Natural History Books

Book SynopsisThe irresistible story of Japanese cherry blossoms, threatened by political ideology and saved by an unknown Englishman'This is not just a tale of trees, but of . . . endeavour, war and reconciliation' Sunday TimesCollingwood Ingram, born in 1880, became known as 'Cherry' for his defining obsession. As a young man, he travelled to Japan and learned of the astonishing displays of cherry blossoms, or sakura.On a return visit in 1926, Ingram witnessed frightening changes to the country's cherry population. A cloned variety was sweeping the landscape and being used as a symbol for Japan's expansionist ambitions. Determined to protect the diversity of the trees, Ingram began sending the rare varieties from his own garden in England back to Japan with the help of a network of 'cherry guardians'.This is an eloquent portrait of an extraordinary man whose legacy we enjoy every spring, and his unsung place in botanic history.'Engrossing . . . A portrait of great charm and sophistication' Christopher Harding, GuardianWinner of the 2020 Award for Excellence from The Council on Botanical and Horticultural LibrariesTrade ReviewThis is not just a tale of trees, but of the symbolism of the cherry tree to Japan: of endeavour, war and reconciliation * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *Sympathetic and engrossing... a portrait of great charm and sophistication, rich in its natural and historical range, guaranteeing that you won’t look at cherry blossoms the same way again -- Dr Christopher Harding * Guardian *A remarkable book…excellent...fascinating, a treat for gardeners, cherry-growers and historians -- Robin Lane Fox * Financial Times *[A] deeply moving book -- beautifully written, and a huge achievement in terms of research -- Claire Kohda Hazelton * The Spectator *Set against the narrative arc of Japanese history, journalist Naoko Abe's account of the man behind the preservation of her country's national symbol is both sympathetic and compelling... On reading this book, beautifully illustrated with atmospheric period shots and colour plates, you may well determine, as I have, to visit Japan at cherry blossom time -- Vanessa Berridge * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisLen Howard (1894-1973) was a British naturalist and musician best known for her studies of birds, published as Birds as Individuals (1952) and Living with Birds (1956).In her early life, Howard pursued a career in music in London, giving music lessons, organising concerts for the children of the poor and playing the viola professionally in an orchestra under Malcolm Sargent. In 1938, she purchased a plot of land outside the village of Ditchling, Sussex, and built the house she called Bird Cottage. There she developed an intimate and unusual relationship with the wild birds in the area, providing food (including her own war rations), chasing away predators, tending to damaged nests, and allowing the birds to fly and roost throughout her home. Her musical training gave her a unique insight into the diverse character of birdsong. Howard died at Bird Cottage in 1973.

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Book SynopsisIn Advanced Retriever Training, experienced trainer, competitor and judge, Laura Hill, takes a holistic approach to training and living with working retriever breeds. Whether your aim is to reach competition level or simply to troubleshoot your training practices, this book is the ideal follow-on to the basic commands and handling skills already established. Insightful and in-depth coverage includes reanalysing the basic pillars of breeding, feeding and training; examining your own behaviour and the effect it has on your dog and identifying your dog's psychological needs and tailoring your training accordingly. Key approaches to successful retriever work with positive, reward-based methods are covered along with training planning and management. An advanced approach to training essentials, including heelwork, marking, blind retrieves and navigating barriers are discussed as well as establishing and maintaining an enjoyable partnership with your dog. This book will improve your handling as well as your overall approach to living and working with retrievers.Trade ReviewAs the title suggests, this book is not for beginners; it is written and aimed at people with a good working knowledge of 'the basics' of gundog training. Laura Hill goes a lot further into detail than I have come across with other gundog training books. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to enhance their retriever training. -- Victoria Chesters * The BASC Magazine Shooting & Conservation *Gundog Journal training expert, Laura, could hardly be better qualified to have written her first book. She is the founder and owner of Staunton Vale Gundogs as well as being a regular member of the England Gundog Team. Whether your aim is to reach competition level or simply to troubleshoot your training sessions, this book is the ideal follow-on to the basic commands and handling skills already established. * Gundog Journal *If Laura Hill has missed anything out of this impressive new book - we'd love to know what it is. The book is well written, easy to reference and bursting with images of the author practising what she preaches. -- Mike Barnes * Shooting Gazette *

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Book SynopsisA charm of goldfinches, an ascension of larks, a school of dolphins, a cloud of bats, a murder of crows. All these and more are portrayed in this enchanting new book by much loved artist Matt Sewell, playing on the theme of collective nouns for animals. Illustrated with Matt’s inimitable watercolours, and imbued with a love of his subjects that will resonate with people everywhere and of all ages, this book is a great gift for nature and art lovers. Accompanying each illustration is a playful, quirky description of each groups' personality that readers cannot help but smile at. Sewell's unique witty take on the subject, and delicately vivid illustrations make for a lovely addition to his collection of pocketable books.

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Book SynopsisJoin Andrew Cotter and his superstar Labradors, Olive and Mabel, as he takes a clear-eyed, often hilarious walk through the ups and downs of a year that encompasses all of life from the crushingly mundane to the weird and wonderful.Followed everywhere by whispers of 'Is that really Olive and Mabel?' - not to mention the occasional Hollywood approach - the three of them pad around literary festivals, breakfast TV, live radio and even an appearance on Good Morning America. Slightly bemused by their fame, Andrew not only pitches up in the iconic Mastermind chair, but makes a return to sports broadcasting to find that it has become rather strange as well.But, always, his pair of utterly endearing, endlessly optimistic and eternally hungry canine companions show justhow precious our time is. Especially our time spent in the devoted company of dogs. For fans new and old, this witty, insightful account of a year like no other is an unmissable treat.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of the Tree is a celebration of trees in art featuring works by some of the world's leading artists, photographers and illustrators."The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way." William BlakeFrom stately old oaks to beautiful forests and woods, trees have provided a source of inspiration for artists throughout history.This charming gift book presents a selection of some of the most beautiful artworks inspired by trees. Interspersed throughout the illustrations are short texts about the artists and their interest in particular trees, from Egon Shiele's delicate watercolours of chestnut trees, to Rousseau's exotic forests, Claire Cansick's vivid woodlands and Hockney's tree-lined groves.The Book of the Tree presents a wonderful collection of arboreal art that revels in the enduring beauty of our trees, woodlands and forests. It is the perfect gift for art-lovers, tree-lovers and nature-lovers.More books in the series:The Book of the Flower by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781786272454)The Book of the Bird by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781780677507)The Book of the Dog by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781780676562)The Book of the Cat by Angus Hyland and Caroline Roberts (9781786270719)The Book of the Horse by Angus Hyland and Caroline Roberts (9781786272928)

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Book SynopsisFor every cat that hisses and stares at you, there is a happy cat somewhere in the world that would love to receive your attention. A celebration of joyful and jubilant felines, this book is especially crafted for all the cat lovers out there who are desperate to have a puss that loves them back.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING - HIGHLY COMMENDED'Remarkable' Robert Macfarlane'Beautiful' Amy Liptrot'Powerful, unflinching . . . Part hymn to nature, part Troubles memoir' GuardianKerri ní Dochartaigh was born in Derry at the very height of the Troubles. One parent was Catholic, the other Protestant. In the space of a year Kerri's family were forced out of two homes and when she was eleven a homemade petrol bomb was thrown through her bedroom window. For families like hers, terror was in the very fabric of the city.In Thin Places, Kerri explores how nature kept her sane and helped her heal, and how we are again allowing our borders to become hard and terror to creep back in. Kerri asks us to reclaim and rejoice in our landscape, and to remember that the land we fight over is much more than lines on a map.Trade ReviewA remarkable piece of writing. I don't think I've ever read a book as open-hearted as this. It resists easy pieties of nature as a healing force, but nevertheless charts a recovery which could never have been achieved without landscape, wild creatures and "thin places". It is also flocked with luminous details (moths, birds, feathers, skulls, moving water). Kerri's voice is utterly her own, rich and strange. I've folded down the corners of many pages, marking sentences and moments that glitter out at me. Wow -- ROBERT MACFARLANEDochartaigh takes great solace in nature, and much of the book is a meditation on the beautiful landscapes and flora and fauna that surround her . . . Passionate, moving and beautifully written, this is a remarkable account of trauma and ways to acknowledge and overcome it * * Sunday Times * *What was Kerri ní Dochartaigh's burden as a child - to exist in "the gaps between" the Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland - has become her gift as a writer. She is sensitive to the legacies of loss and trauma and highly attuned to the gifts of the natural world and the possibilities of place. This is a special, beautiful, many-faceted book -- AMY LIPTROTPowerful, unflinching . . . Part hymn to nature, part Troubles memoir . . . Vividly descriptive . . . Thin Places is at heart a survivor's story located in the real and brutally Darwinian world of lived experience * * Guardian, Book of the Day * *Fabulous . . . Piercingly honest, movingly heartfelt. There is so much soul and knowledge and compassion, it gave me shivers -- ELIF SHAFAK * * Guardian, Best Books of the Year * *An eloquent, moving work of politics, geography and the self. Full of wisdom and deeply engaging -- SINÉAD GLEESONThe power of place to heal trauma makes for a beautiful read . . . It contains moments of great beauty . . . It is heady, bright and difficult to pin down. It is also redemptive. The Irish word for hope, we are told, is dòchas or dòigh, which holds, within its roots, glimmers of dóighiúil, the word for giving. Ní Dochartaigh takes that hope and gives it to us all * * Big Issue * *A beautiful and harrowing book about trauma, the potential to heal and the subtle magic of the wild. Kerri ní Dochartaigh offers us a fragile kind of redemption, full of truth and solace -- KATHERINE MAYNí Dochartaigh's delight in wild things weaves a thread of light through her childhood, adulthood and the book itself . . . Acutely personal . . . Wonderfully evocative . . . This heartfelt memoir, with its message on the saving grace of nature, may speak to an even wider audience than it first imagined * * Daily Mail * *A powerful, bracing memoir that asks what happens when a child grows up in a city that isn't safe . . . This is a book that will make you see the world differently * * Irish Times * *

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Book SynopsisA passionate and informative celebration of trees and of man's ingenuity in exploiting their resources: the perfect gift for anyone who cares about the natural world. Trees are marvels of nature, still-standing giants of extraordinary longevity. In a beautifully written sequence of essays, anecdotes and profiles of Britain's best-loved species (from yew to scots pine), Max Adams explores both the amazing biology of trees and humanity's relationship with wood and forest across the centuries. Embellished with images from John Evelyn's classic Sylva (1664), The Wisdom of Trees a gift book that will delight anyone who cares about the natural world and our interaction with it.Trade ReviewFascinating... Tells us much about the astounding natural engineering of trees' * Independent *Adam's enthusiasm is beguiling... his appreciation of the utility of trees is a pointer to a better world' * The Times *His book is about the remarkable ways in which evolution has enabled trees to survive and flourish... A rich miscellany' * TLS *

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Book Synopsis'This wonderful book is essential reading for all children with furry best friends, written in a way that is very easy to follow and great fun!' - Kate SilvertonMy name is Steve Mann and I have THE COOLEST JOB IN THE WORLD! As a dog trainer, I get to work with our fantastic furry friends every single day. Now, I want to teach YOU how you can become an AWESOME PAWSOME dog trainer too!As well as all the essential skills such as Sit, Down and walking nicely on a lead, you'll also get to learn...- How to teach your dog to MAKE THEIR OWN BED! - How your dog's nose will help you find HIDDEN TREASURE! - Why DOGS ARE THE BEST!This book is filled with easy, fun and super-cool exercises for you and your dog to do together. You'll soon be qualified as an AWESOME PAWSOME dog trainer and, best of all, you and your dog will become the BEST TEAM-MATES ... while always HAVING FUN!The must-have book for any family with a dog and kids living under the same woof - ahem - roof! Trade ReviewSo easy to follow and it really works! -- Lorraine KellyDog Training Genius! -- Emilia ClarkeOwning a dog is not easy, but training doesn't have to be hard. Steve offers lots of useful solutions that keeps training fun. * Dogs Today *

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Book SynopsisHow and why birds navigate the skies, travelling from continent to continent flying thousands of miles across the earth each autumn and spring has continually fascinated the human imagination, but only recently have we been able to fully understand these amazing journeys.How did this revolution come about? Flight Paths is the never-before-told story of how an eccentric group of ornithologists, engineers and other pioneering scientists have harnessed nearly every technological development of the last hundred years to understand bird migration in detail - from where and when they take off, their flight paths and behaviours, their destinations and the challenges they face getting there.In this fascinating and compelling story Rebecca Heisman uncovers the secret history of an ornithological arms race that not only helped solve the mystery of bird migration using radar, radioactive isotopes, satellites and the humble aluminium band but has also given us much need

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Book SynopsisFrom your window you can see the stars and distant planets: light years away, it's easy to think that our existences and theirs will never intersect. Yet meteorites - mysterious, irregular rocks of sometimes immense value - connect us with the vastness of the universe. They may have brought the first life to our planet, and today they still reveal extraordinary scientific insights.Helen Gordon reveals the fascinating stories of fallen meteorites and the lives they've touched - from collectors to kings, scientists to farmers. She meets amateur astronomers and gem dealers, goes meteorite hunting across rooftops and learns what objects moving through space can tell us about the fragility of life on Earth.

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring, aspirational and practical guide to building fires both indoors and out. 'A cracking book' Sainsbury's Magazine 'Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud' Sunday Times 'A brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations' Yorkshire Post 'Celebrates the heart-warming properties of the hearth' Simple Things Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood – what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out. But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.Trade ReviewA brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations... Promises to put you back in touch with your ancient fire-making instincts * Yorkshire Post *Coulthard [celebrates] the heart-warming properties of the hearth in this engaging little book * Simple Things *Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud * Sunday Times *A cracking book * Sainsbury's Magazine *A resourceful and informative joy to read * The Lifestyle Editor *A nice gift for someone with a practical mind * The Bookseller *

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'Often poetic ... highly-researched and thought-provoking' New Scientist'Gently and thoughtfully enquiring' The SpectatorCan you remember the first time you encountered true darkness? The kind that remains as black and inky whether your eyes are open or closed? Where you can't see your hand in front of your face?Jacqueline Yallop can. It was in an unfamiliar bedroom while holidaying in Yorkshire as a child, and ever since then she has been fascinated by the dark, by our efforts to capture or avoid it, by the meanings we give to it and the way our brains process it. Taking a journey into the dark secrets of place, body and mind, she documents a series of night-time walks, exploring both the physical realities of darkness and the psychological dark that helps shape our sense of self. Exploring our enduring love-hate relationship with states of darkness, she considers how we attempt to understand and contain the dark, and, as she comes to terms with her father's deteriorating Alzheimer's, she reflects on how our relationship with the dark can change with time and circumstance.Darkness captivates, baffles and appals us. It's a shifty thing of many textures and many moods. It can be an absence and a presence, a solace and a threat, a beginning and an end. Into the Dark is the story of the many darks that fascinate and assail us. It faces the darkness in all its guises and mysteries, celebrating it as a thing of beauty while peering into the void.

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Book SynopsisLonely Planet's Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip.Climb Half Dome, gaze at Mono Lake, and ski in Yosemite; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and begin your journey now! Inside the Lonely Planet's Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Travel Guide: User-friendly highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices, emergency information, park seasonality, hiking trail junctions, viewpoints, landscapes, elevations, distances, difficulty levels, and durations Focused on the best hikes, drives, and cycling tours Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, camping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, summer and winter activities, and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Contextual insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, geology, wildlife, and conservation Over 40 full-color trail and park maps and full-color images throughout Useful features- Travel with Children,Clothing and Equipment, andDay and Overnight Hikes Covers Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Badger Pass, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, our most comprehensive guide to these national parks, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer. Looking to visit more North American national parks? Check out USA's National Parks, a new full-color guide that covers all 59 of the USA's national parks. Just looking for inspiration? Check out Lonely Planet's National Parks of America, a beautifully illustrated introduction to each of the USA's 59 national parks. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's USA's National Parks for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer. Looking to visit more North American national parks? Check out USA's National Parks, a new full-color guide that covers all 59 of the USA's national parks. Just looking for inspiration? Check out Lonely Planet's National Parks of America, a beautifully illustrated introduction to each of the USA's 59 national parks. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer. Looking to visit more North American national parks? Check out USA's National Parks, a new full-color guide that covers all 59 of the USA's national parks. Just looking for inspiration? Check out Lonely Planet's National Parks of America, a beautifully illustrated introduction to each of the USA's 59 national parks. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' Fairfax Media (Australia)

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Book SynopsisEver since the first human settlements 10,000 years ago, weeds have dogged our footsteps. They are there as the punishment of 'thorns and thistles' in Genesis and , two millennia later, as a symbol of Flanders Field. They are civilisations' familiars, invading farmland and building-sites, war-zones and flower-beds across the globe. Yet living so intimately with us, they have been a blessing too. Weeds were the first crops, the first medicines. Burdock was the inspiration for Velcro. Cow parsley has become the fashionable adornment of Spring weddings. Weaving together the insights of botanists, gardeners, artists and poets with his own life-long fascination, Richard Mabey examines how we have tried to define them, explain their persistence, and draw moral lessons from them. One persons weed is another's wild beauty.Trade ReviewThe nation's favourite nature writer. * Sunday Telegraph *Mr Mabey is the kind of person you wish you had with you on every country walk, identifying, explaining, deducing, drawing on deep knowledge lightly worn. * Country Life *This book will open your eyes to the significance, wonder and exasperation felt about weeds. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. Mabey offers a diversity and richness of fact, fiction, philosophy and fun -- Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, Kew GardensRichard Mabey's journey through the realm of weeds is witty, learned and original. It says as much about us as these maligned plants, and is a surprising tale. His delightful book will not make weeding any easier but it will make it an intellectual activity and thus a philosophical one. The writing is stunning, the argument undeniable. Some plants and most people have a problem which will never go away. * Ronald Blythe *A fascinating display of personal knowledge of the history of different species and their changing status in the minds of our ancestors. Excellent. * Daily Mail *[Mabey] is the steward of a pastoral tradition in which highly personal responses to landscape are matched by expert environmental concerns; his ideas have become standard with no loss of urgency ... he deepens symbolic value by combining close attention to details with a more sweeping sense of things. In Weeds, Mabey has written a memorable hymn to the marginal. -- Andrew Motion * Guardian *Mabey weaves social history, psychology, literature and art into his clear rendering of plant biology. Explanations of evolution sit alongside explorations of flower symbolism in Shakespeare. * Nature *Told with delight in the "sheer opportunism" of weeds, and their right to do what all living things do - to grow, whenever and wherever possible. A treat. * Financial Times *Enraptured, visionary, witty and erudite ... firmly in the Gilbert White tradition. Why, by the way, can English writers do this better than anybody else? A fascinating read. * Telegraph *A witty, wise insight into the floral world and our capricious relationship with some of its more boisterous inhabitants. * BBC Countryfile *Delightful and casually learned. * Economist *Mabey's amble through the low-level, high-rise world of weeds is rich in lore and usefulness. As in all his work, what comes across is his abiding passion for plants and the sustenance they give both imaginatively and spiritually. Richard Mabey writes about weeds with the confident affection of someone discussing old friends ... this [book] is as much a celebration of the vexed coupling between mankind and plantlife as it is a fine marriage between subject and author. -- Bella Bathurst * Observer/The Guardian *Mabey is the gardener's greatest comforter. -- Stephen Anderton * The Times *A fascinating read. You read this book you will never look at weeds in quite the same way again - Richard has done them a service and us by enabling the reader to join him in this entertaining and insightful book. * www.recklessgardener.com *A newish sort of nature has flourished: desolate, unruly, even rank and unwelcome, but suited to an age of ecological decline and catastrophist visions. Richard Mabey is in several senses the modest eminence behind this almost-movement ... As ever with Mabey there's a poetry to all this creeping ecology. Even the book's glossary of plant names is a verbal joy ... He's a precise and witty writer * Sunday Telegraph *The best book on British wild flowers in a decade ... Read this quietly enthralling book and you will never again look at these most familiar plants in quite the same way. * Independent *Mabey is incapable of writing a tedious sentence and this book strays into as many byways as the seed of rosebay willow herb ... completely riveting ... he's at his best in the most unexpected areas. His strength lies in his ability to view his subject not dispassionately, for he writes with magnificent passion, but in a way that removes us, the true interlopers as the most important characters in the plot. -- Anna Pavord * Gardens Illustrated *Weaves together his unrivalled botanical knowledge with tales from history. * Countryman *Mabey is as well versed in the literature of weeds as in the botany, richly weaving his own observations with the words of others; Shakespeare on nettles, Ruskin on poppies, Thoreau on brambles and Will Self on 'blisterweed'. Mabey uses weeds as a way to explore wider ideas about the natural world and how humans interact with it ... a profound and sympathetic meditation. You'll look at weeds in a whole new way. * Sunday Times *A fascinating and eye-opening book, one that makes you view the world around you afresh. * Big Issue Scotland *A fantastic cultural history of vagabond plants ... fascinating and truly eye-opening. * Big Issue London *Profound stuff * Irish News *A delightful and quietly funny read * Irish Times *He never disappoints - buy this book for the gardener in your life, and convert them to the wonder of weeds * Guardian *As long as humanity has tried to control nature, weeds have been our unwanted companions. In this fascinating, richly detailed book, Richard Mabey gives weeds their full due, chronicling their changing relationship to us from the ancient world to the age of invasive species and genetically modified plans. Weeds are not just a particular collection of plants, Mabey makes clear; they are, instead, a reflection of our own culture - perhaps, our own weediness. -- Carl Zimmer, author of EvolutionWeeds are persistent, ubiquitous, and, to the uninitiated, annoying, but they are also biological marvels that have evolved side by side with human civilization. Richard Mabey's personal, historical, and cultural viewpoint converts weeds into intellectually stunning wild flowers! -- Bill Streever, author of ColdRichard Mabey is Britain's leading natural history writer, and this is his witty and beguiling meditation on weeds and their wily ways. Mabey suggests that weeds and wild flowers, those ruthless "gatecrashers of civilization" are really part of nature's secret immune system, rushing in to repair our damaged planet. Provoking and affectionate, this extraordinary book challenges notions of both culture and agriculture. You will never look at a weed, or flourish a garden fork, in the same way again. -- Richard Holmes, author of The Age of Wonder

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Book SynopsisIreland's wild plants have been part of our culture and folklore from the earliest times, featuring in the Brehon Laws, early Irish poetry and herbal medicine. Plants are described in seasonal order and different aspects are examined: their roles in magical protection, charms and spells, emblems in children's games, Irish place names and folklore. This beautifully illustrated and comprehensive compilation of natural history, mythology and folklore will entertain and enlighten all interested in the wild plants of Ireland.Trade Review'Wonderful book' * Sunday Independent *A delightful book. * The Irish Garden *A beautiful book. * Books Ireland *A delightful, thoroughly-researched book. * Irish Examiner *Exquisitely illustrated. * Sunday Independent *A treasury of ancient and interesting information. * The Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisTakes you along the Sussex coast. Covering from the sands at Camber and sticking as close to the water's edge as possible, this title shows how environmental changes, human interference, events, disasters and the power of the sea have affected the county's coastline, leaving harbours stranded high and dry and villages drowned off shore.

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Book SynopsisJohn Wyatt first encountered the Lake District during a boyhood camping trip to Windermere. He was overwhelmed by the freedom of the landscape and the closeness to nature he felt. It was as if he belonged here, amongst the fells, the crags and the endless horizon. This call to the wild stayed with him, becoming so powerful that one day he did what many only dream of: he left a steady job and his town life to become a forestry worker in a Lakeland wood at Cartmel Fell. This is one of the finest books ever written on the Lake District. Like Thoreau, John Wyatt embraced the simplicity of living alone in a woodland hut, immersing himself in a life made rich by birdsong, foraging for food the smell of woodsmoke, and the extraordinary companionship of Buck, a young roe deer discovered in the woods.

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Book SynopsisA century before Charles Darwin, decades before the French Revolution, Gilbert White began his lifelong habit of measuring and observing the world around his Hampshire home. Daily rainfall levels and temperature shifts were recorded with home-made instruments. Bird song and seasonal migrations were noted. The feeding habits of frogs, bats and mice were jotted into his diaries and nature journals, as were the simple delights he felt hearing a cricket in the meadow or a blackbird in the hedgerows. The extraordinary detail of the natural history he described has given us, two hundred years later, a glimpse into ecosystems untouched by industry and an account of how changes in global climate can affect local weather patterns. Gilbert White is now considered England's first ecologist. The Natural History of Selborne is one the most published books in the English language. Yet the most enduring quality of his writing is the spirit of curiosity that bounds across every page, inspiring us to explore the abundance of life at our doorsteps and around our parishes.

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Book SynopsisThe clear skull markings on the thorax of the large and impressive Death's Head Hawk-moth are truly fascinating, often perceived as a threat or leading to superstitious and mythological beliefs. Here the author, an authority in mimicry, discusses why we are so intrigued by these markings but also explains how other animals may perceive its form and behaviour. This moth has evolved to deceive its main predators, especially birds and bats, and to rob bees of their honey without getting stung, again by deceiving them of its true nature, with acoustic, visual and chemical signals in play. It is able to do this because of the obvious, but usually overlooked, fact that other animals live in a different sensory world to us, i.e. their perceptions are different.Trade ReviewA bizarre but revealing lens through which to view human life, death, our relationship to the natural world and its relationship to us. - Charles Foster, prize-winning author of Being a Beast.Table of ContentsContents Foreword by Simon Barnes Introduction Chapter 1 Threat and superstition Chapter 2 The Sphinx that dines on potatoes and honey Chapter 3 The Art of Collectors Chapter 4 Skulls and art Chapter 5 Monsters Chapter 6 The honeybees' tale Chapter 7 The bat's tale: seeing sounds Chapter 8 The bird's tale Chapter 9 Mirrors to Reality

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed naturalist and birdwatcher Stephen Moss brings us a year in the life of Britain's favourite bird - the robin. In The Robin Moss records a year of observing the robin both close to home and in the field to shed light on the hidden life of this apparently familiar bird. We follow its life cycle from the time it enters the world as an egg, through its time as a nestling and juvenile, to the adult bird; via courtship, song, breeding, feeding, migration - and ultimately, death. At the same time, we trace the robin's relationship with us: how did this bird - one of more than 300 species in its huge and diverse family - find its way so deeply and permanently into our nation's heart and its social and cultural history? It's a story that tells us as much about ourselves as it does about the robin itself. No other bird is quite so ever-present and familiar, so embedded in our culture, as the robin. But how much do we really know about this bird? 'There is no doubt that Moss's book, with its charming cover and quaint illustrations, will make it into many a stocking this year' The TimesTrade ReviewMoss’s prettily illustrated book is full of such curiosities. Gratifyingly, though, it steers clear of becoming a dry deluge of facts, a pitfall of so much ornithological writing… Moss, a nature broadcaster and a lecturer in creative writing, is a good storyteller, seamlessly linking biological fact with the anecdotal… There is no doubt that Moss’s book, with its charming cover and quaint illustrations, will make it into many a stocking this year. Yet, this is far more than a book for Christmas. There is a serious message here. The more we learn about our favourite bird, the more we realise how much we don’t know. This gulf is evidence of how we have become distanced from the natural world… Moss’s charming paean to this bird that lives hard and dies young reminds us that it deserves to be more than a whimsical symbol of festive cheer -- Patrick Galbraith * The Times *Well illustrated… The structure, examining a year in the life of the Robin in the UK, allows Moss plenty of scope to bring in a huge range of historical, literary and scientific references, and the result is a highly readable and enjoyable examination of a species that probably sparks more interest in birds in the UK than any other. -- Matt Merritt * Bird Watching *A gem -- Sue Price * Saga Magazine *This unpretentious little book, with a nice retro feel, follows the life of the Robin… Stephen Moss writes seemingly easily (perhaps for him it is so), telling all you want to know about Robins in a straightforward, always enjoyable style… It is a stimulating and worthwhile read -- Rob Hume * Birdwatch *

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Book SynopsisYou know your dog is the cutest but does everyone else know it too?In this book, Loni Edwards, the human behind the world's most influential pets, breaks down the path to fame. Discover insights into the success of social media's top pups and follow the essential steps on the road to fame - from crafting your brand to advocating for your pup on set. With expert guidance on how to be a good dog parent and make sure your pup is happy and healthy every step of the way, this is your one-stop guide to helping your dog win over hearts, one adorable post at a time.Featuring the stories of more than 40 of the most successful pet influencers:157 of Gemma, Amazing Graciedoodle, Barkley Sir Charles, Bertie Bert the Pom, Bronson the Bully, Brussels Sprout, Bully Baloo, Charlie the Black Shepherd, Chloe the Mini Frenchie (& Emma Bear), Coco the Maltese Dog (Coco & Cici), Cookie Malibu, Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund, Daily Dougie, Dog named Stella, Ducky the Yorkie, Frame the Weim, Gone to the Snow Dogs, Harlow and Sage, Hi Wiley, Kelly Bove, Lilybug, Lizzie Bear, Louboutina the Hugging Dog, Maya Polar Bear, Mervin the Chihuahua, Milo and Noah, MJ the Beagle, Mr. Biggie, Popeye the Foodie, Puggy Smalls, Reagandoodle, Remix the Dog, Rocco Roni, Super Corgi Jojo, Super Scooty, Tatum, That Goldendoodle, The Bike Dog, Tika the Iggy, Tuna Melts my Heart, Tupey the Borzoi, Verpinscht, Winnie the Cocker, Wolfgang 2242

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisLove dogs but wish you knew more about them? Brush up on your canine companions using these quiz cards and you'll be leading the pack in no time.Fun and easy to play with all the family players will enjoy guessing dog breeds, then turning over the card to discover the answer and reveal extra trivia questions.The beautiful, sturdy box contains 64 cards.Which is taller, a Great Dane or an Irish Wolfhound? Where do Border Terriers come from? This family game is the perfect treat for dog lovers and fans of Dog Bingo.

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Book SynopsisWhy My Cat Is More Impressive Than Your Baby is chockfull of comics about cats, babies, dogs, lasers, selfies, and pigeons! This book contains a vast wealth of never-before-seen comics, including informative guides, such as: How to comfortably sleep next to your cat 10 ways to befriend a misanthropic cat How to hold a baby when you are not used to holding babies A dog’s guide to walking a human being How to cuddle like you mean it. Includes a pull-out poster of: How to tell if your cat thinks you’re not that big of a deal.

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Book SynopsisIn The Flower Hunter, Lucy Hunter takes us on an inspirational journey through a year in her garden and artist’s studio set among the mountains of North Wales. Lucy's evocative, gently humorous words accompany her glorious photographs and exquisite floral arrangements, as she encourages the reader to marvel at the intricate cycles of the natural world, develop their own innate creativity and to look for beauty in the everyday. Her garden provides the raw materials for Lucy's floral artistry – breathtaking naturalistic arrangements with the painterly beauty and flourish of a Dutch still life. Simple projects accompany Lucy’s text, from drying garden flowers for an autumnal wreath to making your own journals and natural dyes to assembling lavish arrangements that showcase the voluptuous beauty of garden roses. Lucy believes that we all have a creative voice buried deep within. The Flower Hunter will encourage you to find your own creativity and help it to blossom.Trade ReviewSeasonality and self-knowledge are at the heart of this beautiful, inspirational and refreshingly fun book by the floral polymath Lucy Hunter - Gardens Illustrated Overflowing with gorgeous photography, wonderful step-by-step tutorials, and beautiful essays - Floret Is a sumptuously illustrated step-by-step guide to creating dreamily beautiful, seasonal floral arrangements from the garden - The Irish Times This gorgeous book showcases the talents of floral artist Lucy Hunter’s stunning naturalistic arrangements...The book is equally appealing as a coffee table addition or as inspiration for growing your own cutting garden of your favorite flowers - Veranda.com Glorious floral arrangements, many of which look like still-life paintings - Cottages & Bungalows Lucy creates masterpieces... luscious – Slow Flowers Journal

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Book SynopsisMonty Roberts, known as 'The Man Who Listens to Horses', leads an extraordinary life. An award-winning trainer of championship horses, bestselling author, Hollywood stunt man, foster dad to forty-seven children (in addition to three of his own) and creator of the world-renowned and revolutionary equine training technique Join-Up, Roberts has won countless awards and received immense worldwide press coverage. He trains horses for the Queen and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Zurich and the University of Parma. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals honored Roberts with their Founders Award. He is now much in demand as a motivational speaker and executives from groups as diverse as the CIA to Volkswagen have invited him to share his experiences with their leaders. He lives at Flag is Up Farms in Solvang, California, with his wife, Pat.Trade ReviewWild horses should not drag you away from finding out more about Monty Roberts * Independent *The horse whisperer in action... more exciting than his fictional counterpart * Observer *Contains enough plotlines to keep Dick Francis busy for years * Spectator *For anyone who cares about animals and would like to get on with them better, it is required reading -- John Oaksey * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisA great, rhapsodic, urgent book full of joy, grief, rage and love . . . A must-read'' Helen Macdonald, author of H is for HawkNature has many gifts for us, but perhaps the greatest of them all is joy; the intense delight we can take in the natural world, in its beauty, in the wonder it can offer us, in the peace it can provide - feelings stemming ultimately from our own unbreakable links to nature, which mean that we cannot be fully human if we are separate from it. In The Moth Snowstorm Michael McCarthy, one of Britain''s leading writers on the environment, proposes this joy as a defence of a natural world which is ever more threatened, and which, he argues, is inadequately served by the two defences put forward hitherto: sustainable development and the recognition of ecosystem services.Drawing on a wealth of memorable experiences from a lifetime of watching and thinking about wildlife and natural landscapes, The Moth Snowstorm noTrade ReviewA great, rhapsodic, urgent book full of joy, grief, rage and love. The Moth Snowstorm is at once a deeply affecting memoir and a heartbreaking account of ecological impoverishment. It fights against indifference, shines with the deep magic and beauty of the non-human lives around us, and shows how their loss lessens us all. A must-read * Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk *An important book about an important subject - the loss of biodiversity locally, nationally and internationally, what this means for humanity and how it could possibly be avoided . . . The main argument is that we all have in us the capacity to experience joy and wonder from nature . . . Michael McCarthy is a professional journalist and an accomplished and experienced writer who handles his themes skilfully * Irish Examiner *Impassioned, polemical and personal . . . In the autobiographical passages nature is a marvel and a solace. [McCarthy's] descriptions of the night-time clouds of moths - the moth snowstorms of the title - that we saw in the days before farming ruined so much natural habitat are unforgettable, and his recollections of boyhood bird-watching on the River Dee Bay a delight . . . At its heart, this is a book aiming to persuade those who are broadly sympathetic to think in a different way, and in that it is surely a success - and a joy * Independent *A fascinating and very readable book . . . full of joy and wonder and luminous moments . . . McCarthy is a man who remembers not only the Observer's Book of Birds but the set of Brooke Bond tea cards featuring Charles Tunnicliffe's beautiful bird pictures. But you don't have to be of a similar vintage to enjoy this expansive celebration of a subject too often overlooked in the ongoing discourse about man and nature - sheer joy * Dabbler *McCarthy has for years been the doyen of environmental correspondents . . . he is conversant with the hard facts, the political realities and the moral complexities of the conservation world. But he writes also as a man inspired by the beauty, diversity and abundance of the natural world that we are destroying. This combination of worldly wisdom and deeply felt personal experience makes this a highly original and refreshing account of our current predicament * TLS *Deserves to be widely read * Scotsman *Environmental correspondent Michael McCarthy makes an impassioned plea on behalf of the natural world in this inspiring book * Sunday Express *The natural world, whether birdsong, butterflies or wild flowers, can give us joy. It can bring us peace. The ability of nature to do this, through a sense of awe, is articulated beautifully in a book by Michael McCarthy, The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy. His quest to track down every British butterfly as a tribute to his dead mother brought me to tears * Sunday Times *A deeply troubling book by one of Britain's foremost journalists on the politics of nature. The case he lays bare in the opening chapters is compelling stuff. Essentially he argues that the world of wild creatures, plants, trees and whole habitats - you name it - is going to Hell in a handcart . . . powerful, heartfelt and compelling * The Spectator *As much as joy, it's a beautiful book about love, damage, and the possibility of redemption * Press Association *You could do worse to catch up than to read a single chapter in Michael McCarthy's new book, The Moth Snowstorm . . . the one entitled 'The Great Thinning' . . . powerfully and succinctly summarises the unfolding national story * New Statesman *More than a simple paean to the glories of the wild world. It is also an impassioned protest against its destruction * Daily Mail *In his beautiful book . . . Michael McCarthy suggests that a capacity to love the natural world, rather than merely to exist within it, might be a uniquely human trait * Guardian *A mixture of memoir, elegy to nature, and a call to arms . . . this is a profound urgent book, among its strength an appreciation of the small things - the common precious treasures of birdsong, butterflies and moths that we all, whatever our stance, stand to lose * Country Life *I found joy following McCarthy's stories, particularly those of the futile attempts to return salmon to the Thames and the tragic loss of sparrows from London . . . His personal revelations are moving, and The Moth Snowstorm left me as grief-stricken as any environmental journalist must be after a career digesting facts such as that, by 2020, the volume of urban rubbish generated in China is expected to reach 400m tonnes - equivalent to the entire world's trash in 1997 * Guardian *A bold new defence of a natural world under great threat * BBC Countryfile Magazine *[A] moving memoir * New Statesman *Unquestionably my nature book of the year - an intensely moving and intelligent plea for 'joy' to be counted the most powerful reason for valuing the natural world. McCarthy's starting point is the vivid recollection of a veritable snowstorm of moths in car headlights when he was young. With glorious originality, he makes an unanswerable case for us to start proclaiming 'a new kind of love' from the rooftops. Can you attach a cost-benefit analysis to what a walk in fields listening to birdsong can do for the human spirit? No. That's why everybody should read this angry, beautiful and passionate book * Daily Mail *This is a book about the joy the natural world can engender - even in the face of its decline. McCarthy synthesises the two main literary reposnses to the current crisis, provoking shock at the scale of Britain's recent loss of abundance and a sense of awe and (most importantly) love that may prove nature's best defence. If you read one book from this selection make it The Moth Snowstorm * The Times, Books of the Year *Elegiac * Guardian *Offers a necessary corrective * Irish Times, Books of the Year *Compelling . . . The Moth Snowstorm is an inspiring book * New York Times Book Review *McCarthy's words ring out as a rallying cry which is not only a delight to hear but one we should all seek to follow * Conversation *

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Book SynopsisThe first edition of The Principles of Riding was published more than 50 years ago, imparting mandatory basic knowledge for all areas of equestrian sport and horse-keeping and this 28th edition, Basic Training for Horse and Rider, has been completely revised regarding language and content, while still taking into account the well-established principles. The consideration of traditional principles leads to the education and training of the horse according to its nature and thus to its health, well-being and performance capability. The horse's instincts and natural behaviour are presented in detail as the basis of communication and understanding between horse and rider. Modern scientific research relating to training theory and biomechanics has influenced the systematic training of the rider as well as that of the horse. The Principles of Riding provides versatile, practical assistance to horse lovers and readers of this book who want to learn, irrespective of whether they ride for leisure or competitively, are interested in hacking or hunting, or want to develop and improve their basic training for dressage, show-jumping or eventing. These Principles should be indispensable for all riders, drivers, trainers and judges, and to all of those who are interested in the appropriate training of the horse, according to the horse's nature, and who place importance on a harmonious cooperation between horse and rider.Trade ReviewThe Principles of Riding is easy to read and very well laid out with clear concise instructions with bullet points and also includes tips on what can go wrong which is very helpful. Clear illustrations really help drive home the salient points of the text making it easy to understand. This book is not just aimed at the novice rider, there is plenty here to interest experienced rider too. Anyone interested in riding will find this a mine of useful information which readers can devour in its whole or dip into at will when questions or problems arise. -- Jacqui Broderick'First published more than 50 years ago, it's now on an incredible 28th edition but has seen some changes along the way... Some of the more modern scientific research is now being incorporated in what has always been a complete manual of horsemanship covering rider, horse, training of both, lungeing, jumping, tack and teaching young horses.' Wendy Parsons, Essex Rider -- Wendy Parsons * Essex Rider *Table of ContentsForeword Thoughts on Classical Riding Chapter 1: General Basics: Horse - Rider - Trainer - Training Area Chapter 2: The Equipment of Horse and Rider Chapter 3: Preparation for Riding Chapter 4: Seat and Influence of the Rider Chapter 5: Systematic Structure of Lessons Chapter 6: Basic Exercises Chapter 7: The Basic Training of the Horse Index

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Book SynopsisDiscover the impactful ways that climate and weather changed the very course of human history from the founder and chairman of AccuWeather! Join AccuWeather founder and chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers on a journey from the beginning of time to the modern day to see how weather and climate impacted world events throughout history, both the good and the bad. Learn about the comet that hit Earth almost 67 million years ago, and how it triggered a massive climate disruption that led to the extinction of the dinosaur; the dramatic climate shift in 1213 BC that created the conditions for the Ten Plagues of Egypt, a foundational moment in three major world religions; how superior knowledge of the winds allowed the ancient Greeks to prevail over Persian attackers in 400 BC; the volcano in 44 BC that helped launch the Roman Empire; how Tropical storms thwarted Mongol invaders and preserved an independent Japan in 1273; how the 'Little Ice Age' ushered in the age

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'A beautiful book' - Jo Good, BBC Radio London'When Harry Met Minnie made me cry and made me dance with joy. It's an exquisite tale about heartbreak and healing, critters and humans, and the little miracles life hands us when we need them the most' - Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses'Teichner's main themes are sure to warm readers in this cold coronavirus winter: the steadfast devotion between dogs and their owners, and the essential role friendship plays in sustaining both humans and their beloved pets ... Teichner has learned that we all have the capacity to create and build new friendships and attachments at whatever age or stage of life. That such rewards are possible is the inspirational lesson for all the characters in - and readers of - this touching saga' - The Washington Post'When Harry Met Minnie is a tour-de-force of storytelling. Martha Teichner not only charts the course of two remarkable friendships, between two people and two dogs, she invites us to consider our own relationships. The stars that had to align to put someone special in our life. This is a love story, masterful, warm and funny, heartfelt and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved this book' - Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of All the Devils Are Here'When Harry Met Minnie is a story of laughter and tears, of friendship and dogs. It shows us the loyalty and resilience of Bull Terriers?and of two women who love them. A book of generosity and hope for an era badly in need of both' - Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of GOOD BOY: My Life in Seven Dogs'When Harry Met Minnie belongs on the shelf next to Travels with Charley and Marley and Me. But the unforgettable dogs we meet in these pages don't just help the people in their lives, they save each other. Martha Teichner has written an extraordinary story filled with love and humor about the transformative power of friendship, among dogs and people, in the thick of life and at its end. I fell in love with Harry, Minnie, their humans, and this marvel of a book' - Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club and Books for Living'I decided to write this book, because I didn't want to stop living the story of what happened when Harry met Minnie. I didn't want to forget any of it, even the sad parts. This story of unexpected friendship, of love, was a wonderful gift, and in the end, it made me and Minnie happy' - Martha TeichnerThere are true fairy tales. Stories that exist because impossible-to-explain coincidences change everything. Except in real life, not all of them have conventional, happily-ever-after endings...Carol, who is dying of cancer caused by the toxic pollution in New York in the aftermath of 9/11, needs someone to take care of Harry, who is a 'great listener but does have a problem with large dogs. He is great with smaller dogs. If he sees a hose he will destroy it to protect you. He will figure out ways to let you know exactly how he feels'. When Martha has a chance encounter with Carol's friend, he can't help but notice Minnie, 'oh those chunky little legs', and so the matchmaking begins. After a disastrous first meeting, when Minnie doesn't appear to think much of Harry (who is super keen), things improve and soon they are inseparable. As Carol's illness progresses, so a new friendship and community blossoms, Carol's Club.The bonds that grew changed Martha's life, Carol's life, Minnie's life and Harry's life. And they changed Carol's death as well.In this rich and touching narrative, Martha considers the ways our stories are shaped by the people we meet, and the profound love we can find by opening our hearts to unexpected encounters.

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