Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

1721 products


  • Landfill: Notes on Gull Watching and Trash

    Chelsea Green Publishing Co Landfill: Notes on Gull Watching and Trash

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisOver the past hundred years, gulls have been brought ashore by modernity. They now live not only on the coasts but in our slipstream following trawlers, barges, and garbage trucks. They are more our contemporaries than most birds, living their wild lives among us in towns and cities. In many ways they live as we do, walking the built-up world and grabbing a bite where they can. Yet this disturbs us. We’ve started fearing gulls for getting good at being among us. We see them as scavengers, not entrepreneurs; ocean-going aliens, not refugees. They are too big for the world they have entered. Their story is our story too. Landfill is the original and compelling story of how in the Anthropocene we have learned about the natural world, named and catalogued it, and then colonized it, planted it, or filled it with our junk. While most other birds have gone in the opposite direction, hiding away from us, some vanishing forever, gulls continue to tell us how the wild can share our world. For these reasons Landfill is the nature book for our times, groundbreaking and genre-bending. Without nostalgia or eulogy, it kicks beneath the littered surface of the things to discover stranger truths. Trade Review“Landfill is an erudite meditation on these former seabirds — in literature, science and culture — and their symbiotic relationship with us within the natural world."—Toronto Star “Landfill is an important and entirely brilliant book. It’s a love letter to gulls and their charged relationship with humans, but it’s also a deep meditation on difficulty and waste, on the beauty of the disregarded, and on what we make of matter out of place. There’s love and death here, fear, fascination, hope, and the breaking of the world. Dee has written an absolute triumph.”—Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk“The British literature of birds that includes Gilbert White with his swifts and martins, Helen Macdonald with her hawks, is a rich one. But Tim Dee’s own obsession with gulls also leads him to contemplate the landfills over which they often preside and the alarming changes to our landscapes with which they are associated. His alertness to factors in ecological health results not in a jeremiad, however, but instead in an exploration of surprising parallels between evolution in the biological realm and the slow siftings of memory and culture. Landfill is a remarkably venturesome, robustly voiced, and illuminating book.”—John Elder, author of Reading the Mountains of Home“Like coyotes, ravens, raccoons, and other resourceful urban wildlife, gulls frequently face our scorn, and sometimes our bullets. In his delightful jaunt through gull taxonomy, behavior, and lore, Tim Dee casts his feathered protagonists as indomitable heroes of the Anthropocene—thriving in our cities, colonizing our culture, and repurposing our trash as treasure. Next time a gull snatches your fries, you’ll find yourself not cursing a petty thief, but admiring one of our planet’s grittiest, savviest survivors.”—Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager“Tim Dee’s restive and gorgeous prose pulls readers into the wilds of the modern urban landscape, where gulls and humans wander side-by-side with ancient poets, Victorian novelists, and Madagascar nighthawks. In this small book Dee asks—and beautifully begins to answer—one of the largest questions of our time: How do we live with attentive grace and wisdom alongside the varied coinhabitants of our imperiled, complex, and beloved earth?”—Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Mozart’s Starling and Crow Planet“Evolution is fluid, and the urban gulls of Tim Dee’s Landfill embody this ever-changing world in action. Tracking difficult-to-categorize gulls and the people who know their habits best, Dee alerts us to the heavy-laden meanings we lay on the wings of others, even as he revels the ways in which gulls continue to fly beyond our grasp. Familiarity need not breed contempt. As Dee shows, it can breed fascination.”—Gavin Van Horn, author of The Way of Coyote

    1 in stock

    £21.15

  • Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature

    Chelsea Green Publishing Co Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Best Nature Writing Books 2020 SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE A naturalist’s passionate dive into the lives of bees (of all stripes) and the natural world in her own backyard Brigit Strawbridge Howard was shocked the day she realised she knew more about the French Revolution than she did about her native trees. And birds. And wildflowers. And bees. The thought stopped her—quite literally—in her tracks. But that day was also the start of a journey, one filled with silver birches and hairy-footed flower bees, skylarks, and rosebay willow herb, and the joy that comes with deepening one’s relationship with place. Dancing with Bees is Strawbridge Howard’s charming and eloquent account of a return to noticing, to rediscovering a perspective on the world that had somehow been lost to her for decades and to reconnecting with the natural world. With special care and attention to the plight of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, and what we can do to help them, Strawbridge Howard shares fascinating details of the lives of flora and fauna that have filled her days with ever-increasing wonder and delight.Trade ReviewKirkus Reviews— A British naturalist offers crisp essays on her relationship with bees. In her debut book, Howard, a devoted bee advocate, pens a lengthy, knowledgeable, and occasionally poetic tribute to honeybees, bumblebees, and other buzzy creatures . . . [She] provides a nice balance between the very real science of studying bees and their function in nature and her cleareyed and eloquent observations about the natural world. Because of that balance, what might have sounded like a dry lecture turns into something far more interesting. Whether she's explaining how different bee species are classified, describing her mother's deteriorating health (and eventual death), or simply ruminating on the beauty around her, Howard creates a text that is compelling and worth your time even if you're not a fellow bee advocate."Library Journal— "[A] fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of nature. . .This satisfying memoir of a woman’s reawakening to the importance of nature in her life will appeal to fans of natural history memoirs, bees, the natural world, or ecology."Booklist, Starred Review— “[An] engaging, richly descriptive tale of natural discovery."“In this delightful book, Brigit Strawbridge Howard brings us into the fascinating and often overlooked world of bees. She introduces us to solitary nesting bees that lay their eggs in empty snail shells, cuckoo bees that make other bees take care of their eggs, and the amazing social lives of bumblebees and honeybees. Her curiosity and wonder at these small creatures are infectious and will inspire a greater appreciation of our natural world.”—Nancy J. Hayden, coauthor of Farming on the Wild Side“Hovering through Brigit Strawbridge Howard’s remarkable encounters with bees, alighting on beautiful and often unexpected descriptions of bumblebees, miner bees, and even parasitizing cuckoo bees, one dips into a world most of us have forgotten. By leading us gently and discretely into the minutiae of nature, Brigit shows how rewarding it is to reconnect—how the world’s tiniest beings can not only lift our spirits, but signal the way to a richer, wilder future.”—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding“Dancing with Bees is a passionate hymn to nature, a joyful celebration not just of bees, but of the power of paying attention. Strawbridge Howard’s rediscovery of the natural world is infused with a sense of wonder both irresistible and infectious. And the promise of this beautiful book is that if we take the trouble to notice our natural surroundings, we too can find a way to reconnect not just to nature, but to a deeper sense of ourselves.”—Caroline Lucas, MP, former Green Party Leader“I devoured this book as I would a jar of exquisite honey. I was as fascinated by it as I would be watching a hive of bees at work. I may read another nature book this year, but not a better one. Or a more important one. As is made so manifestly clear in these pages, we need our bees. Thank God, then, for Brigit Strawbridge Howard, our queen bee-advocate.”—John Lewis-Stempel, author of Still Water and Meadowland“Dancing with Bees is one of the most important and accessible and entertaining books I’ve ever read. Brigit has poured meticulous detail and research into her book, which has left me with even more respect for our precious bees than I ever thought possible. What’s more, it’s a touching, sensitive account of what makes us human and how we connect to the natural world. Everyone should read it.”—Kate Bradbury, author of Wildlife Gardening and The Bumblebee Flies Anyway“A beautiful book and one that hums with good life. Brigit Strawbridge Howard came late to bees but began noticing them at a time when their going was being widely announced. Her attention has been clear-sighted but also loving. By looking closely at the hummers and the buzzers, she has begun to take in the whole of what Charles Darwin called the ‘tangled bank’ of life, where there are bees (and Brigit’s winning descriptions will help you know them) and there are plants, and there are other pollinators and nectar-seekers, including Homo sapiens. No other insect—surely no other animal—has had such a long and life-giving relationship with humans. Bees may well have shaped our evolution; our continued well-being is certainly dependent on them. Bees have long been part of our consciousness and art, buzzing in parables and fables and ancient and modern poems made out of their industry and their organisation and their marvellous sweet products. All that is in this book: It is ambrosia.”—Tim Dee, author of Landfill“While the plight of our overworked honeybees elicits much hand-wringing, the rest of Earth’s splendorous apian diversity has remained unjustly obscure. In this winning tribute to our black-and-yellow fellows, Brigit Strawbridge Howard celebrates the virtues of dozens of less heralded, but no less crucial, wild species—mining bees, leaf-cutting bees, mason bees, cuckoo bees. Like a bee herself, Strawbridge Howard is at once pragmatic and whimsical, flitting lightly between practical advice for crafting a bee-friendly garden and wise digressions about our manipulative relationship with nature. By the end of Dancing with Bees, you’ll wholeheartedly agree that these indispensable creatures should be extolled as ‘our equals, not our minions.’”—Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager“A joy-filled voyage of discovery through the wonderful world of bees.”—Dave Goulson, author of Bee Quest and A Sting in the Tale“Sprinkled with moments of pathos, this exquisite book is the perfect introduction to the often neglected world of wild bees—and the beautiful plants with which they dance an ecosystem into life.”—Hugh Warwick, author of Linescapes and Hedgehog“Brigit Strawbridge Howard is an excellent pollinator of information. Dancing with Bees is a book teeming with love: for bees but also for the natural world as a whole and, by extension, for life itself. Everyone who cares about the future of our planet should read it.”—Tom Cox, author of 21st-Century Yokel“Dancing with Bees is an antidote to the reality of modern life that’s spent nose down in our smartphones while the wondrous stuff—nature—goes on all around us. Brigit Strawbridge Howard chronicles her own journey of reconnecting with the natural world with heartfelt eloquence. Her descriptions of the creatures, plants, and landscapes that populate her journey are made with the unabashed joy of someone for whom a veil has been lifted, revealing a world to be cherished but also in great need of our protection.”—Matthew Wilson, garden designer; author; panelist, BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time“We are handed a lens—light, bright, beautiful things come into focus. Brigit’s flare for observation and description, passion for knowledge, and ease with communication involve us in adventuring through the looking glass to explore with her the intimate life of wild bees. Gently, this timely book reminds us that nature is in trouble and that we must all join the dance.”—Sue Clifford and Angela King, founding directors, Common Ground“Dancing with Bees is a brilliantly described journey of discovery of bees, trees, people, and places, imbued with a childlike wonderment. Learn about cuckoo bees, carder bees, bees that are not bees, the commonplace and the rare. It is never too late to reconnect with nature and rewild oneself.”—Steven Falk, author of Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland“Well written and researched, beautifully illustrated, and packed with natural history detail, Dancing with Bees is a book to start you off on a journey that could well become an obsession. Even if you are well versed in the ways of bees, you will still want to wrap yourself in the warmth of this charming book. Brigit Strawbridge Howard gently shows you all the things you may have been missing; you are about to enter a macro-world of wonder and delight. I absolutely loved this book. If, due to infirmity perhaps, I am ever unable to walk in the countryside, I can now go dancing with bees whenever I choose.”—Dr. George McGavin, president, Dorset Wildlife Trust; honorary research associate, Oxford University Museum of Natural History“Brigit Strawbridge Howard leads us on a wistful pilgrimage of awakening into the world of bees who are among the most fascinating, charismatic, and important of insects. Written in an easy, accessible style without shying away from solid facts and beguiling detail, and beautifully illustrated by renowned Devon naturalist John Walters, Strawbridge Howard’s book is the result of hundreds of hours of watching, listening, and learning in her garden and the wider countryside, wondering what the future might bring and how human excesses may be curbed.”—Stuart Roberts, entomologistTable of ContentsPreface: Realisations Introduction: The Honey Trap 1. Spring on the Wing 2. A Nest of One's Own 3. What's in a Name? 4. The Boys Are Back in Town 5. Bees Behaving Badly 6. The Upside-Down Bird 7. The Cabin by the Stream 8. Cuckoo, Cuckoo 9. On Swarms and Stings 10. To Bee, or Not to Bee 11. Seeking the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Part 1 12. Seeking the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Part 2 13. On Bovey Heathfield 14. In Praise of Trees 15. Sedgehill, a Natural History 16. Cotton Weavers 17. Time for Tea 18. Evergreen 19. Amongst the Snowdrops Epilogue. Reflections Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Selected Bibliography Index

    10 in stock

    £13.82

  • Wild Nights Out: The Magic of Exploring the

    Chelsea Green Publishing Co Wild Nights Out: The Magic of Exploring the

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis[Wild Nights Out] is a wonderful invitation to rediscover the dark and all the thing that cry, creep or glow there. Chris Packham from the Foreword [Wild Nights Out] is about reframing our relationship with darkness...because without that affinity humans will remain tourists in their own landscape. the Guardian This book gently holds your hand and guides you into the mysterious folds of the darkness, helping you get the most out of the night. Nocturnal empowerment for the curious. Nick Baker, naturalist, TV presenter and author The go-to guide for exploring nature at night, whether on summer holidays, weekends away or even back garden adventures! Learn how to call for owls, walk like a fox and expand your sensory perceptions. Wild Nights Out is a wonderful new hands-on guide for those who wish to take kids (of all ages) outdoors for fun, thrilling nighttime nature adventures. Parents, grandparents, teachers and nature educators alike will discover a wealth of unique activities to explore the natural world from dusk till dawn. Alongside games, walks and exercises to expand our senses, storyteller and outdoor educator Chris Salisbury will bring this unexplored nocturnal dimension to life with lore about badgers, bats and minibeasts as well as tales of the constellations and planets to share around the campfire. In Wild Nights Out you can expect to find: 25 fun and informative games and activities Practical information on how to conduct night walks safely Animal facts and stargazing stories Beautiful black-and-white illustrations throughout Nature has so much to offer at night, so let Wild Nights Out be your guide to the dark. It will boost the resilience and self-confidence of children and adults, and instill a lifelong love of having fun in the outdoors when the sun goes down.Trade Review‘So inspiring! Reading Wild Nights Out is like being given an invitation to a whole new dimension of life. Exploring and nature spotting don’t need to stop when the sun goes down. For grown-ups, children, and anyone in between, this book offers guidance, ideas, challenges to try and games to play in the dusk and dark. But, more than anything else, it encourages us to cross a threshold into a new world and go on a nocturnal ramble to look and listen for where the wild things are.’—Simon Reeve, author and broadcaster‘If you are a creature intrigued about the dimpsy hours and its goings-on, this is the perfect companion for your adventures. As the planet spins us away from the sun, a world less explored is to be found – a time of new creatures, celestial bodies, new sights, sounds and smells. This book gently holds your hand and guides you into the mysterious folds of the darkness, helping you get the most out of the night. Nocturnal empowerment for the curious.’—Nick Baker, naturalist, TV presenter and author‘If you once wished the days to never end, with Chris’s glorious and concise re-enchantment of the night, you too will soon become a nocturnal convert, willing your children to stay up and out as late as possible. Wild Nights Out isn’t so much about conquering the fear of the dark but redeeming this realm through ancient and intrepid means of befriending it, inspiring wonderful ways to play beyond the reach of electricity’s falsifying security.’—Sam Lee, folk singer, Radio 4 presenter, and Mercury Prize–nominated artist‘Chris Salisbury knows of what he speaks. This storyteller has been thoroughly drubbed in nature’s mood swings and come up the wiser for it. Wild Nights Out is an inventive mapping of that accumulated knowledge. Long before it was even vaguely fashionable, Chris was walking the roads of wildness and story, and this book is a lovely testament to his devotion. Both pragmatic and poetic, Wild Nights Out will be a worthy companion for anyone who yearns for a fresh and unexpected relationship to the living world. There are big, powerful energies out there in the dark, and a few have slipped into this book, chewing on its edges.’—Dr Martin Shaw, author of Smoke Hole and Courting the Wild Twin‘A fantastic mix of usefulness and imagination, of practical experience and love for the living world.’—Jay Griffiths, author of Kith and Wild: An Elemental Journey‘Wild Nights Out is the night’s song, seducing us like a siren on a rock, beckoning us to dive deep into an enchanted world. Chris Salisbury has collated a hundred reasons to step over this threshold and explore, perhaps for the first time, the wonder of the wild night. Stars, stories, songs and games come out of his wizard’s hat to reacquaint us with the mysteries of nocturnal nature. As an educator and parent, I’m so glad this book has been offered to a world hungry for meaning and connection.’—Charlotte Church, singer and broadcaster; founder, Awen Project‘Wild Nights Out is a masterful guide for night walks. Chock-full of engaging games and fascinating information, this book makes leading night-time excursions a joy. Chris Salisbury has created a magnificent and comprehensive resource for anyone who loves the night.’—Joseph Bharat Cornell, author of Sharing Nature, Deep Nature Play, and Flow Learning‘Chris Salisbury is a consummate guide to the night and its chrysalis-like capacity to convert us from sailors of safe harbors to celebrants of uncharted seas – wanderers amidst nocturnal creatures (like owls, bats, and badgers) or the existential conundrums that the night sky elicits (like Why are we here?). Chris doesn’t resolve the frights and riddles of the dark, but deftly draws us in, supporting us to make our own dazzling discoveries and to be shape-shifted by our night-walk odysseys. Wild Nights Out: don’t go into the dark without it.’—Bill Plotkin, PhD, author of Soulcraft and The Journey of Soul Initiation‘This book has been a long time coming in the nature education field, and finally Chris Salisbury has put down in words something that should be in every nature/environmental educator’s pocket and on their shelf of well-thumbed pages. Wild Nights Out is neatly book ended with the question why is it dark? and takes the practitioner on a journey exploring this and many other questions about the shady side of the planet. It is not just Chris’s inimitable poetry that make this such a great read, it is the enticing experiences and journeys into the night that Chris takes us on that we can easily replicate, adapt and conduct with our groups of learners which will help relate to and answer those questions of the night. This book is packed full of activities for immersing learners in the world of dusk to dawn that can be adapted for any age and gives the all-important health and safety tips to help people feel comfortable and yet still feel the nervous anticipation, excitement and beauty of the darkened hours. There are poems and stories, ways to use stories around the campfire, lots of natural history and ‘tuning in’ activities and titbits, journeys into different habitats – from the river to the seashore, and of course ways of magically interacting with the night sky. We miss out on this most important aspect of nature learning in a big way in our industrially lit world. This book will help the educator – and the learners they guide – fill in the gaps of our experiences, revelling in what is a magical kingdom, helping us see the night as a constant companion and explore those deeper questions about what it means to live on this beautiful planet and its ‘dark side’. It is a must for all nature educators around the planet.’—Jon Cree, founding chair, Forest School Association; coauthor of The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy; veteran educator and nature connection trainer‘In his wonderful book, Wild Nights Out, Chris Salisbury reminds us of so many things forgotten. The night is truly fully half of our lives. Yet today we live as if we only experience the day. Through his wonderful stories, lore, science and accessible activities, Chris helps us remember that we are, as humans, at least half darkness. Through the journey of Wild Nights Out, we are remembering the part of us that has been hidden in recent times, and it’s like meeting a long-lost relative that we truly love.’—Jon Young, author of Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature and What the Robin Knows‘Chris Salisbury is without doubt one of the world’s foremost outdoor ecological educators, as I have seen myself over and over again at Schumacher College. In this marvellously well-written book, Chris shares his decades of wisdom and experience about how to bring children into the presence of the night as a living being, with her sounds, sights, smells, depths and imaginings. Even if you don’t use this book with children specifically in mind, like me, you’ll be enchanted from start to finish by its capacity to introduce you and people of all ages to the wonders of the night. You’ll feel a powerful urge to go out into the night yourself with Chris and his book as guides to wake up your forgotten child’s vivid perceptions of nature. Obey that urge and discover Gaia. Chris’s book is a masterpiece – an important landmark in the growing literature on ecological education.’—Dr Stephan Harding, Deep Ecology Research Fellow, senior lecturer in Holistic Science, Schumacher College, Dartington, UK‘Chris Salisbury piques curiosity in such a way that brings people beyond knowledge and information, and into meaningful and real connection and relationship. As a storyteller and educator, his ability to weave together natural history, science, story, poetry, and myth in a graceful and compelling way is evident among these pages. I see it as critical to provide educators, and people in general, not just with good information, natural history, and science, but also with brilliant strategies for bringing people along for the ride in a way that is fun, creative, and artistic. Advocates for the human right to deeply connect to place could well use a guide that helps us find narratives that weave together in a soulful approach to the lifelong journey of falling in love with the earth. Wild Nights Out helps us do that.’—Marcus Reynerson, adult immersion program manager and lead instructor, Wilderness Awareness School‘I cannot think of a better all-round book to enchant your family’s evening walk or an enthralling night-time adventure with groups of children or adults. It offers a wealth of nature-connecting ideas, stories and games. All convey Chris Salisbury’s deep involvement with the creation of fabulous darkness experiences in the outdoors. The book belongs in every family home and library. Buy it.’—Dr Alida Gersie, author of Earthtales and Storytelling for a Greener World‘Like the storyteller he is, Chris leads us by enchantment into the beauty and depth of the dark. He entices us into its warm embrace – to remember, to listen, to feel part of something unseen once again. His book is rich in poetry and fact, as practical as it is, a conjuring of our interest in something so hidden, we may have forgotten it ever existed. He takes us by the hand and leaves traces for us to follow – each in our own way, an adventure that calls every time we close our eyes. And he does us a great service, reminding us that just a little way down the path, there is so much more to life inside us and all around us to meet if only our fear will allow.’—Ya’Acov Darling Khan, author of Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart and Shaman: Invoking Power, Presence and Purpose at the Core of Who You Are‘This book is an invitation to step out of the everyday world and into the darkness, and to find the night wonderful: wild and rich and beautiful. Chris takes us on a journey through landscapes and starscapes and species, experiencing the nocturnal world through all our senses. He offers ways to absorb, understand and use those experiences to leave us inspired, finding new strength and joy to change how we live in this world for the better.’—Gordon MacLellan, author and environmental trainer‘A delightful, mysterious, compelling work born of Chris Salisbury’s lifetime love of nature. This wonderful book is like the night itself, daring us to step outside and, wrapped in shadows, become alive to that we can only ever fleetingly behold.’—Mac Macartney, author, speaker, change-maker‘Wild Nights Out is an intoxicating cocktail of outdoor activities and inspirations, and one that every environmental educator has been longing for, even if he or she hadn’t realised that before reading it. Here is the realm of night, unwrapped for us by Salisbury like rich jewels on black velvet. Informative, resourceful, packed with wisdom and wit, this is a book for all ages and all times – a book that connects us with the wild natural world that awaits, as raw and relevant today as it was to our ancestors generations ago.’—Prof Clayton MacKenzie, provost and interim president, Hong Kong Baptist University‘This book is so timely as we continue to rediscover the well-being benefits of reconnecting with the natural world. It will be a great source of inspiration and practical direction for anyone interested in helping to bring to life the nocturnal nature that is close at hand for people of all ages. I strongly recommend this book written by an expert facilitator in an engaging and accessible way – it will no doubt inspire you, like it did me, to venture out after dark and appreciate afresh the wonderful world in which we live.’—Paul Warwick, associate professor, Sustainable Education and Civic Futures, University of Plymouth, UK

    5 in stock

    £12.74

  • Walking

    Watchmaker Publishing Walking

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £8.47

  • Spiritual Laws

    ARC Manor Spiritual Laws

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £8.01

  • On the Duty of Civil Disobedience - Thoreau's Classic Essay

    15 in stock

    £8.01

  • On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

    Wilder Publications On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £10.90

  • The Selected Essays of Henry David Thoreau

    Wilder Publications The Selected Essays of Henry David Thoreau

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £13.79

  • Northeast Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    Workman Publishing Northeast Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis“An invaluable guide for the feast in the East.” —Hank Shaw, author of the James Beard Award–winning website Hunter Angler Gardener Cook The Northeast offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Leda Meredith as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Northeast Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island.

    4 in stock

    £19.00

  • California Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    Workman Publishing California Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis“This book is an excellent deep dive into California’s wild edibles, revealing a real affection for and intimate familiarity with our state’s flora.” —Iso Rabins, founder of ForageSF California offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Judith Larner Lowry as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in California Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in the Golden State.

    10 in stock

    £19.00

  • Wildflowers of New England

    Workman Publishing Wildflowers of New England

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn essential reference for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, and naturalistsWildflowers of New England is a compact, beautifully illustrated guide packed with descriptions and photographs of thousands of the region’s most important wildflowers. It includes annuals, perennials, and biennials, both native and naturalized. ·Covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont ·Describes and illustrates more than 1,000 species ·1,100 beautiful color photographs ·User-friendly organization by color and shape ·Authoritative trailside reference from the region’s wildflowers experts

    10 in stock

    £22.50

  • Southeast Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    Workman Publishing Southeast Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis“This is the ultimate guide, and Chris is the undisputed heavyweight champion of foraging in the South.” —Sean Brock, author of Heritage and chef of McCradys, Minero, and Husk The Southeast offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Chris Bennett as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Southeast Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

    10 in stock

    £19.00

  • A Botanist's Vocabulary: 1300 Terms Explained and

    Workman Publishing A Botanist's Vocabulary: 1300 Terms Explained and

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor anyone looking for a deeper appreciation of the wonderful world of plants! Gardeners are inherently curious. They make note of a plant label in a botanical garden and then go home to learn more. They pick up fallen blossoms to examine them closer. They spend hours reading plant catalogs. But they are often unable to accurately name or describe their discoveries. A Botanist’s Vocabulary gives gardeners and naturalists a better understanding of what they see and a way to categorize and organize the natural world in which they are so intimately involved. Through concise definitions and detailed black and white illustrations, it defines 1300 words commonly used by botanists, naturalists, and gardeners to describe plants.

    15 in stock

    £17.09

  • Mountain States Foraging: 115 Wild and Flavorful

    Workman Publishing Mountain States Foraging: 115 Wild and Flavorful

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis“A stunning look at the natural abundance of the mountain states—with clear guidance on identification, gathering techniques, and uses.” —Jennifer McGruther, author of The Nourished Kitchen The Mountain States offer a veritable feast for foragers, and with Briana Wiles as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Mountain States Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and northern Nevada.

    10 in stock

    £19.00

  • Wild LA: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around

    Workman Publishing Wild LA: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis“Put on your hiking shoes, pack your binoculars, and rediscover the City of Angels.” —Westways Magazine Los Angeles may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, but in reality, it's full of amazing wildlife. You just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild LA has something for everyone. It looks at the factors that shape local nature—including fire, floods, and climate—and profiles over 100 local species, from easy-to-spot squirrels and praying mantids to more elusive green sea turtles, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help you explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and in your own backyard.

    10 in stock

    £19.00

  • Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and

    Workman Publishing Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Re-centers and gives voice to a diversity of women naturalists and writers across time." —Cultivating Place In Writing Wild, Kathryn Aalto celebrates 25 women whose influential writing helps deepen our connection to and understanding of the natural world. These inspiring wordsmiths are scholars, spiritual seekers, conservationists, scientists, novelists, and explorers. They defy easy categorization, yet they all share a bold authenticity that makes their work both distinct and universal. Part travel essay, literary biography, and cultural history, Writing Wild ventures into the landscapes and lives of extraordinary writers and encourages a new generation of women to pick up their pens, head outdoors, and start writing wild.

    1 in stock

    £17.09

  • First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological

    PM Press First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £20.17

  • Walking

    Akasha Classics Walking

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £22.51

  • Walking

    Akasha Classics Walking

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £13.79

  • Ghosts of an Old Forest

    Kent State University Press Ghosts of an Old Forest

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £18.99

  • A Million Acres: Montana Writers Reflect on Land

    Riverbend Publishing A Million Acres: Montana Writers Reflect on Land

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis Montana''s stunning landscape shapes all who live here and all who visit. In twenty powerful pieces of writingessays, memoirs, short storiesthe state''s finest contemporary writers explore the plains, rivers, and mountains of Big Sky Country. They show us how natural beauty and hardship are two sides of the same coin, and how sometimes the only way to cure heartache is to visit the great outdoors. From a hardscrabble upbringing to the pain of losing the family land, from death on a river to the awe of landing a big fish, from backcountry encounters with grizzly bears to an out-of-stater''s happiness at making Montana her home, A Million Acres offers a wonderfully diverse range of experiences and perspectives. Framing these words are twenty-eight breathtaking photographs that render these open spaces in gorgeous color. Come to Montana: in words, in pictures, in person. And see what makes the Last Best Place worth saving. Contributors are:Rick BassMaile MeloyCarrie La SeurJoe WilkinsJim RobbinsGwen FlorioJamie HarrisonSterling HolyWhiteMountainJanet Skeslien CharlesMaxim LoskutoffChristine CarboJames Grady Alexis BonogofskyRussell RowlandCaroline PattersonKeir GraffEric HeidleLeDoux HansenAntonia MalchikAllen Morris Jones

    2 in stock

    £28.50

  • Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Issues &

    Nova Science Publishers Inc Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Issues &

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisOne part of the ongoing energy debate has been whether to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in north-eastern Alaska -- and if so, under what conditions -- or whether to continue to prohibit development to protect the area''s biological, recreational, and subsistence values. ANWR is rich in fauna, flora, and oil potential. Its development has been debated for over 40 years, but sharp increases in energy prices from late 2000 to early 2001, terrorist attacks, more price increases in 2004-2008, and energy infrastructure damage from hurricanes have intensified debate. Few onshore U.S. areas stir as much industry interest as ANWR. At the same time, few areas are considered more worthy of protection in the eyes of conservation and some Native groups. Current law explicitly prohibits oil and gas leasing in the Refuge.

    1 in stock

    £39.74

  • Field Guide to the Lichens of White Rocks:

    University Press of Colorado Field Guide to the Lichens of White Rocks:

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisField Guide to the Lichens of White Rocks is a careful examination of the lichens that occur at the ecologically important and lichenologically rich urban outcropping of Fox Hills sandstone known as White Rocks Nature Preserve, located in Boulder County, Colorado. This extensively illustrated field guide presents detailed information on the macroscopic and microscopic features needed to identify species, as well as extensive notes on how to differentiate closely related lichens-both those present at White Rocks and those likely to be found elsewhere in western North America. This guide is one of the only complete lichen inventories of a sandstone formation in North America and covers all constituents including the crustose microlichen biota, traditionally excluded from other inventories. A short introduction and glossary equip the reader with basic information on lichen morphology, reproduction, and ecology. Visitors to White Rocks Nature Preserve must schedule staff-led public tours or set up sponsored research projects through the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and there are many other outcroppings of Fox Hills sandstone across the West, making Field Guide to the Lichens of White Rocks a significant resource for anyone interested in this unique environment. This accessible, user-friendly guide will also be valuable to naturalists and lichenologists around the world as well as educators, conservationists, and land managers concerned with the growing significance of open spaces and other protected urban areas throughout North America. The University Press of Colorado gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the University of Colorado Natural History Museum, City of Boulder Parks & Open Spaces, and the Colorado Native Plant Society board and members toward the publication of this book.

    10 in stock

    £15.19

  • Lost Canyons of the Green River: The Story before

    University of Utah Press,U.S. Lost Canyons of the Green River: The Story before

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisAfter more than 50 years of plans to dam the Green River, it finally happened in 1963 as part of the Colorado River Storage Project. Today many people enjoy boating and fishing on the resultant Flaming Gorge reservoir, but few know about what lies under the water. Unlike Glen Canyon, Flaming Gorge has received little attention. In Lost Canyons of the Green River, Roy Webb takes the reader back in time to discover what lay along this section of the Green River before the Flaming Gorge Dam was built, and provides a historical account of this rather neglected section of the Colorado River system. A historian and a lifetime lover of rivers, Webb has spent decades exploring the region, digging into archives, and running the length of the Green River. The book chronicles the history that is most closely linked to the river and its bottomlands, sharing the stories of those who travelled the Green through Flaming Gorge and the other canyons now flooded by the reservoir, as well as those who lived, farmed, trapped, or ranched along its banks. In depicting the river of the past, Webb considers his book “a guidebook for a river you can no longer run.”Trade Review“Roy Webb is one of the premier river historians in the American West. Because the history of the Green River under Flaming Gorge reservoir is the most neglected part of the system, this book is a much-needed addition to the river system’s story. Webb’s easy-to-read writing style will engage both the scholar and the general reader.”—James Aton, author of John Wesley Powell: His Life and Legacy (The University of Utah Press, 2010.) “An immensely readable, interesting, and informative book… Webb’s narrative covers the history, geology, geography, and other important aspects of the rich and varied back story to what ultimately leads to the building of the dam and its aftermath. We get a valuable glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabited or traversed the territory as well as the physical points along the way. An abundance of photographs and illustrations provides a valuable record of people and places, many of which have now disappeared.” —Utah Westerners

    10 in stock

    £19.16

  • Hiking the Wasatch: A Hiking and Natural History

    University of Utah Press,U.S. Hiking the Wasatch: A Hiking and Natural History

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisUtah’s Wasatch Mountains, with three wilderness areas and hundreds of miles of trails, offer treasures of outdoor opportunities within easy reach of nearly a million people. Yet the steep rugged terrain can seem intimidating to new hikers, and many parts of the Wasatch are relatively unknown and seldom visited. John Veranth has hiked all over these mountains and has written a comprehensive guidebook for both the beginner and the expert hiker.Trails range from nearly level walks requiring less than an hour to ascents that challenge experienced mountaineers. To assist in selecting an appropriate trail, hikes are listed according to best season, time required, objective, and desired level of difficulty. The easy trails have the most detailed descriptions to aid beginners, while expert trails have sparse descriptions to preserve the adventure. Maps, photos, and line drawings are included and detailed driving directions to the trailheads are consolidated to save repetition. The area’s geology, flora and fauna, and human history are also discussed to further appreciation of this mountain environment.Since the first publication of Hiking the Wasatch, there have been numerous changes to these trails, especially along the foothill–urban interface. This third edition contains full updates based on the author’s field checking, comments from members of the Wasatch Mountain Club, and information from land-management agencies. Hiking the Wasatch is the essential and comprehensive guidebook for exploring these mountain trails.Trade ReviewPraise for the second edition of Hiking the Wasatch: "Still considered the most definitive and accurate guide to the Cottonwood Canyons, Mill Creek Canyon, and other areas on the Wasatch Front." –Salt Lake Magazine, "5 Best Guidebooks to Utah's Outdoors" “The author’s life-long love of hiking and commitment to the great outdoors are apparent as he shares his experience and expertise. For those living along the Wasatch who want take advantage of our wonderful mountain range, “Hiking the Wasatch” is a great resource.”—Association of Mormon Letters

    10 in stock

    £17.56

  • The Rocky Mountain National Park Reader

    University of Utah Press,U.S. The Rocky Mountain National Park Reader

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisWriter Wallace Stegner once wrote that ""No place is a place until things that have happened in it are remembered."" This collection celebrates one of America's most loved places, Rocky Mountain National Park, which marks its 100th birthday in 2015. Engagement with place and the events that loom large in park history are the underlying themes that connect the thirty-three selections that make up this anthology.Representative both in subject and approach, the selections reach back to Arapaho and pioneer times, before the park was established, and move forward to span its entire first century. The voices that speak to us are distinctive: some tell us about the past, recalling moments of personal triumph and tragedy; some are quieter, others more polemic. All capture and share a part of the national treasure that is Rocky Mountain National Park.This original collection is a rich literary and historical compendium that provides an indispensable introduction to the nation's twelfth national park.Trade Review“A latter day Enos Mills, Jim Pickering has emerged as the foremost and most prolific historian-champion of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. In this crackerjack anthology, Jim celebrates the park’s centennial with a rich selection of reflections from Arapaho Indians to current scientists studying the scary impact of climate change.” —Tom “Dr. Colorado” Noel, the University of Colorado Denver

    10 in stock

    £15.96

  • Hiking the Escalante: In the Grand

    University of Utah Press,U.S. Hiking the Escalante: In the Grand

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers 1.7 million acres in southern Utah, offering the hiker an experience of deep solitude surrounded by a wealth of geological, biological, and archaeological treasures. Hiking the Escalante opens the door to exploration of this highly scenic area of meandering canyons with relatively few marked trails.It lists fifty hikes by degree of difficulty and includes directions to trailheads, instructions for how to follow particular routes, choices of side canyons along the way, suggestions for loop hikes, and occasional alternative destinations. Along with hike descriptions, the book provides information on the geology, natural history, and human history of the area. This new edition contains seven new hikes, new photographs, and updated information about hike terrain.

    1 in stock

    £17.06

  • Back Cast: Fly-Fishing and Other Such Matters

    University of Utah Press,U.S. Back Cast: Fly-Fishing and Other Such Matters

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisA storyteller and avid fly fisherman, Jeff Metcalf is, for compelling personal reasons, an enhanced observer of the human condition, who finds himself often in the streams of the American West. Not only rivers run through his essays, his cancer does too. But so do camaraderie, adventures, reveling in nature and outdoor devotions, and the sheer bliss of focused engagement with the fish and the cast. Metcalf’s keenly observed companions are river guides, small-town locals, academics, and other city folk, all like him among those who run to the river for solace and joy. These essays are much more than fish stories; they reveal the community and communion of fishing and the bonds to place the author nurtured through it. Whether he recalls carousing and tale-swapping with friends or excellence found through the challenge of the cast, Metcalf’s words, sometimes roiling and turbulent, sometimes calm and reflective, like a western river, vividly convey the pull of the steelhead and the fight for survival. Whether or not you fish, Metcalf’s sharp-eyed, open and honest look at life will draw you in.Trade Review“This collection of essays is ostensibly about fly-fishing, but like the best writing in this genre, it resonates far more broadly. The narrator comes to the river while dealing with major questions about his health [cancer]. The wry humor and evocative writing are set in contrapuntal fashion against reminders to live fully in the moment.” —James Barilla, author of West With the Rise: Fly Fishing Across America “These essays and sketches are wonderful. This collection is significant because it introduces the reader not only to fly-fishing fanatics, such as the author, but also to the mountain west fly-fishing culture of which they are a part.” —Timothy R. Bywater, professor of English, Dixie State University, and coauthor of A Guide to Exploring Grand Teton National Park (with Linda Olson)

    10 in stock

    £17.56

  • University of New Orleans Press Dreaming in the Bone Boat

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £15.26

  • Smart Ass: How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept

    New World Library Smart Ass: How a Donkey Challenged Me to Accept

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £14.39

  • Camel Crazy: A Quest for Healing in the Secret

    New World Library Camel Crazy: A Quest for Healing in the Secret

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £14.44

  • 101 Rescue Puppies: One Family's Story of

    New World Library 101 Rescue Puppies: One Family's Story of

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £15.29

  • Cow Hug Therapy

    New World Library Cow Hug Therapy

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog

    New World Library Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £15.29

  • Of Men and Marshes

    University of Iowa Press Of Men and Marshes

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisStanding with such environmental classics as Loren Eiseley’s The Immense Journey, his friend and mentor Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, and Joseph Wood Krutch’s The Voice of the Desert, Paul Errington’s Of Men and Marshes remains an evocative reminder of the great beauty and intrinsic value of the glacial marshland. Prescient and stirring, steeped in insights from Errington’s biological fieldwork, his experiences as a hunter and trapper, and his days exploring the marshes of his rural South Dakota childhood, this vibrant work of nature writing reveals his deep knowledge of the marshland environments he championed.Examining the marsh from a dynamic range of perspectives, Errington begins by inviting us to consider how immense spans of time, coupled with profound geological events, shaped the unique marshland ecosystems of the Midwest. He then follows this wetland environment across seasons and over the years, creating a compelling portrait of a natural place too little appreciated and too often destroyed. Reminding us of the intricate relationships between the marsh and the animals who call it home, Errington records his experiences with hundreds of wetland creatures. He follows minks and muskrats, snapping turtles and white pelicans, red foxes and blue-winged teals—all the while underscoring our responsibility to preserve this remarkable and fragile environment and challenging us to change the way we think about and value marshlands.This classic of twentieth-century nature writing, a landmark work that is still a joy to read, offers a stirring portrait of the Midwest’s endangered glacial marshland ecosystems by one of the most influential biologists of his day. A cautionary book whose advice has not been heeded, a must-read of American environmental literature, Of Men and Marshes should inspire a new generation of conservationists.

    10 in stock

    £17.06

  • The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory: A Century of

    University of Iowa Press The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory: A Century of

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisImagine a place dedicated to the long-term study of nature in nature, a permanent biological field station, a teaching and research laboratory that promotes complete immersion in the natural world. Lakeside Laboratory, founded on the shore of Lake Okoboji in northwestern Iowa in 1909, is just such a place. In this remarkable and insightful book, Michael Lannoo sets the story of Lakeside Lab within the larger story of the primacy of fieldwork, the emergence of conservation biology, and the ability of field stations to address such growing problems as pollution, disease, habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.At the intersection of major ecosystems with distinct plant and animal communities and surrounded by what, ironically, may be the most intensely cultivated landscape on earth, Lakeside has a long history of rubber-boot biologists saturated in the spirit that grounds the new discipline of conservation biology, and Lannoo brings this history to life with his descriptions of the people and ideas that shaped it. Lakeside’s continuing commitment to bringing the laboratory to the field rather than bringing the field to the lab has supported a focus on mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, ichthyology, invertebrate biology, parasitology, limnology, and algology, subjects rarely taught now on university campuses but crucial to the planet’s health.Today’s huge array of environmental problems can best be solved by people who have learned about nature within nature at a place with a long history of research and observation, people who thoroughly understand and appreciate nature’s cogs and wheels. Lakeside Lab and biological research stations like it have never been more relevant to science and to society at large than they are today. Michael Lannoo convinces us that while Lakeside’s past is commendable, its future, grounded in ecological principles, will help shape a more sustainable society.

    10 in stock

    £16.95

  • A Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction

    University of Iowa Press A Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThirty-five years and many acres after planting his first patch of prairie flowers, Carl Kurtz is considered one of the deans of the great tallgrass prairie revival. The Prairie Enthusiast called the 2001 edition of his book a “readable and understandable introduction to prairie and the general steps in carrying out a reconstruction.” Now this second edition reflects his increased experience with reconstructing and restoring prairie grasslands.Kurtz has completely revised every chapter of the first edition, from site selection and harvest to soil preparation, seeding, postplanting mowing, burning, and growth and development. He has written new chapters on establishing prairie in old pastureland and on the judicious use of herbicides, including a table that shows particular problem species, the types of herbicides that are most effective at controlling them, and the timing and method of treatment. New photographs illustrate species and steps, and Kurtz has expanded the question-and-answer section and updated the references and the section on midwestern seed sources and services.Tallgrass prairie is critical wildlife habitat and an important element in flood control and stream water treatment. The process of reconstructing and restoring prairie grasslands has made great strides in recent decades. Carl Kurtz’s indispensable, step-by-step guide to creating a diverse and well-established prairie community provides both directions and encouragement for individual landowners as well as land managers working with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that have taken up the task of reconstructing and restoring native grasslands.

    10 in stock

    £16.16

  • A Year of Iowa Nature: Discovering Where We Live

    University of Iowa Press A Year of Iowa Nature: Discovering Where We Live

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisEvery Sunday evening for almost ten years, Iowa photographer and naturalist Carl Kurtz has e-mailed a photo and an extended caption to hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts. Engaging and informative, the photos focus on the world around and away from his tallgrass prairie homeplace: snow buntings in a blizzard, maple leaves in fall, migrating snow geese and red-winged blackbirds and monarchs, prairie spiderworts in spring bloom, leopard frogs loafing on waterlily leaves, northern flickers feeding young, and all the inhabitants and moods of the passing seasons. Now, in A Year of Iowa Nature, he presents fifty-five of his favourite photos along with an evocative introduction that urges us to go forth and discover the beauty in our own backyards.Concentrating on Iowa’s tallgrass prairie, Kurtz also points his viewfinder toward the great variety of natural habitats in the eastern United States. Arranged chronologically throughout the year, the fifty-five colour photos and their accompanying narratives rotate through the seasons like a nature film. The winter months showcase a frost-covered white-tailed deer, cedar waxwings feeding on winter apples, a muskrat on the surface of an icy pond, and dune-like snowdrifts. Kurtz’s palette warms up in springtime with stunning photos of Virginia bluebells, fox cubs, juvenile chipmunks, and ruddy ducks. Summer brings a host of butterflies, frogs, and goldfinches as well as blooming prairie plants. The colours become more subdued in fall with the change in light, revealing the rich hues of Indian grass and big bluestem and the subtle plumage of migrating warblers.Just as Kurtz’s Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction offers an indispensable manual for individuals and land managers working to create a diverse prairie community, so does A Year of Iowa Nature point the way toward a sincere, month-by-month appreciation of the natural world around us.

    10 in stock

    £21.56

  • Booming from the Mists of Nowhere: The Story of the Greater PrairieChicken

    University of Iowa Press Booming from the Mists of Nowhere: The Story of the Greater PrairieChicken

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor ten months of the year, the prairiechicken’s drab colors allow it to disappear into the landscape. However, in April and May this grouse is one of the most outrageously flamboyant birds in North America. Competing with each other for the attention of females, males gather before dawn in an explosion of sights and sounds—“booming from the mists of nowhere,” as Aldo Leopold wrote decades ago. There’s nothing else like it, and it is perilously close to being lost. In this book, ecologist Greg Hoch shows that we can ensure that this iconic bird flourishes once again.Skillfully interweaving lyrical accounts from early settlers, hunters, and pioneer naturalists with recent scientific research on the grouse and its favored grasslands, Hoch reveals that the prairiechicken played a key role in the American settlement of the Midwest. Many hungry pioneers regularly shot and ate the bird, as well as trapping hundreds of thousands, shipping them eastward by the trainload for coastal suppers. As a result of both hunting and habitat loss, the bird’s numbers plummeted to extinction across 90 percent of its original habitat. Iowa, whose tallgrass prairies formed the very center of the greater prairiechicken’s range, no longer supports a native population of the bird most symbolic of prairie habitat.The steep decline in the prairiechicken population is one of the great tragedies of twentiethcentury wildlife management and agricultural practices. However, Hoch gives us reason for optimism. These birds can thrive in agriculturally productive grasslands. Careful grazing, reduced use of pesticides, wellplaced wildlife corridors, planned burning, higher plant, animal, and insect diversity: these are the keys. If enough blocks of healthy grasslands are scattered over the midwestern landscape, there will be prairiechickens—and many of their fellow creatures of the tall grasses. Farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and citizens can reverse the decline of grassland birds and insure that future generations will hear the booming of the prairiechicken.

    1 in stock

    £16.10

  • The Wild Midwest: A Coloring Book

    University of Iowa Press The Wild Midwest: A Coloring Book

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhile most colouring books off er fanciful recreations of the wonders of nature, Mark Mu?ller’s realistic drawings allow you to embellish real-world birds, plants, and animals with all the colours you can imagine. Layer your creative whimsy on his meticulous accuracy. Go ahead, ink in a hot pink bison or a turquoise sandhill crane or a buttery yellow tree frog, pouring magic into reality.Turn the tallgrass prairie’s pale purple coneflowers ruby red, the black swallowtail butterfly into a green-dotted swallowtail, or white-tailed deer in to fuschia-tailed. Why shouldn’t red-winged blackbirds fl aunt salmon epaulets, or American goldfinches turn coppery, or rose-breasted grosbeaks celadon-breasted? Amid the creatures teeming in the midwestern grasses and wetlands on these pages, you’ll even find the most common invasive species—see if you can find the garlic mustard and the emerald ash borer! Here is The Wild Midwest as it really is, for your colouring pleasure.

    10 in stock

    £10.40

  • The Natural History of the Turtles of Iowa

    University of Iowa Press The Natural History of the Turtles of Iowa

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £27.16

  • Through a Naturalists Eyes

    University Press of New England Through a Naturalists Eyes

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA journey through the natural world of New England, with an expert guide, and reflections on the relationship between nature and humankind

    15 in stock

    £19.00

  • Skillful Forager: Essential Techniques for

    Shambhala Publications Inc Skillful Forager: Essential Techniques for

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe ultimate forager’s guide to working with any wild plant in the field, kitchen, or pantry—featuring plant profiles, harvesting and preservation tips, and easy recipes From harvesting skills that will allow you to gather from the same plant again and again to highlighting how to get the most out of each and every type of wild edible, trusted expert Leda Meredith explores the most effective ways to harvest, preserve, and prepare all of your foraged foods. Featuring detailed identification information for over forty wild edibles commonly found across North America, the plant profiles in this book focus on sustainable harvesting techniques that can be applied to hundreds of other plants. This indispensable reference also provides simple recipes that can help you make the most of your harvest each season.

    5 in stock

    £23.75

  • Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life

    Shambhala Publications Inc Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA fun, modern, and irreverent introduction to healing herbs, this field guide to feeling good includes more than 20 plant profiles.Here is an invitation to the wild world of healing plants growing right outside your door. Highlighting herbs from catnip and plantain to nettles and rosemary, this book provides the information you need to assemble an herbal arsenal for combatting any ailment—everything from brewing up a slick lube tea for sexual health to fashioning a simple summer band-aid from backyard “weeds” to crafting an herbal smoking blend to quiet a busy mind. This accessible guide covers questions like: What is plant medicine? What can I put in my mouth and where do I find it? Can I still go to my doctor? We’ve got you covered.

    1 in stock

    £19.55

  • Kindness for All Creatures: Buddhist Advice for

    Shambhala Publications Inc Kindness for All Creatures: Buddhist Advice for

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £15.29

  • Conversations with Trees: An Intimate Ecology

    Shambhala Publications Inc Conversations with Trees: An Intimate Ecology

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom a pioneering thinker in the field of religion and ecology, a collection of evocative meditations on the beauty, fragility, and resilience of trees. Included are twenty-seven original lithographs of the trees profiled in each chapter.First published in 1993, Stephanie Kaza''s heartfelt book helped thousands of readers kindle a sense of spiritual connection through communing with our ancient relatives - trees. Shambhala Publications is proud to reissue this book, with a beautiful new cover and a new Introduction by the author. More pertinent now than ever, Kaza''s intimate exploration of the lives and relationships of individual trees exemplifies the conjunction of inquiry and emotion, of science and spirituality. In an era of species extinction and worsening climate change, this book is a warm and earnest invitation to personal and ecological sanity.

    10 in stock

    £16.99

  • Close to Birds: An Intimate Look at Our Feathered

    Shambhala Publications Inc Close to Birds: An Intimate Look at Our Feathered

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis75 gorgeous close-up avian photographs make this exquisite coffee table book the perfect gift for bird lovers An unusual blend of charming heartfelt personal essays and in-depth scientific information bring the reader uniquely into the inner lives of birds Intertwining with our everyday lives like no other wild creature, birds inspire our curiosity and appeal to our sense of wonder and whimsy. These stunning and intimate photographs capture the beauty and detail of each bird''s form, as well as their unique character and personality. Taken while working with researchers at observatories and wildlife refuges, the images offer rare close-up detail sure to delight any bird lover. The accompanying short essays share often-hidden elements from birds'' lives, with both charming personal stories and detailed scientific research. Discover why robins sing so early in the morning and learn the science behind the almost magical iridescence of mallard feathers. This enchanting collection shares the irresistible joy and marvel of birds, from the golden eagle to the purple sandpiper.

    1 in stock

    £32.30

  • Indigenizing Philosophy through the Land: A

    Michigan State University Press Indigenizing Philosophy through the Land: A

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisLand is key to the operations of coloniality, but the power of the land is also the key anticolonial force that grounds Indigenous liberation. This work is an attempt to articulate the nature of land as a material, conceptual, and ontological foundation for Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and valuing.As a foundation of valuing, land forms the framework for a conceptualization of Indigenous environmental ethics as an anticolonial force for sovereign Indigenous futures. This text is an important contribution in the efforts to Indigenize Western philosophy, particularly in the context of settler colonialism in the United States. It breaks significant ground in articulating Indigenous ways of knowing and valuing to Western philosophy - not as artifact that Western philosophy can incorporate into its canon, but rather as a force of anticolonial Indigenous liberation.Ultimately, Indigenizing Philosophy through the Land shines light on a possible road for epistemically, ontologically, and morally sovereign Indigenous futures.

    15 in stock

    £31.06

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