to Be a Bad Birdwatcher, a light-hearted guide to realising you know more about plants than you might think.

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Book SynopsisA lighthearted and informative narrative about the history of herring and our love affair with the silver darlings. Scots like to smoke or salt them. The Dutch love them raw. Swedes look on with relish as they open bulging, foul-smelling cans to find them curdling within. Jamaicans prefer them with a dash of chilli pepper. Germans and the English enjoy their taste best when accompanied by pickle's bite and brine. Throughout the long centuries men have fished around their coastlines and beyond, the herring has done much to shape both human taste and history. Men have co-operated and come into conflict over its shoals, setting out in boats to catch them, straying, too, from their home ports to bring full nets to shore. Women have also often been at the centre of the industry, gutting and salting the catch when the annual harvest had taken place, knitting, too, the garments fishermen wore to protect them from the ocean's chill. Following a journey from the western edge of Norway to Trade ReviewThe story is told with great charm, and tinged with a spirit of loss and yearning. * Philip Marsden, The Spectator *Mr Murray is a gregarious and engaging raconteur as he flips between the diverse aspects of this versatile little creature. * The Economist *This is a splendid book, filled with passion, wit, and wonderful facts. * Geographical magazine *...a fine, scholarly, restless and keen-brained work. -- John Macleod * Scottish Review of Books *It's a fascinating book and worth a read. * The Glasgow Herald *Like the herring, this is a book that darts across time and oceans. It gleams with story. A wonderful read. -- Sally MagnussonThese herring tales are far more tasty than you might expect. * The Scotsman *Donald S. Murray takes us to places we’ve never been before as he explores the world of herring in a sweet, pellucid, often poetic prose. -- Jay PariniHerring Tales offers a fascinating view of the coastal cultures of northern Europe, of how a 12-inch fish has affected human activity there for hundreds of years. * Philip Marsden, The Spectator *Murray's account of the herring industry has almost as many facets as his slippery subjects have scales ... and offers fillets of history, culture and zoology, with an emphasis on the eclectic. * The Economist *Herring Tales is the story of close-knit communities based around a particular kind of fishing, a world that is both present and, alas, fading. I strongly recommend this eloquent and finely detailed book. -- Jay PariniMurray is one of my favourite authors in any genre, and this quirky book on how the "silver darlings" shaped human taste and history doesn't disappoint. * Guardian *Murray mixes folklore, personal reminiscence, cookery... and intertwines herring culture with political history. -- Brian Morton * Times Literary Supplement *After reading author, poet and Gaelic playwright Donald S Murray's quirky book you may never look at the humble herring in quite the same way! * Countryside *It provides interesting facts and observations about the fish and fishing industry, it's historical and economic impact, some amusing anecdotes, and even a couple of Woody Allen jokes. * Countryside *Who knew fermented fish could be so much fun? -- Anna Burnside * Daily Record *The herring is an unsung hero in the tale of the land and the sea. Its trade brought prosperity, but herring fishing brought misery and loss too. In his lyrical voice Donald Murray sings this tale so we can fathom its depths. And, as is always the case with good poetry, all of it is true. -- Huib Stam, author of Herring: A Love StorySearch as you might, you may be reasonably assured that no other subject of the Emperor Herring will publish a better book about the reign of the silver darlings. ‘Herring Tales’ is a glorious piece of non-fiction … a fast, lively, funny and altogether irresistible book. ‘Herring Tales’ is a tour de force. It may not bring the shoals back, but it will immortalise their memory. * West Highland Free Press *Donald weaves a herring tapestry as beautiful and as intricate as a piece of Harris Tweed. * The New Shetlander *Coated in oatmeal and fried, kippered or pickled or eaten raw, the herring is the best of fish, and Donald Murray’s social, economic and cultural history of the herring fisheries of northern Europe is worthy of it, rich in observation, reflection and anecdote. It’s an entrancing work in which learning is worn lightly and an all but vanished way of life is brought vividly before us. There’s the taste of the sea in the herring and in this book. -- Allan MassieA rare and precious book which is both erudite and humane. Herring Tales takes a humble, overlooked phenomenon and shows how all of life is interwoven with it. Totally life-affirming and inspirational. -- Ewan MorrisonA fascinating, vividly written account of the role of the herring in the history, culture, folklore, festivities as well as cuisine of life all over the North Sea. The canvas is wide, and the author looks at Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Holland, with an unexpected glance at Italy thrown in. An informative work and an enthralling read. Donald Murray shows that there is more to the herring than an accompaniment to a plate of chips on a Saturday night after an evening at the pub. -- Joseph FarrellIt is a fascinating read – written with wit and a deep rooted understanding of the subject. * fallonsangler.net *This delightful book celebrates the strong cultural bond between herring and human. * Daily Mail *Table of ContentsMap of The Major Herring Ports of Northern Europe Chapter 1: 'Them Belly Full' Chapter 2: 'When the Seagulls Follow the Travellers' Chapter 3: 'Return to Sender' Chapter 4: 'There's a Ghost in My House' Chapter 5: 'Get Off of My Cloud' Chapter 6: 'Starman' Chapter 7: 'Celebration of the Lizard' Chapter 8: 'Seven Seas of Rhye' Chapter 9: 'Blowing' in the Wind' Chapter 10: 'Dweller on the Threshold' Chapter 11: 'Spirit in the Sky' Chapter 12: 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?' Bibliography 'Reasons to be Cheerful' Index Photographic Credits Plates

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Book SynopsisUPGRADE YOUR SMALL TALK GUIDED BY WORLD-LEADING WEATHER EXPERTS!From Foggy and Freezing to Scorching and Stormy, join the ultimate weather adventure through the great British seasons and uncover the extraordinary in every single day*.Are YOU the ultimate weather watcher?Do you know your drizzle from your mizzle?Ever wondered what rainbows are really made of?And could you pinpoint where lightning has struck twice?Pore over beautiful cloudscapes, learn the secrets of sunsets, discover freak weather and fogbows, and why forecasting was so important in British history, from D-Day to the Great Fire of London.Perfect for rainy days in or cloudspotting on the go, the Met Office share the best of almost 170 years of forecasting for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book. Packed with mythbusting, top trivia, stunning visuals and archive gems, shooting the breeze has never been so interesting!*Even when it is tipping it down.

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Book SynopsisRORY CELLAN-JONES was the BBC's principal technology correspondent until 2021. He now writes an influential Substack column on medical innovation, tech and his beloved Romanian rescue dog, Sophie. Through this and his Twitter following @ruskin147 he spreads awareness of technological developments in the fields of medicine, health care and more specifically Parkinson's. Together with Jeremy Paxman and several others he has begun a new podcast on Parkinson's called Movers and Shakers. He also shares the progress of #SophiefromRomania on @ruskin147.

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring and life-affirming story of a difficult childhood transformed into happy adulthood through the power of nature and gardensBeloved author Marc Hamer writes about finding refuge in his tiny back garden in this highly original story of childhood, old age, and the restorative power of gardens. As a child, he kindled a deep love of the earth by watching plants and insects and exploring the world through a stack of old encyclopaedias he found in the shed. Now an old man, he creates a garden for himself in the neglected plot behind his house.A little book with a big heart: the insights glow as vivid as a flowerbed. If you want to be inspired, or you've lost your belief in the goodness of this world, this could be for you.'A sublime meditation on life, love, nature and family, woven with the wisdom gained through a life well lived' Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell'Patterned with Hamer's gifts for observation, compression, and tone' New Yorker'Rich and tender' New York Times'A book of great but tender power' Charles Foster, author of Being a BeastTrade ReviewA memoir infused with wisdom and a deep love of nature, as well as a how-to book for finding peace of mind * Saga *Hamer's prose proceeds by association and by charismatic detail... but it also has a strong sense of arc, of change...He has an inclination to celebrate and express love-an inclination that seems built out of the humus of a difficult childhood...he is not an Adam cast out of the garden but "a boy cast out of hell," and into a series of gardens. * New Yorker *An illuminating, powerful read * Woman's Own *Marc Hamer knows how to live - simply, sparely, reverently, abundantly. Spring Rain is a tonic for the soul. * Sy Montgomery, author of How to Be A Good Creature *Interwoven with the writer's deep-seated love of the natural world... I highlighted many passages while reading this book * Countryman *A breathtaking narrative that transcends genre and geography. * Shelf Awareness * *Hamer explains why a garden is not just a place of work - it's also a place of worship. -- Margaret Roach * New York Times *Mr. Hamer has found his ideal calling in this book stitched together from small essays, a genre in which such capricious mutability of opinion is not only tolerated but encouraged. Through his words, we connect with the ultimate text, the landscape itself. * Wall Street Journal *Hamer's signature prose, rich with precise, detailed observations that evoke the luminous wonder that informs and illuminates all being, is on full display * Vancouver Sun *A book of great but tender power; acute, wise and intimately observed, speaking with the unmistakable voice of the land itself - which is equally unmistakably Hamer's own. And what a voice that is! -- Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild'A sublime meditation on life, love, nature and family, woven with the wisdom of age gained through a life well lived' * Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell *Hamer has a canny way of divining the sacred in the quotidian * Booklist *No facet of nature, however subtle, eludes Marc Hamer - and I relish being invited along on each intimate adventure * Margaret Roach, author of A Way to Garden *A wonderful book about our relationship with the earth, with other animals and with our own troubled humanity. It has taught me a lot. I feel great love for it -- Max Porter, on How to Catch a Mole: A Life in NatureA wholly original, semi-autobiographical book on how to live, how to be calm and content with only a little, in a quietly humming garden * Daily Mail, on Seed to Dust *From a hardscrabble childhood and vagrancy to the life-enhancing rewards of nurturing both 12 acres and an unusual friendship... Hamer meditations take similar forms, starting down to earth, if not actually in it, and ending taking off for the skies one way or another. His prose mimics this, beginning earthy and becoming airy. -- Tim Dee * Guardian, on Seed to Dust *A fascinating, lyrical account of the loneliness and beauty of life on the margins * Times Literary Supplement, on How to Catch a Mole: A Life in Nature *A beguiling and poetic memoir - illustrated with Hamer's line drawings - he encourages us to tune into the consoling rhythms of nature * Bookseller *Hamer lets us in; we learn what his tools feel like in hands hardened by decades of manual labour... But it is also an unlikely love story * Telegraph, on Seed to Dust *Patterned with Hamer's gifts for observation, compression, and tone. . . I tend to think of a garden story as inevitably circular: every winter is followed by a spring, again and again. Hamer's garden story has that element, but it is as neighborly with the mortal arrow as it is with the return -- Rivka Galchen * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisHow can an animal even be this d*mn cute?This adorable gift book is the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life. Packed with sweary captions and fun f*cking facts, this laugh out loud package will help you get out all that so-cute-I-can't-handle-it aggression! Get ready to tell adorable hedgehogs to take a f*cking hike and snoozing sloths to stop that cute sh*t already!

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Book SynopsisBirds with Personalityis a fun gift book that takes you around the world through the eyes of some of the most charismatic bird species on the planet. Across Earth's diverse ecosystems from the deserts of Mexico to the rainforest-blanketed mountains of Papua New Guinea birds have found remarkable ways to survive against vast odds. Featuring author Georgia Angus'' stunning, lifelike illustrations, this book will introduce you to 50 such species, with information on each bird''ssize, diet, migration patterns, behaviors and conservation concerns, plus distribution maps. The featured birds vary from the tiny zunzuncito hummingbird, who weighs only two grams, to the enormous wandering albatross, who can circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times in a single year. From dancing birds of paradise, to fish-beguiling herons, fiery Adelie penguins and fruit-loving Dracula parrots, this book will whisk you away to visit distant lands where you can observe the most iconic birds in the world, and appreciate them for their beauty and brilliance.

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Book SynopsisFor 150 million years, dinosaurs were the undisputed rulers of the Earth. Today, these great lizards still fire our imaginations. Dinosaurs profiles the creatures who lived during the great Age of Reptiles, the real-life giants and monsters such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus who once dominated our planet. Also featured are many of the prehistoric world's other most fearsome and awe-inspiring creatures, from huge birds of prey to ferocious sabre-toothed cats. The entries are grouped chronologically, with examples drawn mainly from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Each dinosaur or other prehistoric creature is illustrated with a stunning, full-colour artwork. For easy reference, each entry also includes a table of information containing key data such as size, weight, diet, meaning of name, armour, hunting techniques and distribution of fossil remains. Engaging accessible text provides an introduction to each dinosaur's behaviour, habits and other key information. Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Pre Dinosaurs 14 Triassic 37 Jurassic 70 Cretaceous 134 Tertiary 281 Quaternary 305 Glossary 312 Index 314

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Book SynopsisMy name is Steve Mann and I'm an expert dog trainer with over 30 years of experience. In this book, I will teach you how to raise your Cockapoo to be healthy and happy. All breeds are different, and it is vital that you grow to learn your Cockapoo's specific needs and characteristics. Whether you are the proud owner of a brand-new puppy, a 10-year-old adult dog or a rescue Cockapoo of any age, my easy peasy principles will help you nurture your bond with your Cockapoo and teach them a range of activities in no time.You will learn about: · Your breed history· The key principles of dog training: Recall, Loose Lead Walking, Sit· Why your Cockapoo... chases, digs, jumps up, chews· How to keep your Cockapoo happy home alone· Grooming: teeth, nails, bathing· Nutrition and so much more!Armed with this knowledge about Cockapoos, plus my simple and highly effective lessons and training techniques, you and your dog will have the most cheerful, exciting and fulfilling relationship. So, let's get started!

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Book SynopsisThis title offers a guide to the world of arthropods, covering many insect orders, including beetles, flies, stick insects, dragonflies, ants and wasps, as well as microscopic creatures. It provides a fascinating overview of insects and spiders, including their habitats and classification, all shown in over 195 beautiful photographs and illustrations. All aspects of insect life are covered, such as the way insects defend themselves and how they are able to jump, leap and fly. It describes cryptic coloration, and the way insects can use camouflage to blend into their background and escape attack from predators. It offers various methods of feeding are discussed, from biting and chewing to lapping, sucking, piercing and filter feeding, according to their different mouthparts. It outlines their useful role in pollination of crops, production of honey, and removing insect pests. In the arthropoda phylum, insects are one of the most successful species, and spiders are one of the largest groups. This book studies how they organize their lives. The first section provides information of every aspect of insect life: evolution, anatomy, life cycles, flight and social organization. The last section describes the 30 orders within the class Insecta, demonstrating the huge variety of insects, from microscopic creatures to giant stick insects and large beetles. Typical features of insects in each order are highlighted. With expert text, illustrations and clear photographs, this guide will be enjoyed by all who take an interest in natural history.

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Book SynopsisThis is an invaluable guide to every aspect of horsemanship, from the diverse and specialist equipment for both horse and rider to learning to ride and competing in riding competitions. The first section of the book is a directory-style approach to the full range of horse equipment. Saddles, bridles and bits; training aids and gadgets; clothing and protective equipment are all discussed in detail. The second section is a step-by-step presentation of riding techniques, and the final section covers the world of horse riding competitions. This section examines the wellknown sports of show-jumping, polo and dressage, as well as the more obscure competitions, such as endurance riding, vaulting and driving.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Northern Lights to whirling coastal birds, and sunken villages to the annual deer rut, the UK is home to some of the world's finest natural spectacles. With this guide and a little luck, you too can experience the magic of seeing something truly extraordinary. Start planning your spectacular year with the help of this practical guide to the UK’s most magical natural phenomena. This guide shows you when and where to go, and how to maximise your chances of a sighting, as well as explaining why these amazing spectacles occur in the first place. Sections cover: - Space: meteor showers, eclipses and supermoons, Northern Lights - Weather: hidden currents, mountain waves, named winds - Tides: tidal bores, tidal races, low tide walks - Land: autumn colours, wildflower displays, rutting deer - Rivers and lakes: salmon runs, sunken villages, waterfall wonders - Coast: wheeling waterbirds, seabird cities, seal pups Each spectacle is graded according to how easy it is to spot, and the author gives expert tips on achieving the best sighting. Scientific insights describe the astronomical, meteorological and ecological causes of events, which are brought to life through the stories of the people who know them best, from the glider pilots who ride mountain waves to the King’s Guides who help people navigate the dangerous sands of Morecombe Bay. This is your starting point for some truly phenomenal adventures.Table of ContentsIntroduction Space 1 Meteor showers 2 Eclipses and supermoons 3 Northern Lights Weather 4 Hidden currents 5 Mountain waves 6 Named winds Tides 7 Tidal bores 8 Tidal races 9 Low tide walks Land 10 Autumn colours 11 Wildflower displays 12 Rutting deer Rivers and lakes 13 Salmon runs 14 Sunken villages 15 Waterfall wonders Coast 16 Whirling waterbirds 17 Seabird cities 18 Seal pups Spectacle sighting record Index Further reading Acknowledgements Credits

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Book SynopsisPoems to celebrate spring. A sublime bedside companion to enjoy as the frost melts and days grow longer, with poems to immerse yourself in the season. From William Blake and Emily Dickinson to Robert Browning and Eleanor Farjeon, some of the finest poets that ever put pen to paper describe this wondrous season of new beginnings. With one entry for every day through spring, from 1st March until 31st May, this collection of 91 poems will invigorate you in the warmer and wetter months of Spring, from Robert Herrick’s first drops of March dew and the breaking blossoms of Laurence Binyon’s April day to William Blake’s meadow-sweet May and Emily Dickinson’s promise of light to come. This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popular A Poem for Every Night of the Year and features poems inspired by springtime by Laurence Binyon, Margaret Cavendish, Amy Lowell, William Wordsworth and many more.

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Book SynopsisSucculents, especially cacti, are the current focus of serious ecological studies but also the darlings of designers and style influencers. Their endearing, characterful looks have given them the status of trendy ‘plant pets’. But succulentomania is not new. While these plants have always been part of the landscape in the dry vastnesses of the Americas, Australia and Africa, curiosities such as furry-flowered stapeliads and euphorbias like snakes were a source of fascination for early European plant collectors – and in eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary grew an ‘American aloe’ that astounded all who saw it. This apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann, was the mastermind behind a groundbreaking book in which he aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The succulents he featured are reproduced here in all their splendour. We may no longer look to them to treat gangrene, manufacture glass or disperse kidney stones, but succulents are proving of great interest to modern medicine and agriculture, and we can marvel at them afresh not only as wonders of nature but also as works of art.Trade ReviewThere are many interesting facts relating to the plants in the illustrations and the book is an easy and entertaining read.Table of ContentsThe dry life 1 Succulents & cacti 41 About the illustrations 110 Where to see succulents & cacti 125 Further reading 130 Picture credits 133

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Book SynopsisAVAILABLE NOW -THE RSPB GARDEN BIRDWATCHER'S PUZZLE BOOKA jam-packed puzzle and trivia book about the birds in Britain, in collaboration with the RSPB.Can you tell your rook from your crow? Do you know the collective noun for a group of goldfinches? Or where a willow warbler goes when it migrates?A must-buy for any bird enthusiast or bird-watching novice, this puzzle book is filled with questions, word games and brainteasers that will test your ornithological knowledge and reveal a treasure trove of incredible facts about our feathered friends - covering topics such as garden birds, coastal and country birds, behaviour, biology, culture, rare birds and bird migration.Featuring over 150 puzzles, from quiz questions to illustrations of birds to test your identification knowledge, wordsearches and crosswords, as well as maps to explore flight patterns, the RSPB Great British Birdwatcher's Puzzle Book will put your friends and family through their paces, and on the path to becoming an ornithological expert.

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Book SynopsisThis fully revised and updated identification guide to 280 bird species, including all resident and regular migratory species, occurring in Singapore is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High quality photographs from Singapore's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include common and scientific plus Chinese and Malay names, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introductioncovers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Singapore encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, and IUCN status as at 2017.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2022 for Nature Writing - Highly Commended Winner for the Richard Jefferies Award 2021 for Best Nature Writing 'A rural, working-class writer in an all too rarefied field, Chester’s work is unusual for depicting the countryside as it is lived on the economic margins.' The Guardian 'An important portrait of connection to the land beyond ownership or possession.' Raynor Winn ‘It’s ever so good. Political, passionate and personal.’ Robert Macfarlane ‘Evocative and inspiring…environmental protest, family, motherhood and…nature.’ Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground, Costa Novel Award Winner 2021 Nature is everything. It is the place I come from and the place I got to. It is family. Wherever I am, it is home and away, an escape, a bolt hole, a reason, a place to fight for, a consolation, and a way home. As a child growing up in rural England, Guardian Country Diarist Nicola Chester was inexorably drawn to the natural landscape surrounding her. Walking, listening and breathing in the nature around her, she followed the call of the cuckoo, the song of the nightingale and watched as red kites, fieldfares and skylarks soared through the endless skies over the chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs: the ancient land of Greenham Common which she called home. Nicola bears witness to, and fights against, the stark political and environmental changes imposed on the land she loves, whilst raising her family to appreciate nature and to feel like they belong – core parts of who Nicola is. From protesting the loss of ancient trees to the rewilding of Greenham Common, to the gibbet on Gallows Down and living in the shadow of Highclere Castle (made famous in Downton Abbey), On Gallows Down shows how one woman made sense of her world – and found her place in it.Trade Review‘I couldn’t put it down! A must read!’—Dara McAnulty, author of Diary of a Young Naturalist 'From treetop protests at the Newbury Bypass to the grand Highclere Estate, On Gallows Down is that rare thing: nature writing as political as it is personal.'—Melissa Harrison, author of The Stubborn Light of Things: A Nature Diary'A powerful personal and political journey through place that charts the profound influence we have on nature, and that nature has on us.'—Rob Cowen, author of Common Ground and The Heeding'An evocative and inspiring memoir which touches on environmental protest, family, motherhood and most importantly, nature. Her passion for the natural world and especially birds, shines through in this wonderful book.'—Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground'Nicola Chester deserves many readers. On Gallows Down is an impassioned study of a contested landscape, which interrogates our attitudes towards land stewardship, ownership and living in the right relationship with both human and other-than-human neighbours. Charged with love and fire, On Gallows Down is a beautiful exploration of a much-mapped, multi-faceted landscape.'—Katharine Norbury, author of The Fish Ladder'Chester’s writing has a lovely elasticity, dancing between wonder, introspection and anger as she moves from the particular to the universal…She belongs to the disappearing English, rural working class, and is intent on handing this baton to her three children, who play a part in the book. Chester also explores the familiar tension between wanting to write and being needed at home. The heady ecstasy of time carved out alone, in nature. The scrabble to earn a precarious living, and the insecurities of occupying a tied cottage. The idea of ‘home’ lies at the heart of this fierce, beautifully written, immersive book about one’s place within the landscape.'—Tessa Boase, author of Etta Lemon: The Woman Who Saved the Birds'Nicola’s passionate and enduring love of nature shines through every single word, paragraph and page of this book, as she seamlessly weaves memoir with stories of the landscape in which she is so deeply rooted that it seems to speak through her. Powerful, enlightening, dazzling, hopeful, On Gallows Down is a rare and precious gem – to be savoured, not rushed, and returned to again and again. My words cannot do this book justice – it simply needs to be read.'—Brigit Strawbridge Howard, author of the Wainwright-shortlisted Dancing with Bees

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFor better adventures, use the best map. Mallorca Super-Durable Map and Bird Watching Guide combines the latest island map with a full colour Bird Watching Guide. Navigate to your destination then turn over your map to identify the birds you see there.Mallorca Super-Durable Map is a large (125k) scale topographical map of the island detailing all the major, secondary and minor tarmacked roads plus walking trails suitable for bird watching. Printed on a 840mm by 640mm Super-Durable map sheet which folds to a pocketable 220mm by 120mm using a specialist 'concertina map' fold which ensures easy opening, and more importantly easy refolding. Super-Durable Maps come with a 2 year adventurous use wear and tear guarantee, see Discovery Walking Guides website for details. Altitude background colouring clearly shows the altitude range when travelling around the island. 100 metre contours compliment the altitude colouring along with a large number of individual height points. Our useful symbol range includes miradors, picnic areas, petrol stations, bar/restaurants and parking areas where you can pull off the road safely; plus all of Mallorca's golf courses.All of the suggested Bird Watching Sites are clearly highlighted along with the top beaches from Tripadvisor. Mallorca Bird Watching Guide is on the reverse of the map sheet detailing 51 bird species complete with full colour picture, ID Guide, characteristics and location, for all of the species featured. Suggested Bird Watching Sites are detailed and these are highlighted on the map sheet. Simply use the map to arrive at your bird watching site of choice, then turn the map over to start identifying the birds you see at that location. Mallorca Bird Watching Records Sheets are available as a free pdf download from the Discovery Walking Guides website along with gps waypoint files for all of the Suggested Bird Watching Sites in a range of file formats including Points of Interest (POIs) for SatNav users. In use maps have a very tough life so you will appreciate our specialist concertina map fold that allows you to quickly open the map, and more importantly fold it back up to its pocket size after use.Our Super-Durable Maps are printed with 100% oxygenation inks on Polyart by the UK's leading map printer, which produces a map that feels like silk but will stand up to the roughest treatment of outdoor adventuring and yet fold up like new at the end of your adventure.Polyart is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and is therefore 100% recyclable in category 2 HDPE. For more information see the Polyart website. A digital Custom Map edition of Mallorca Super-Durable Map is available as a free download from the Discovery Walking Guides website. This is a medium resolution (200dpi) kmz file of the printed map for use on Garmin gps units and in Garmin Basecamp and Google Earth software.

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Book Synopsis

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