Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

Book SynopsisClimate change has been a central concern over recent years, with visible and highly publicized consequences such as melting Arctic ice and mountain glaciers, rising sea levels, and the submersion of low-lying coastal areas during mid-latitude and tropical cyclones. This book presents a review of the spatial impacts of contemporary climate change, with a focus on a systematic, multi-scalar approach. Beyond the facts – rises in temperature, changes in the spatial distribution of precipitation, melting of the marine and terrestrial cryosphere, changes in hydrological regimes at high and medium latitudes, etc. – it also analyzes the geopolitical consequences in the Arctic and Central Asia, changes to Mediterranean culture and to viticulture on a global scale, as well as impacts on the distribution of life, for example, in the Amazon rainforest, in large biomes on a global scale, and for birds.Table of ContentsIntroduction xiiiDenis MERCIER Chapter 1. Climate Change at Different Temporal and Spatial Scales 1Denis MERCIER 1.1. Contemporary global climate change 1 1.2. Contemporary Arctic-wide climate change 6 1.3. Future global climate change 9 1.4. Future Arctic-wide climate change 11 1.5. The causes of climate change 13 1.5.1. Solar radiation 13 1.5.2. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions 14 1.5.3. Volcanism 16 1.5.4. Albedo and the radiation balance 17 1.6. Conclusion 19 1.7. References 19 Chapter 2. Climate Change and the Melting Cryosphere 21Denis MERCIER 2.1. Introduction 21 2.2. The sensitivity of the cryosphere to climate change 22 2.3. Melting of the marine cryosphere 24 2.3.1. The melting of the Arctic sea ice 24 2.3.2. Antarctic sea ice 27 2.4. Melting of the Earth’s cryosphere 28 2.4.1. Melting ice sheets 28 2.4.2. The melting of mountain glaciers 32 2.4.3. Decreasing permafrost 35 2.4.4. Melting snow 35 2.5. Consequences of the melting cryosphere 36 2.5.1. On a global scale: rising sea levels 36 2.5.2. Regionally: paraglacial risks 38 2.6. Conclusion 40 2.7. References 40 Chapter 3. Between Warming and Globalization: Rethinking the Arctic at the Heart of a Stakes System 43Éric CANOBBIO 3.1. Spatial impacts of climate change in the Arctic 43 3.1.1. Clarifying the terms of the subject in their polar contexts 44 3.2. The manufacture of polar issues, between global warming and globalization 52 3.2.1. Warming and space production, a decade of confusion off the Arctic coasts 53 3.2.2. Three interacting contexts 57 3.3. The production of polar doctrines: rhetoric and frameworks for action 59 3.3.1. Factors of convergence and consensus 60 3.3.2. Differentiation factors 61 3.3.3. The strategic dimensions of Arctic policies, the complex issue of polar militarization 62 3.4. Geography of a new system of stakeholder relations in the Arctic 65 3.5. Conclusion: polar metamorphisms 67 3.6. References 68 Chapter 4. Coastlines with Increased Vulnerability to Sea-level Rise 71Axel CREACH 4.1. Introduction 71 4.2. Coastlines under the influence of sea-level rise 72 4.2.1. The pressures of climate change on coastlines 72 4.2.2. Consequences of sea-level rise on coastlines 76 4.3. Increasingly attractive coastlines for societies 78 4.3.1. The coastalization process 78 4.3.2. A densification of activities on the coastlines 79 4.3.3. A closer approach to the sea 81 4.4. Towards the necessary adaptation of coastal areas 83 4.4.1. The coastline, an area at risk 83 4.4.2. Possible coping strategies 84 4.4.3. The example of the Netherlands 86 4.5. Which coastline for tomorrow? 87 4.6. References 89 Chapter 5. The Consequences of Climate Change on the Paraglacial Sedimentary Cascade 93Denis MERCIER and Étienne COSSART 5.1. The paraglacial sedimentary cascade: elements of definition 93 5.1.1. General principles of the concept of a paraglacial sedimentary cascade 93 5.1.2. Paraglacial spatial boundaries 98 5.1.3. The temporal limits of the paraglacial sedimentary cascade 99 5.2. Sediment inputs to the paraglacial sedimentary cascade 102 5.2.1. Landslides 102 5.2.2. Remobilization of slope deposits 105 5.3. Sediment fluxes within the paraglacial sedimentary cascade 108 5.3.1. The evolution of ice margins on a decadal scale 108 5.3.2. Paraglacial fluvial metamorphoses on a secular scale 109 5.4. Sedimentary stocks or the end of the paraglacial sedimentary cascade 110 5.4.1. Temporary storage areas on a secular scale 110 5.4.2. Interglacial-scale temporary storage areas 112 5.4.3. Final storage areas 115 5.5. Conclusion 115 5.6. References 116 Chapter 6. Spatial Impacts of Climate Change on Periglacial Environments 119Denis MERCIER and Étienne COSSART 6.1. Introduction 119 6.1.1. Definition of periglacial 120 6.1.2. Present and past spatial extent of periglacial environments 121 6.2. Melting permafrost and paraperiglacial geomorphological crises 125 6.2.1. Definition of paraperiglacial 125 6.2.2. Paraperiglacial processes and forms 127 6.3. Periglacial coastal environments in high latitudes in the face of climate change 129 6.4. Periglacial environments at high altitudes in the face of climate change 131 6.4.1. Gravity dynamics and permafrost wall degradation 132 6.4.2. Gravity dynamics and permafrost degradation in loose formations 134 6.4.3. The impact of global warming on high-mountain practices 136 6.5. Conclusion 137 6.6. References 138 Chapter 7. The Impacts of Climate Change on the Hydrological Dynamics of High Latitude Periglacial Environments 143Emmanuèle GAUTIER 7.1. Periglacial regions strongly affected by recent climate change 143 7.1.1. Much warmer winters 143 7.1.2. Permafrost and its sensitivity to air temperatures 144 7.2. The influence of permafrost on hydrological functioning 146 7.2.1. Numerous wetlands in periglacial environments 147 7.2.2. The knock-on effects of climate change on slope hydrology 148 7.3. The response of Arctic fluvial hydrosystems to ongoing climate change 150 7.3.1. River ice 153 7.3.2. Increasing winter low water levels 155 7.3.3. Spring flooding and breakup 157 7.3.4. The rapid evolution of water discharge 159 7.4. Conclusion 163 7.5. References 163 Chapter 8. The Impacts of Climate Change on Watercourses in Temperate Environments 167Gilles DROGUE 8.1. What is at stake? 167 8.1.1. Spatial dynamics of climate zoning and river regimes 167 8.1.2. Watercourses: resource, vector and living environment 169 8.1.3. The (dis)equilibrium between precipitation, evapotranspiration and flow in temperate environments 171 8.1.4. The study of past climate impacts 173 8.1.5. The study of future climate impacts 173 8.1.6. Summary 174 8.2. Hydrological changes already “observable” 176 8.2.1. The case of metropolitan France 176 8.2.2. Continental trends: Western Europe 179 8.3. Hydrological projections 180 8.3.1. For French rivers 180 8.3.2. For continental Europe 181 8.4. Conclusion 184 8.5. References 184 Chapter 9. Spatial Impacts of Melting Central Asian Glaciers: towards a “Water War”? 187Alain CARIOU 9.1. Societies and economies dependent on the cryosphere 187 9.1.1. The possibility of water scarcity and “water war”? 187 9.1.2. “Water tower” mountains for arid depressions 188 9.1.3. Tensions between riparian and rival states 194 9.2. The impact of climate change on water resources 198 9.2.1. Recession of the cryosphere 198 9.2.2. The consequences of cryosphere retreat on hydrology 200 9.2.3. Human societies facing the challenge of climate change 202 9.3. Conclusion 205 9.4. References 206 Chapter 10. Spatial Impact of Climate Change on Winter Droughts in the Mediterranean and Consequences on Agriculture 209Florian RAYMOND and Albin ULLMANN 10.1. Climate variability and change in the Mediterranean basin 209 10.2. Droughts during rainy seasons 211 10.2.1. Rainfall drought: the absence of rain in time and space 211 10.2.2. Detection of very long dry events in the Mediterranean Sea 212 10.2.3. Spatial and temporal characteristics of the main event patterns of very long dry spells 213 10.3. Rainfall droughts in the Mediterranean: impacts on Spanish agrosystems 216 10.4. Rainfall droughts in the Mediterranean: projections for the future 218 10.5. Conclusion 221 10.6. References 222 Chapter 11. The Spatial Impacts of Climate Change on Viticulture Around the World 225Hervé QUÉNOL and Renan LE ROUX 11.1. Introduction 225 11.2. Recent climatic trends in the world’s wine-growing regions 226 11.3. Climate zoning in viticulture 227 11.4. Impact of climate change: anticipating changes in the spatial distribution of vines 230 11.4.1. Towards climate change modeling in wine-growing regions 231 11.4.2. The need to take into account local factors 236 11.5. Conclusion 238 11.6. References 239 Chapter 12. Climate Change in the Amazon: A Multi-scalar Approach 243Vincent DUBREUIL, Damien ARVOR, Beatriz FUNATSU, Vincent NÉDÉLEC and Neli DE MELLO-THÉRY 12.1. Introduction 243 12.2. The Amazonian climate system 244 12.2.1. Heat, humidity and regional diversity 244 12.2.2. Radiation balance and general circulation 247 12.2.3. The forest-climate interaction issue 248 12.3. A changing system: deforestation, warming and drying? 250 12.3.1. Pioneering dynamics: rise and (provisory?) decline 250 12.3.2. Increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall 252 12.3.3. The dynamics of the start and end dates of the rainy season 252 12.3.4. Local effects of land-use changes 254 12.4. Uncertainties of future changes, perceptions and adaptations 257 12.4.1. Savanization and tipping points 257 12.4.2. An overall impact which is certain, but which remains to be specified 258 12.4.3. Perceptions and adaptations by local populations 259 12.5. Conclusion: a stake in the global negotiations 261 12.6. References 263 Chapter 13. The Impacts of Climate Change on the Distribution of Biomes 267Delphine GRAMOND 13.1. Biomes, a representation of life on a global scale 268 13.1.1. The biome, an indicator of climatic context: what are the realities? 269 13.1.2. From the roots of a globalizing concept to the emergence of an operational scale 270 13.2. Structural and functional impacts of climate change on terrestrial biomes 274 13.2.1. From bioclimatic bathing to modification of ecological processes 274 13.2.2. Identifying changes: from global diagnosis to biological responses 275 13.3. Spatializing change: biome modeling 279 13.3.1. Observed and projected global impacts 279 13.3.2. Observed and projected impacts for the Arctic region 282 13.4. Conclusion 284 13.5. References 286 Chapter 14. Spatial Impacts of Climate Change on Birds 289Laurent GODET 14.1. Introduction 289 14.2. Contemporary distributional changes 291 14.2.1. Latitudinal shifts 292 14.2.2. Altitudinal shifts 293 14.2.3. Spatial manifestations of range changes 295 14.3. Different responses for different species 297 14.3.1. Dispersion capabilities 297 14.3.2. Reproductive capacity 298 14.3.3. Generalist nature 299 14.4. Conservation implications 299 14.4.1. Ecological consequences 299 14.4.2. Conservation measures 300 14.5. Conclusion 302 14.6. References 303 List of Authors 311 Index 313

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn our quest to find a place for quiet reflection these simple but beautifully curated books on the wonders of the natural world provides a place for rest, contemplation and reflection. This book features a selection of quotes, extracts and poetry on the folklore, wisdom and customs of walking.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the mountains to the ocean shores, from the wetlands to the deserts, North America teems with flora and fauna in delicately balanced ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. With this book in hand, you will understand the language of nature and see those wild places with new eyes. You’ll learn to recognize the lobed leaf of an Oracle Oak, the webbed tracks of a River Otter, and the fine, cream-colored tentacles of a Frilled Anemone. This volume celebrates a tradition of knowledge established by the Nature Study Guild. For more than sixty years, the Guild’s pocket guidebooks have helped hikers, campers, foragers, and explorers navigate the great outdoors. Now, the best of the guides’ informative text and iconic illustrations are gathered in one handsome hardcover: the perfect reference for today’s ramblers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom starting a fire to foraging for food, basket making to making a bird feeder, tree hugging and cloud scrying, this beautifully designed forest almanac is a treasure for anyone who loves the outdoors. Forest schools for kids originated in Scandinavia as outdoor play-based learning groups, and in 2016 The Forest School Foundation was established in the USA. But why should kids have all the fun? Connecting with green spaces, trees, and plants can lift our spirits, lower our stress levels, and relax our brains - in short, playing outside is good for adults, too. Forest School for Grown-Ups is here to help. A gorgeous and comprehensive guide to all things outdoors for anyone who loves being in and interacting with nature, readers will learn how to make a rope sing, go forest bathing, read flowers, build a campfire, and make a forest potion. From practical tips and how-tos to forest folklore, there's something for everyone. Exquisite lino cut art and illustrations run throughout, along with step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and more. Forest School for Grown-Ups provides the perfect resource for people of all ages to enjoy spending quality time outdoors. From starting a fire to foraging for food, basket making to making a bird feeder, tree hugging and cloud scrying, this beautifully designed forest almanac is a treasure for anyone who loves the outdoors. HANDY AND INFORMATIVE: Comprehensive collection of all things trees, loaded with practical content with a rich, powerful design, making it the perfect gift for anyone who loves the outdoors BEAUTIFUL AND DISTINCTIVE: Features unique handmade linocut art. FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Family-friendly, for all ages Perfect for: • Anyone who loves the outdoors, camping, trees, and nature • Father's Day, birthday, and holiday gift-givers

Read more less

Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud celebration of our favorite four-legged friends, CAN I PET YOUR DOG? features a series of increasingly improbable illustrations depicting the universal experience of bending-over-backwards to give a good pup a well–earned belly rub. Whether it’s slathering yourself in bacon grease or pole-vaulting across traffic, these bizarre scenarios all share a common end goal: Must. Pet. That. Dog. The perfect book for any dog lover, this book is a lighthearted ode to good boys and girls everywhere.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the wonders of the natural world that surrounds you! Start with In The Garden – where you can build a bird feeder, or an insect hotel. Growing Fun has projects for plants that can be grown in small spaces, such as a miniature garden and a tiny terrarium. The Outdoors Indoors includes craft ideas for things you've collected – a leaf picture frame, a shell wind chime and some pine cone animals! Finally, head to Outdoor Crafts and Games with activities for camping. Here you can find out how to make a treasure trail and a river race game, along with much more. Every project has a skill level of 1, 2, or 3, and comes with easy-to-read instructions and adorable, step-by-step artworks that will guide you along the way.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFloral stylist Willow Crossley presents 50 uplifting projects to help you bring nature into your home. In Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature, Willow embraces her passion for plants and shows how to use both flower-shop purchases, beachcombing bounty, home-grown harvests and hedgerow finds foraged on countryside walks to decorate your home. Divided into five chapters on Woodland, Flora, Fauna, Edibles and Beach, here are more than 50 ideas ranging from hellebores displayed in test tubes to a wreath made from hydrangeas, spring narcissi planted in wooden wine boxes, a tabletop display incorporating apples and pears, displays of pebbles, coral and shells, sea urchins fashioned into napkin rings, hollowed-out red cabbages used as vases, a colourful posy of chillies and a stylish wall display of antlers and feathers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of the Guardian's Best Paperbacks of November 'Astonishing ... If by chance you can't meet these 6,042 species yourself, this book is a close second' Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds 'Even readers who wouldn't know a marvellous spatuletail from a southern ground hornbill will be awed' Publishers Weekly Noah Strycker set himself a goal: to become the first person to see half the world's 10,000 species of bird in one year. With an itinerary covering 41 countries, spanning all seven continents, and armed with a backpack, binoculars and a series of one-way tickets, he sets out on the greatest adventure in the birding world. Along the way he meets a colourful cast of fellow birders - and discovers a world of blood-sucking leeches, chronic sleep deprivation, floods, war zones, ecologic devastation and conservation triumphs. Vivid, charming and full of wonder, Birding Without Borders is a celebration of passion, exploration and the birders' ethos that, if you keep your eyes and mind open, you never know what you might see.Trade ReviewThe world's greatest birdwatcher * Independent *Lighthearted and filled with stories of exotic birds, risky adventures and colorful birding companions. * New York Times Book Review *Even readers who wouldn't know a marvellous spatuletail from a southern ground hornbill will be awed by Strycker's achievement and appreciate the passion with which he pursues his interest. * Publishers Weekly *Strycker's description of a year 'expanded to its maximum potential' will inspire readers to explore the world, "from the tiniest detail to the biggest panorama." ... Colorful but unassuming-and unexpected-lessons for living life fully, presented from a birder's-eye view. -- STARRED * Kirkus Reviews *What an astonishing peregrination. If by chance you can't meet these 6,042 species yourself, this book is a close second. Strycker is the perfect companion-smart, thoughtful, intrepid, and at times, very very funny. I loved the birds and the people he met and was sorry when his journey was over. -- Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of BirdsEvery generation has a few naturalist-writers who have a spirit as unlimited as their talent-that's Noah Strycker. The sheer demographics of his travels are mind boggling; he stretches life to the limits, and he has an ability to describe incidents of travel, landscapes, and people with splendid and self-deprecating intimacy. This book goes to the top of my life-list. -- Howard Norman, author of My Darling DetectiveNoah Strycker is a fantastic birder, savvy traveler, and astute observer. Best of all, though, he is a fine writer. I really enjoyed this book. -- Mark Obmascik, author of The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl ObsessionNoah Strycker's ark is big enough for six thousand birds-and then some!-but just as impressive is the way this gifted gatherer makes room for wonder, joy, and friendship found in far-flung places. This is one of those rare, beautiful books that enlarges the world with adventure and makes it feel, at the same time, like a mysteriously intimate place, inhabited by good people in love with the natural world willing to help a stranger on his extraordinary journey. -- Jonathan Rosen, author of The Life of the Skies: Birding at the end of NatureBirding Without Borders is an absolute tour de force. Every birder knows the day-dream lure of exotic species from far-away places, but Noah Stryker turned that dream into the greatest birding adventure of all time. The story of his round-the-world Big Year is one of joy, adrenaline, exhaustion, discovery, and a global fellowship of those for whom, like Noah, birds are everything. I guarantee it will make you want to grab your binoculars and your passport, too. -- Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the WindBirding without Borders is about bird nerdery taken to a magnificent, even beautiful extreme. Noah Strycker goes from country to country seeking out five thousand species of birds, and that quest is an adventure in itself. Armchair birders like myself, watching a Pygmy Nuthatch watching me, can appreciate the passion and courage that Noah displays. -- Craig Newmark, founder of CraigslistHighly recommended for anyone interested in travel, natural history, and adventure. * Library Journal *PRAISE FOR THE MAGIC & MYSTERY OF BIRDS: -- . * . *Mr. Strycker has the ability to write about the worlds of man and fowl without simplifying either. ... He thinks like a biologist but writes like a poet, and one of the small pleasures of [The Magic & Mystery of Birds] is watching him distill empirical research into lyrical imagery. ... Part the palm fronds behind his sentences, and you can almost see the British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough standing there in a pith helmet, smiling with amused approval at Mr. Strycker's off-center sensibility. * Wall Street Journal *[The Magic & Mystery of Birds] turns a shrewd, comparative eye on a succession of bird families to explore what [Strycker] calls their 'human' characteristics ... This is an engaging work which illuminates something profound about all life, including our own. * Economist *[Strycker] combines the latest in ornithological science with snippets of history and his own vast experience in the field to hatch a thoroughly entertaining examination of bird behavior ... In Strycker's absorbing survey, we find out how much fun it is simply to watch them. -- STARRED * Booklist *One of the best bird books you'll read this decade. Guaranteed. * BirdWatching *[The Magic & Mystery of Birds] will encourage you to take a closer look at the natural world around you, and perhaps learn more not only about what you see but who you are. * Seattle Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJenny Joseph was no ordinary poet - and Led by the Nose is no ordinary memoir. Shaped around the smells of the English countryside, it is full of the wilful personality and the sly humour that characterised the purple-clad old woman in her iconic poem 'Warning'. Joseph's eccentricities permeate each chapter as she flows through the gardening year with its chores and blossoms, frequently leading the reader off the garden path to stop, smell the roses, and ignore the world for a while. Full of the sensual awareness of Jenny Joseph's poetry, Led by the Nose is a singular memoir: a work of delicious diversion and literary flair, horticultural anxieties and countercultural tendencies, providing a glimpse - or sniff - of the landscape of this treasured poet's life.Trade ReviewA gardening book for the literary-minded. -- Woman’s Hour * Radio 4 *A treat for the sensual gardener. -- Alan Titchmarsh * Daily Express *Led by the Nose looks and feels like the perfect present for a favourite gardening aunt. Small and chunky, beautifully illustrated with darkly floral woodcuts by Yvonne Skargon, it charts the changing seasons in Jenny Joseph's "rural slum" * Times Literary Supplement *If you have had enough of gaudy melon flowers, try the poet Jenny Joseph's little paperback, Led by the Nose: A Garden of Smells. It will give you just the right shot of romantic Englishness as you sniff your way through the author's gardening year ... poetic, as you would expect from Joseph, but not soppy -- Stephen Anderton * The Times *Combining the knowledge of a seasoned gardener with the writing power of a poet * Mail on Sunday *You may not think that you know the work of Jenny Joseph, but you do. She is the author of 'Warning: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple' - once voted the nation's favourite poem and a worldwide bestseller. Now she has written this year's most unusual gardening book. * The Times *This little book, covering a year in her own garden, is much more than an account of what borders she dug and when she planted her sweet peas ... the poet's sensitivity comes through in the details ... for those who want to evoke similar Proustian memories * Sunday Times *This book would make a good present for a thoughtful, sensitive gardener, especially an elderly one who is tempted both to wear purple and to pick flowers in other people's gardens * Spectator *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Book of Being Chimp is Adrian Cale''s entertaining celebration of the chimpanzee. Written with fact-filled, often witty reverence and featuring over 100 of the author''s beautiful photographs, it is a fun and informative step-by-step guide to chimpanzee life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe British Wildlife Photography Awards is a celebration of British natural history. This stunning collection of winning and shortlisted images documents nature across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Darwin announced his theory of evolution by natural selection, he did more than transform biology. By showing how life on Earth evolved, Darwin told us that humans too are part of nature.

Read more less

Book Synopsis*A Sunday Times Bestseller***INCLUDES AN EXTRA Q&A CHAPTER EXCLUSIVE TO THE PAPERBACK**For five generations, the Pemberton family have farmed at Birks Farm in the picturesque town of Lytham on Lancashire's Fylde Coast, working at the heart of the area since the 1830s and supplying dairy produce to the local community ever since. In 2016, Tom Pemberton uploaded a one-minute video to YouTube about how to use the farm shop's new raw milk vending machine. He thought a handful of people would watch it. It turns out many more did. And so he began uploading regular videos, every Tuesday, Friday and the occasional Sunday to show what he gets up to on the farm. Things don't always go to plan, especially when you're the farmer's son, but every day's a learning day and Tom approaches work as he does life in general: stay positive and don't take yourself too seriously. Make Hay While the Sun Shines takes us behind the farm gate and follows a year on the farm: from calving to maintaining machinery, from mucking out to planning and building a brand-new cow shed. Tom gives us a unique insight into everyday life on a busy dairy farm with all its highs, lows and hard graft. Full of heart, amusing anecdotes and unforgettable characters like Tom's dad, Andy - aka the Ginger Warrior - this is Tom's story of determination, adventure and how to keep a smile on your face even when you're knee-deep in cow poo.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSteve Nicholls makes an epic journey along the River Tees in north-east England, from the industrial complexes near its estuary to its source high in the Pennine Hills.The Tees estuary was where Steve's life-long passion for nature was born, launching a long career as a documentary maker. As he travels the length of the eighty-mile river, he uses his years of travelling the world and his work on nature films to place the fauna and flora he encounters along the Tees in a wider context.He skilfully weaves together strands of personal experience, nature writing, botany, geology and local and wider history with an account of the depredations wrought by human industry and agriculture on the valley and waters of the Tees. Steel River is thus a natural and social history of a remarkable river, but also presents the Tees as a universal exemplar of environmental degradation, allowing the author to reflect on and offer prescriptions for the broken state of the natural world after 10,000 years of human impact.

Read more less

Book SynopsisConnected - Walking with Nature by Jonathan Davidson demonstrates his love of the landscape and the inhabitants that call it home. Through his writing, art, and photography he shares short stories celebrating the natural world and how we can all share in the same joy. Davidson presents a variety of landscapes and experiences, and the journey of each story demonstrates that immersing yourself in the natural world is enhanced by taking your time and delighting at the joy of discovery. The marvel of nature amplified in his writing creates a feeling of wellbeing and of wanting more, and to encourage others to discover such pleasures for themselves. The beauty of the natural world is not just portrayed through his written work but also celebrated through his art and photography. These forms of expression come together to demonstrate the natural world in all its splendour and allows everyone to share this special place that is so clearly cherished by the author. The visual references along with the written word present a captivating picture of what can be experienced by all. Engaging with this book will encourage everyone to venture outside and walk with nature and tread lightly through the landscape.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA timeless exploration of the nightingale, blending cultural history, science, and the mysterious beauty of birdsong. This newly revised edition includes first-hand accounts of nightingale performances, insights into their declining population, and reveals untold stories like the human mimic behind a famous 1924 BBC broadcast.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA unique biography of a vital element in our bodies, our food and the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStep into the wild with wonderful illustrations of creatures from around the world

Read more less

'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.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis keepsake is an ode to our most beloved broadcaster, biologist and environmentalist, packed to the brim with facts, trivia questions and a selection of his most insightful and inspiring quotes. Celebrate the incredible richness of the natural world around us and discover a hopeful outlook for the future, through Sir Attenborough's eyes.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Remarkable' Robert Macfarlane'Gorgeous' Amy Liptrot'Urgent and nourishing' Jessica J. LeeNina Mingya Powles first learned to swim in Borneo - where her mother was born and her grandfather studied freshwater fish. There, the local swimming pool became her first body of water. Through her life there have been others that have meant different things, but have still been, in their own way, home: from the wild coastline of New Zealand to a pond in northwest London.In lyrical, powerful prose, Small Bodies of Water weaves together memories, dreams and nature writing. Exploring everything from migration, food, family, earthquakes and the ancient lunisolar calendar, Nina reflects on a girlhood spent growing up between two cultures, and what it means to belong.Trade ReviewA remarkable book . . . Its language trembles on the brink of poetry; these sentences have surety to their rhythms, subtlety to their weightings. Beautifully, dreamily, intricately, it explores movement, migration and memory. Identity, here, is experienced as liquid, as fluent. Small Bodies of Water was the winner of the inaugural Nan Shepherd Prize, and it's my belief that Shepherd would have loved this book - and would have wanted to walk and swim with Nina, talking of all that her book brings to the surface -- ROBERT MACFARLANENina Mingya Powles is a distinctive new voice: attentive and tender. Her experience of belonging to many places is one that so many of us can relate to. This book is a beautiful personal journey through plants and sea creatures, food and language . . . A gorgeous read -- AMY LIPTROTElegant, understated, urgent and nourishing, this is a book that gives shape to the many intimate waters that connect us, to languages loved, lost and longed for, to the lands that honour us by giving us a home. With poetic precision, Nina Mingya Powles shows us what nature writing can be, braiding place, food, family, migration and all their legacies. This is non-fiction at its most dynamic, its most transporting. I will keep this book close by and return to it often -- JESSICA J. LEESo cool and crystalline, but with deep currents of association shifting like tides beneath -- MELISSA HARRISONNature writing lovers will adore this collection of lyrical essays . . . Traversing Borneo to New Zealand to North London, it explores what bodies of water have meant to [Powles] while navigating girlhood and growing up * * Evening Standard, Best Non-Fiction Books of the Year * *Small Bodies of Water gave me such a longing for travel. It is so full of texture and taste and different kinds of light . . . Nina Mingya Powles takes very small moments and details and skilfully imbues them with poignancy and meaning. It feels like a renewed form of nature writing, in which nature is not necessarily to the fore but nonetheless ever-present; in which nature is a medium for remembering and discovering -- SARA BAUMEVividly connected to nature . . . Captivating . . . Evocative literary sketches of Powles' life are drawn thoughtfully together . . . Mesmerising . . . Tender, like a flower pressed between the pages of a book -- Alycia Pirmohamed * * Big Issue * *A tender and tactile meditation on the elements that hold us together and keep us apart, Small Bodies of Water is a luminous, flowing book. Nina Mingya Powles's mind shimmers -- SEÁN HEWITTA shimmering, poetic masterpiece * * Time Out * *A hauntingly beautiful work - as deep and varied as the bodies of water it explores - and just as affecting. Powles writes of the body, the self and the natural world in ways I've not experienced before; full of raw and glistening truth. This book is exquisite and perfectly formed and reflective and it leaves ripples on your insides like the sea. The writing is off the scale -- KERRI NÍ DOCHARTAIGH

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 'I loved this book' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path'Utterly absorbing' Lucy Jones, author of Losing EdenWishing to leave behind the quiet isolation of her Orkney island life, Amy Liptrot books a one-way flight to Berlin. Searching for new experiences, inspiration and love, she rents a loftbed in a shared flat and looks for work. She explores the streets, nightclubs and parks and seeks out the city's wildlife - goshawks, raccoons and hooded crows. She looks for love through the screen of her laptop.Over the course of a year Amy makes space hoping for the unexpected. And it comes with an erotic jolt, in the form of a love affair that obsesses her.The Instant is an unapologetic look at the addictive power of love and lust. It is also an exploration of the cycles of the moon, the flight paths of migratory birds, the mesmerising power of Neolithic stonework and the trails followed by a generation who exist online.Trade ReviewA slim, luminous account of living and loving in Berlin, picking up where The Outrun left off * * Sunday Times * *I loved this book, such an intimate portrayal of emotional landscapes and the pull of the moon - it's one I'll return to often -- RAYNOR WINNBrilliant on the addictive bliss of romance . . . [The Instant is] a parable about the quicksands of internet dating, and a survivors' handbook 'for the heartsick' * * Telegraph * *Intoxicating, generous and refreshingly original. The way Liptrot weaves her inner life with the natural world and the digital world is utterly absorbing. This book is so alive and so wild -- LUCY JONESBeautiful . . . brilliant . . . The truest thing I've read in a long time. It feels revelatory to read serious, thoughtful writing on the sorts of experiences that so rarely receive it. . . The Instant is the most elegant examination of the internet's distance pain I have ever read -- EVIE WYLD * * New York Times * *Elegant, melancholic and deeply yearning, The Instant captures something vital about our age: its strange dislocations and connections. I drank it in -- KATHERINE MAYEnthralling and instinct-sharpening * * New Statesman * *A book of rare power. Part heartbreaking love story, part pin-sharp exploration of relationships in the digital age, The Instant is an intense and intensely beautiful book about connection, longing and the gravitational power of nature, and human nature, on the heart -- ROB COWENWildness lurks in the edges of this book - nature in its more feral state, and unashamed eroticism. I gulped this slim, powerful, ravishing little book down in one -- CAL FLYNThe Instant is magical, it is sexy, it is redolent of the natural world and it is all the things that makes Liptrot one of the most unique voices writing today . . . We simply cannot get enough Liptrot in our lifetimes. I want her to write a book every year * * Caught by the River * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING Wishing to leave behind the isolation of her Orkney island life, Amy Liptrot books a one-way flight to Berlin. She rents a loftbed in a shared flat and starts to look for work - and for love - through the screen of her phone. The Instant tells of the momentous year that follows, encountering the city's wildlife in the most unexpected places, tracing the cycles of the moon, the flight paths of migratory birds and surrendering to the addictive power of love and lust.Trade ReviewI loved this book, such an intimate portrayal of emotional landscapes and the pull of the moon - it's one I'll return to often -- RAYNOR WINNA slim, luminous account of living and loving in Berlin, picking up where The Outrun left off * * Sunday Times * *Brilliant on the addictive bliss of romance . . . [The Instant is] a parable about the quicksands of internet dating, and a survivor's handbook 'for the heartsick' * * Telegraph * *Beautiful . . . brilliant . . . The truest thing I've read in a long time. It feels revelatory to read serious, thoughtful writing on the sorts of experiences that so rarely receive it. . . The Instant is the most elegant examination of the internet's distance pain I have ever read -- EVIE WYLD * * New York Times * *Elegant, melancholic and deeply yearning, The Instant captures something vital about our age: its strange dislocations and connections. I drank it in -- KATHERINE MAYGlorious * * Times Literary Supplement * *Intoxicating, generous and refreshingly original. The way Liptrot weaves her inner life with the natural world and the digital world is utterly absorbing. This book is so alive and so wild -- LUCY JONESThe Instant is magical, it is sexy, it is redolent of the natural world and it is all the things that makes Liptrot one of the most unique voices writing today . . . We simply cannot get enough Liptrot in our lifetimes. I want her to write a book every year * * Caught by the River * *Wildness lurks in the edges of this book - nature in its more feral state, and unashamed eroticism. I gulped this slim, powerful, ravishing little book down in one -- CAL FLYNA book of rare power. Part heartbreaking love story, part pin-sharp exploration of relationships in the digital age, The Instant is an intense and intensely beautiful book about connection, longing and the gravitational power of nature, and human nature, on the heart -- ROB COWEN

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2023LONGLISTED FOR THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE 2022Reflecting on family, identity and nature, belonging is a personal memoir about what it is to have and make a home. It is a love letter to nature, especially the northern landscapes of Scotland and the Scots pinewoods of Abernethy.Beautifully written and featuring Amanda Thomson's artwork and photography throughout, it explores how place, language and family shape us and make us who we are. It is a book about how we are held in thrall to elements of our past. It speaks to the importance of attention and reflection, and will encourage us all to look and observe and ask questions of ourselves.Trade ReviewOutstanding -- ROBERT MACFARLANEA beautifully written meditation on rural surroundings and her place within them * * Sunday Times * *Amanda Thomson's new book manages to carve out a distinctive niche for itself . . . This is a passionate book and infused with a sense of rootedness -- STUART KELLY * * The Scotsman * *In recent years rural landscapes have turned into battlegrounds, and nature writing has become increasingly polemical. Belonging is a quiet book of questions in a genre full of answers, but it is all the more powerful and beautiful for this -- PATRICK GALBRAITH * * TLS * *Deservedly shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize; a thoughtful blend of memoir, family history, artistic scrapbook and nature journal in a compelling collage. [ . . . ] There's also an all-encompassing belief in the importance of listening, looking and learning from the world around us * * Observer * *One of the best things I have read in ages . . . Quiet and beautiful and powerful -- ALYS FOWLERThomson writes of the natural in a way I have yet to encounter before. There is no real hoo-haa, no flowery description of which to speak yet somehow, I came away with that ache inside me - that renewed obsession with the world that is only borne of a very particular kind of writing - poetic, loving, raw . . . Like no other -- KERRI Ní DOCHARTAIGH * * Caught by the River * *I rather enjoyed Amanda's very personal history interweaving ideas of family, place, history and nature. I was left feeling that she is the sort of person that I would love to spend an evening engaged in conversation with -- DAVID LINDO, The Urban BirderWhether writing about nature, about family, about art, or about identity, Amanda Thomson brings a careful and a thoughtful attention to the page. She shows how the threads of a life - its passions and preoccupations - are intricately entangled, each illuminating and complicating the other -- MALACHY TALLACKA book that digs deep . . . Vivid * * Herald * *In belonging, Thomson invites us to think about what living with the land really means: not just beautiful and wild places, but cities, suburbs, old houses, the places that shape us in childhood and beyond, too. This is an evocative, intimate journey through the ways we find home - in family, place, history and language -- JESSICA J. LEELyrical * * Country Living * *A finely-wrought meditation on nature, identity and the tender hold of the past -- SAMANTHA WALTON, author of EVERYBODY NEEDS BEAUTY and THE LIVING WORLDTender, searching and dialectically alert, this glorious book is a primer on noticing, a map of intersectional consciousness. Each passage pulses with incandescent turns of wonder and pain, like wingbeats stirring the air. In strikingly original takes on Scottish history, environmentalism, Black feminist theory, artmaking, list-making, memory and memoir, Thomson crafts a cadence that is as wise as it is vitally alive. Reading it, I felt like I belonged. What a gift: to see and love the world even as it hurts, even as it changes -- MARGOT DOUAIHY, author of SCORCHED GRACEA highly original, beautifully written and timely account -- STEPHEN MOSS

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITINGA WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023: NATURE AND TRAVELWhen Kerri and her partner M moved to a small, remote railway cottage in the heart of Ireland they were looking for a home, somewhere to stay put. What followed was a year unlike any other.Cacophony of Bone maps the circle of that year - a journey from one place to another, field notes of a life - from one winter to the next. It is a telling of a changed life, in a changed world - and it is about all that does not change. All that which simply keeps on - living and breathing, nesting and dying - in spite of it all.This is an ode to a year, a place, and a love, that changed a life.Trade Review[A] generous, glowing book. ní Dochartaigh is on intimate terms with the natural world . . . [and] Cacophony of Bone is distinctly innovative in form. This attention to form is a considerable narrative achievement. It [. . . ] persuades the reader to look, assess and imagine afresh * * Irish Times * *Raw, visionary, lucid and mystical, Cacophony of Bone speaks of the connection between all things, and the magic that can be found in everyday life -- KATHERINE MAYThe delight of ní Dochartaigh's writing is her capacity to measure compassion against observation. Her wisdom is like water - too strong, and too elusive, to be hooked . . . This is the book's power - that it fills the needs of the person who stands before it . . . It is a book that creeps into the reader * * Caught by the River * *This is a brilliant second book from a unique and deeply gifted writer who constantly renews our sense of the natural world and the landscape of the heart -- KEVIN BARRYWhat joy, to find oneself once more in the world of Kerri Ní Dochartaigh, following her through the astonishments of her days, where each moment is deeply felt and each page is written with such nimble meticulousness. Cacophony of Bone is neat as a robin's nest, and just as wondrous -- DOIREANN Ní GHRíOFAA strange and beautiful book - a collage of glittering images, moments, feelings, sensations. A selection of shining objects gathered on windowsill for safekeeping. A careful record of a fulcrum year, with all its joys and pains laid out on the page; Kerri ní Dochartaigh is a prose poet with keen eyes and a huge heart -- CAL FLYNIn Cacophony of Bone as in her previous work, Kerri has a deeply personal voice that feels as if it comes not from her, but from the earth beneath her -- MARC HAMERI am a little in awe of Kerri ní Dochartaigh's work - the clarity and disinhibition of her storytelling; the wild freedom of her prose. Here is a brave and bold book, and one that deserves to be read, then read again -- HELEN JUKESCacophony of Bone is a book that touched me deeply. It's so vital, so brimming with life and love, and ní Dochartaigh's singular, addictive lyricism -- LUCY JONESIn poems and essays, Ní Dochartaigh writes in exquisite detail of the seasons, beginning with the "ghost-trace, moon-white" and silent winter that kicks off a new phase of life * * Los Angeles Times * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFarming – whether domestic crops, forestry, fish or livestock – is one of the pillars of human civilization, dating back to the early settlements of Neolithic times. Today, approximately one billion people work the land, providing food and other products for our ever-increasing human population. Arranged geographically, Farming explores the many types of farm and farming that exist today. See how farmers in Malaysia extract milky latex from the bark of rubber trees, used to make everything from protective gloves to vehicle tires; be amazed at the gorgeous stepped rice fields of Bali, where the traditional subak irrigation system is created around ‘water temples’ and managed by Hindu priests; marvel at the vast corn and soya bean fields of Ontario, much of it used for animal feed to support Canada’s beef industry; learn about nomadic pastoralism in low rainfall areas such as Somalia, where herders move camels, cattle, sheep and goats in search of grazing; explore the wineries and vineyards in Bordeaux, where more than 700 million bottles of wine are produced each year by more than 8,500 châteaux; and see how freshwater prawns are harvested for export in the watery deltas of Bangladesh. Presented in a landscape format and with more than 180 outstanding photographs of farming from every part of the planet, Farming offers a pictorial celebration of mankind’s deep connection with the land that sustains us.Table of ContentsContents include: Europe • Livestock farming, cows and sheep – Germany, France • Dairy farming – everywhere • Fruit farming – Kent • Hop farms and oast houses – Kent • Hill farming – Wales • High tunnel greenhouses • Wind farms • Oranges, apricots, lemons – Spain • Wineries and vineyards – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece • Champagne, France – largest farms in France North America • Cattle ranches • Arable crops – Midwest • Peanut farms – Georgia • Aquaponics • Fruits, vegetables, and nuts –Salinas valley, California • Corn belt – Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, southern Michigan, western Ohio • Wheat belt – from Alberta tocentral Texas • Cotton and tobacco farming – Deep South • Catfish farm, Mississippi • Scallop farms, Vancouver Island • Cattle, grains and oilseeds – Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan • Wild berries, caribou, musk, ox – Nunavut Central & South America • Sugarcane, coffee, soybeans – Brazil • Cattle ranches – Argentina • Cocoa – Ecuador • Coffee, cocoa, plantation – Columbia • Vineyards – Chile, Argentina • Andean farming – maize, potatoes Africa and the Middle East • Nomadic herding – Saharan Africa (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Libya, Algeria) • Farming around the Nile – crop rotation, corn (maize), rice, wheat, sorghum, and fava • Citrus, wine, table grapes, corn and wool – South Africa • Tea, coffee – Kenya • Cocoa – Ivory Coast and Ghana • Maize and cassava – Nigeria Asia and the Pacific • Poppy farms – Afghanistan • Fruit farms – Afghanistan • Dry farming – India, Iran • Tea plantations – India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia • Rubber plantations – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia • Rice cultivation – China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam • Bali – subak irrigation system and water temples • Sugarcane, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), sweet potatoes – Vietnam • Sorghum farming – China • Fish farms – Fujian coast, China • Tilapia pens in Laguna de Bay, Philippines • Slash-and-burn – Indonesia • Subsistence farming – China, India, Nepal • Fish farms – India, Bangladesh, Thailand • Cocoa – Indonesia • Palm oil – Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo • Coconut farming – Malaysia, Thailand • Vertical farming – Japan • Sugarcane – Queensland • Stock farming – Australia • Wheat, barley, chickpeas – Australia

Read more less

Book SynopsisRainforests are a natural wonder, our planet’s green lung. Rainforests are home to over half the world’s animal and plant species. Many of our everyday foods originate from these rich habitats, and rainforest plants are used in life-saving medicines. Most importantly, rainforests play a critical role in stabilising our climate; without them, life on Earth would be quite different. Yet, despite their vital importance, rainforests are disappearing at an increasingly alarming rate. This book celebrates these essential ecosystems, looking at both tropical and temperate rainforests around the world, providing a pictorial record of these living wonderlands before they are gone forever.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Modest, down to earth and full of humour, this is one of the best books about filming I've ever read.' MICHAEL PALIN'Extraordinary: Gavin's easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it.' JOANNA LUMLEY'[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant!' ALAN TITCHMARSH_________From Gavin Thurston, the award-winning Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II cameraman with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough comes extraordinary and adventurous true stories of what it takes to track down and film our planet's most captivating creatures.Gavin has been a wildlife photographer for over thirty years. Against a backdrop of modern world history, he's lurked in the shadows of some of the world's remotest places in order to capture footage of the animal kingdom's finest: prides of lions, silverback gorillas, capuchin monkeys, brown bears, grey whales, penguins, mosquitoes - you name it he's filmed it.Come behind the camera and discover the hours spent patiently waiting for the protagonists to appear; the inevitable dangers in the wings and the challenges faced and overcome; and the heart-warming, life-affirming moments the cameras miss as well as capture. What other readers are saying about Journeys in the Wild: 'It's touching, it's thought provoking and its emotional...Go pick it up. It's an absolute inspiration of a book.' Goodreads'Full of unbelievable anecdotes from decades of work, some absolutely hilarious, this book left me in complete wonder.' Goodreads'An amazing read and I would heartily recommend it to everyone I know.' GoodreadsTrade ReviewGavin's book is extraordinary: his easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it. * Joanna Lumley *Gavin Thurston's book has all sorts of strengths. His camera has captured some of the most eye-catching images of the natural world ever seen on television. And he can write. He brings the process home to us in a style that is modest, down to earth and full of humour. This is one of the best books about filming I've ever read. * Michael Palin *[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant! * Alan Titchmarsh *This is an absorbing account of a fascinating career. * BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE *His no-holds-barred memoir plunges you into the serendipities and perils of working in the remote wilderness, as he stands stock-still to 'hide' from short-sighted African elephants in Kenya, films demoiselle cranes flying 6 kilometres up above Nepal, or marvels at the hiss of Mauritania's dryland crocodiles. -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *An enlightening glimpse beyond the lens. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A warp-speed tour of dinosaurs, with an expert guide' PROF. STEVE BRUSATTE, bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs'A fun, speedy read for grown-ups who love dinosaurs - a great way to get into the subject' PROF. MICHAEL BENTON, author of The Dinosaurs Rediscovered---------Travel back to the prehistoric world and discover the most fascinating parts of the lives of Earth's most awe-inspiring creatures - the dinosaurs. Dr Dean Lomax brings these prehistoric creatures to life in ten bite-sized essays, written for people short on time but not curiosity. Making big ideas simple, Dean takes readers on a journey to uncover what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, what dinosaurs ate, how they evolved, what caused them to go extinct, and more! Perfect for anyone fascinated by the dinosaur exhibits at museums, palaeontology and fans of Jurassic Park.---------'An eminently accessible read...a perfect primer (or refresher) for dino fans and newbies, yet doesn't skimp on the fascinating details that make 21st-century palaeontology so vibrant' DR REBECCA WRAGG SYKES, author of KindredTrade ReviewA fun, speedy read for grown-ups who love dinosaurs - a great way to get into the subject * Professor Michael Benton, author of The Dinosaurs Rediscovered *A warp-speed tour of dinosaurs, with an expert guide. * Professor Steve Brusatte, bestselling author of 'The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs' *An eminently accessible read, Lomax provides a perfect primer (or refresher) for dino fans and newbies, yet doesn't skimp on the fascinating details that make 21st century palaeontology so vibrant. * Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of 'Kindred' *If you were a dinosaur fan when you were a kid and never lost interest, I encourage you to check out this book. Paleontology has come a long way since the 1990s and there have been many finds that have changed the way we think about these creatures. This book covers a lot of ground and it's all packaged in a quick, easy read that will supply you with many fun dinosaur facts for entertaining or educating purposes. * Kallie Moore, host of PBS Eons Show *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Florilegium Society at The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney was formed in 2005 to create a unique collection of contemporary botanical paintings of significant plants that represent the history of the living collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. This beautifully produced book is a celebration of 200 years of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, showcasing the botanical richness of these Gardens through the eyes of 64 exceptional Australian and international botanical artists. The stunning botanical paintings are presented chronologically according to the date of each species’ introduction to the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney and its Blue Mountains Garden, Mt Tomah and the Australian Garden, Mt Annan. With paintings of indigenous Australian plants as well as more exotic species from Asia, the Americas, Africa and Europe, The Florilegium truly reflects the diversity of the three Gardens. Each painting is accompanied by a botanical description written by Louisa Murray and a historic overview by Colleen Morris detailing the discovery of the featured species, its historic and cultural significance and introduction to the Gardens. With a foreword by Dr Shirley Sherwood OBE, preface by Dr Brett Summerell, RBG Sydney Director of Science and Conservation, and an introductory essay by Beverly Allen. The accompanying exhibition of the same name runs from February – August 2018 in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ‘The standard of the plant portraits is so high and the text so illuminating that this will make a memorable book.’ Dr Shirley Sherwood OBE

Read more less

Book SynopsisOrchids are one of the largest plant families, with an estimated 28,000 species worldwide, they occur on all major landmasses except Antarctica. Full of a variety of colour and form, this new Kew Pocketbook offers a snapshot into the diverse world of orchids, a plant group that has become part of our daily lives, fascinated Darwin, and continues to enthral scientists and horticulturists today. Beautifully illustrated with 40 stunning paintings from the Kew archives. An introductory chapter by Kew expert Michael F. Fay provides an overview of the plant group, and extended captions accompany each painting.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisAided by this book the gardener can now answer the question "What's in a name?" and they and their garden will benefit from understanding the wealth of information that has hitherto lain hidden within the mysterious world of Latin names.' - Financial Times OnlineRHS Latin for Gardeners is an informative, entertaining and beautifully illustrated unravelling of the mysteries of botanical Latin. Over 3,000 Latin names are listed alphabetically, showing how plant names can reveal where a plant originally comes from (and thus its preferred growing conditions), along with such properties as its shape, form, colour, taste, and smell. Each name is clearly defined and accompanied by a pronunciation guide, and the pages are filled with attractive botanical illustrations. Fascinating feature spreads retell the adventures of important plant hunters such as Sir Joseph Banks and Alexander von Humboldt, and explain how their discoveries affect the way our gardens look today. Individual plants are also profiled throughout, showing how their names can illuminate their hidden histories. Aided by this book, every gardener, and their garden, will benefit from uncovering the wealth of information that lies within the remarkable world of Latin binomials. A little Latin can do a lot of good - apply the lore of Latin to your own garden!Contents includes...The A-Z Listings of Latin Plant NamesPlant ProfilesPlant HuntersPlant Themes...And Much More!Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION HOW TO USE THIS BOOK THE HISTORY OF BOTANICAL LATIN BOTANICAL LATIN FOR BEGINNERS LATIN PLANT NAMES A from abbreviatus to azureus B from babylonica to byzantinus C from cacaliifolia to cytisoides D from dactylifera to dyerianum E from ebenus to eyriesii F from facetus to futilis G from gaditanus to gymnocarpus H from haastii to hystrix I from ibericus to ixocarpus J from jacobaeus to juniperinus K from kalmiiflorus to kurdicus L from labiatus to lysimachioides M from macedonicus to myrtifolius N from nanellus to nymphoides O from obconicus to oxyphyllus P from pachycarpa to pyriformis Q from quadrangularis to quinquevulnerum R from racemiflorus to rutilans S from sabatius to szechuanica T from tabularis to typhina U from ulicina to uvaria V from vacciniifolia to vulgata W from wagneri to wulfenii X from xanthina to xantholeuca Y from yakushimanum to Yunnanense Z from zabeliana to zumi PLANT PROFILES Acanthus Achillea Alyssum Digitalis Eryngium Eucalyptus Foeniculum Geranium Helianthus Jasminum Lycopersicon Parthenocissus Passiflora Plumbago Pulmonaria Quercus Sempervivum Streptocarpus Tropaeolum Vaccinium PLANT HUNTERS Alexander von Humboldt Sir Joseph Banks Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Francis Masson and Carl Per Thunberg John Bartram David Douglas Carl Linnaeus Jane Colden and Lilian Suzette Gibbs Joseph Hooker Andre Michaux PLANT THEMES Where Plants Come From The Shape of Plants The Color of Plants The Qualities of Plants The Fragrance and Taste of Plants Numbers and Plants Animals and Plants CREDITS

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe mountains of Ireland are wild and untrodden. There is a powerful and magnetic quality to Ireland’s high places, a mix of mountains and sea that creates an indelible impression and inexorably draws one back. From High Places is a celebration of Ireland’s great mountains. A collection of stunning images taken from the peaks of these mountains, it will transport you from the quartzite giants of Connemara, the wild summits of Donegal, the sweeping mountains of Mourne, to the towering peaks of Kerry. In addition to these images, the author describes his own unique experiences exploring these mountain areas and interweaves these with an account of the local history, folklore, and geology. From High Places will inspire the reader, be they beginner or experienced hill-walker, to set out and explore the magnificent mountains Ireland has to offer.Trade Review"Some might wonder why people want to walk on our hills. Quite simply, this book is why. It is a glorious celebration, and the enthusiasm of the author for his subject abounds on every page. This book also reminds us that our mountains are perhaps one of our most precious resources, to be savoured, treasured, and denied to none.' Alan Tees, President, Mountaineering Ireland

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature Elemental, fierce and full of wonder, the Cairngorm mountains are the high and rocky heart of Scotland. To know them would take forever, to love them demands a kind of courageous surrender. In The Hidden Fires, Merryn Glover undertakes that challenge with Nan Shepherd as companion and guiding light. Following in the footsteps and contours of The Living Mountain, she explores the same landscapes and themes as Shepherd’s seminal work. This is a journey separated by time but unified by space and purpose, a conversation between two women across nearly a century that explores how entering the life of a mountain can illuminate our own. An Australian who grew up in the Himalayas, her early experiences of the Scottish hills and weather left her cold. But gradually acclimatising and with an approach like Shepherd’s, that is more mountain wandering than mountaineering, she discovers the spark that sets the hills and herself on fire. Through Glover’s deepening encounter, the wild majesty and iridescence of the Cairngorms is revealed in this beautiful evocation of landscape, place and identity. Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2024 'Merryn Glover’s The Hidden Fires is not just brave, it is remarkable' – Sir John Lister-KayeTrade Review'Inspired by The Living Mountain, this book will sit comfortably and deservedly on the same shelf as Nan Shepherd’s masterpiece' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'A dazzling adventure into mountain, place and time. Redolent with the presence of Nan Shepherd, this book will captivate lovers of The Living Mountain' -- Esther Woolfson'The Hidden Fires is a book about homecoming and homemaking, of noticing and belonging. It is a joyous celebration of the process of finding yourself' -- Kerri Andrews, author of Wanderers: A History of Women Walking'Only rarely does one read a book whose quality of distinction is immediately apparent from the first page; Merryn Glover’s The Hidden Fires is not just brave, it is remarkable. Her writing comes at you out of the rock; it recalls some splendid cave painting, telling as much of man as of beast and leaving us in awe of each' -- Sir John Lister-Kaye, FRSGS, OBE'A meditation on both Nan Shepherd's classic book and on what the mountains mean to them both...the discoveries she makes as she follows in Shepherd' Cairngorms footsteps have a freshness about them. There's magic and mysticism in the mix too' -- David Robinson'a deeply personal account of Glover's love for the landscape' -- Alice Hinds * Sunday Post *'A truly inspiring and beautiful book about the Cairngorm mountains, our natural world, and beyond...a rare beauty, where the place and sense of self is revealed and celebrated in all its blazing glory and wonder' -- Liz Robinson * LoveReading - Star Book *'Glover crafts an evocative and immersive slice of travel writing about how the beauty and grandeur of the Cairngorms spoke to her soul' * Waterstones Online *'Glover muses on the late legendary poet's thoughts and experiences whilst on her own transformative journey in a pilgrimage that is touching, elemental, brave and deeply affecting' * Scottish Field *'An admirable and enjoyable book, well-written, good humoured and informative' * The i *'Evocative writing... brings alive the joys and hidden spirituality that a trip to the Scottish hills can bring' * Life and Work *'A very special book...on all accounts, it entertains, educates, and fascinates' -- Neil Reid * Scottish Mountaineer Magazine *'Glover’s writing is refreshing and, whiles, can sparkle like schist... The book will appeal most to those who go to the hills for the hills’ allure rather than out to prove prowess at one of the sporting activities alone' -- Hamish Brown * Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal *'Despite the influence of Shepherd’s gaze, Glover’s own voice – thoughtful, honest, funny, and utterly full of feeling – shines' * The Great Outdoors *

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature Elemental, fierce and full of wonder, the Cairngorm mountains are the high and rocky heart of Scotland. To know them would take forever, to love them demands a kind of courageous surrender. In The Hidden Fires, Merryn Glover undertakes that challenge with Nan Shepherd as companion and guiding light. Following in the footsteps and contours of The Living Mountain, she explores the same landscapes and themes as Shepherd’s seminal work. This is a journey separated by time but unified by space and purpose, a conversation between two women across nearly a century that explores how entering the life of a mountain can illuminate our own. An Australian who grew up in the Himalayas, her early experiences of the Scottish hills and weather left her cold. But gradually acclimatising and with an approach like Shepherd’s, that is more mountain wandering than mountaineering, she discovers the spark that sets the hills and herself on fire. Through Glover’s deepening encounter, the wild majesty and iridescence of the Cairngorms is revealed in this beautiful evocation of landscape, place and identity. Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2024 'Merryn Glover’s The Hidden Fires is not just brave, it is remarkable' – Sir John Lister-KayeTrade Review'Inspired by The Living Mountain, this book will sit comfortably and deservedly on the same shelf as Nan Shepherd’s masterpiece' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *'A dazzling adventure into mountain, place and time. Redolent with the presence of Nan Shepherd, this book will captivate lovers of The Living Mountain' -- Esther Woolfson'The Hidden Fires is a book about homecoming and homemaking, of noticing and belonging. It is a joyous celebration of the process of finding yourself' -- Kerri Andrews, author of Wanderers: A History of Women Walking'Only rarely does one read a book whose quality of distinction is immediately apparent from the first page; Merryn Glover’s The Hidden Fires is not just brave, it is remarkable. Her writing comes at you out of the rock; it recalls some splendid cave painting, telling as much of man as of beast and leaving us in awe of each' -- Sir John Lister-Kaye, FRSGS, OBE'A meditation on both Nan Shepherd's classic book and on what the mountains mean to them both...the discoveries she makes as she follows in Shepherd' Cairngorms footsteps have a freshness about them. There's magic and mysticism in the mix too' -- David Robinson'a deeply personal account of Glover's love for the landscape' -- Alice Hinds * Sunday Post *'A truly inspiring and beautiful book about the Cairngorm mountains, our natural world, and beyond...a rare beauty, where the place and sense of self is revealed and celebrated in all its blazing glory and wonder' -- Liz Robinson * LoveReading - Star Book *'Glover crafts an evocative and immersive slice of travel writing about how the beauty and grandeur of the Cairngorms spoke to her soul' * Waterstones Online *'Glover muses on the late legendary poet's thoughts and experiences whilst on her own transformative journey in a pilgrimage that is touching, elemental, brave and deeply affecting' * Scottish Field *'An admirable and enjoyable book, well-written, good humoured and informative' * The i *'Evocative writing... brings alive the joys and hidden spirituality that a trip to the Scottish hills can bring' * Life and Work *'A very special book...on all accounts, it entertains, educates, and fascinates' -- Neil Reid * Scottish Mountaineer Magazine *'Glover’s writing is refreshing and, whiles, can sparkle like schist... The book will appeal most to those who go to the hills for the hills’ allure rather than out to prove prowess at one of the sporting activities alone' -- Hamish Brown * Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal *'Despite the influence of Shepherd’s gaze, Glover’s own voice – thoughtful, honest, funny, and utterly full of feeling – shines' * The Great Outdoors *

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamines how pastoral peoples imagine, or even design, their futures under the pressure of changing environments and large-scale government projects.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow should we treat non-human animals? In this immensely powerful and influential book (now with a new introduction by Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari), the renowned moral philosopher Peter Singer addresses this simple question with trenchant, dispassionate reasoning. Accompanied by the disturbing evidence of factory farms and laboratories, his answers triggered the birth of the animal rights movement.'An extraordinary book which has had extraordinary effects... Widely known as the bible of the animal liberation movement' Independent on SundayIn the decades since this landmark classic first appeared, some public attitudes to animals may have changed but our continued abuse of animals in factory farms and as tools for research shows that the underlying ideas Singer exposes as ethically indefensible are still dominating the way we treat animals. As Yuval Harari’s brilliantly argued introduction makes clear, this book is as relevant now as the day it was written.Trade ReviewIn my mind, it is one the most important books of the last 100 years. It expands our moral horizons beyond our own species and is thereby a major evolution in ethics -- Peter Tatchell * Ecologist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf we could see it as a whole, if they all arrived in a single flock, say, we would be truly amazed: sixteen million birds. Swallows, martins, swifts, warblers, wagtails, wheatears, cuckoos, chats, nightingales, nightjars, thrushes, pipits and flycatchers pouring into Britain from sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the enduring wonders of the natural world. Each bird faces the most daunting of journeys -navigating epic distances, dependent on bodily fuel reserves. Yet none can refuse. Since pterodactyls flew, twice-yearly odysseys have been the lot of migrant birds. For us, for millennia, the Great Arrival has been celebrated. From The Song of Solomon, through Keats' Ode To a Nightingale, to our thrill at hearing the first cuckoo call each year, the spring-bringers are timeless heralds of shared seasonal joy. Yet, migrant birds are finding it increasingly hard to make the perilous journeys across the African desert. Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo is a moving call to arms by an impassioned expert: get outside, teach your children about these birds, don't let them disappear from our shores and hearts.Trade ReviewA beautiful and important book * Simon Barnes, author of HOW TO BE A BAD BIRDWATCHER *'We owe a debt to a writer like McCarthy, who paints so well the portrait of natural riches we think our birthright ... McCarthy paints a portrait of a magical bird universe' * Daily Mail *'This is a joyful book' * Daily Express *'Michael McCarthy is one of the best environmental journalists there is' * Sunday Telegraph *'This is a valuable guide to what we'll soon miss' * Geographical Magazine *'This is the most important book I have read for a long time ... it boils with enthusiasm ... many will greatly enjoy the rich and informative prose ... to not read this book is a crime against conservation and the cost is almost beyond comprehension' * BBC Countryfile Magazine *A stark picture of the fate of migratory birds * BBC Country File Magazine *'This book could easily have been a grim litany of despair ... instead Michael McCarthy has taken the opportunity to celebrate our summer migrants ... this book reminds us of what we stand to lose and why we cannot afford to take the cuckoo for granted' * BBC Wildlife *'An impassioned hymn to the wonder of the annual display of migrating birds and a robust warning' * Metro *'A rich ornithological tapestry ... buy this book, enjoy it' * Ian Wallace, British Birds *'One of my heroes - writer Mike McCarthy - paints an all too harrowing picture of a landscape robbed of this iconic sound in his new tour de force Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo' * Sunday Express *'McCarthy spent the spring of 2008 following the "spring-bringers" . . . and celebrates them so eloquently here you will never see or hear them in the same way again . . . cherish them now' * Evening Standard *'A timely report from the edge of the natural world that is being eroded by ignorance and carelessness' * The Times *'An interesting book . . . Quirky observations, laced with historical and literary references, enliven the text' * Irish Examiner *'The titles sounds like an elegy, but the tone, until near the end, is upbeat and celebratory . . . he tells the story . . . with a light touch and wide open eyes' * Independent *'An environmental warning' * Terry Sutton, Dover Express & Folkestone Herald *'McCarthy builds up the magic ... rightly McCarthy is out to warn' * The Tablet *'This timely book by Michael McCarthy, one of the country's leading writers on the environment, is a celebration of these migratory birds and a call to arms to help preserve them' * National Trust Magazine *As well as raising the alarm, Michael McCarthy writes lyrically in praise of the songsters * Choice Magazine *'Lovely but heart-tugging book ... McCarthy's theme is twofold: to give us a vivid picture of what we have learned scientifically about birds themselves, but then beautifully to interweave it with the "human response'" * Spectator *'We have been warned' * Northern Echo *'Wake-up call to all those concerned with the UK's environment, calling for action before it's too late' * Your Birding Monthly *'The book does not just raise the alarm about the astonishing declines. It clebrates the migrant birds as a group, stressing the enormous cultural resonance they have across Europe' * Best of British *'Courageously, McCarthy's book is a celebration as much as a warning' * Tribune *'You must have and read this book' * Highland News & North Star *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing the spirit of the world’s longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out to discover the real west of Ireland. Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman. Tagging along on his meandering journey is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannán Mac Lir. For his first travel book in 1991, Paul hitchhiked the same route. Now retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way – this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot – he looks at how Ireland has changed and realises everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature. Also by this author: `The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip’ Praise for this author: “Stacks of free copies should be sent to all our tourist desks abroad.” – The Irish Times. “For sheer pleasure, nothing I read beat Paul Clements’ `The Height of Nonsense’.” – The Observer. “A compulsive, educational, laugh-out-loud read.” – Sunday Independent. "A fascinating journey around the hidden corners of Ireland." – BBC RadioTrade Review'A very enjoyable book, filled with educational, uplifting and side-splitting stories, an engaging mix of travel, nature and social commentary.' -- Damien Enright * Irish Examiner *'Clements is an affable, thoughtful guide, always alert to the small, telling detail.' * Irish Independent *'Utterly entertaining from beginning to end.' * Irish Examiner *'Engrossing portrait of western Ireland.' * Irish Mountain Log *'A good production, well designed in which the author discovers the west of Ireland, this book will appeal to a general readership.' * Books Ireland *'The author has discovered that the Wild Atlantic Way has revitalised the west and led to a newfound energy.' * Connacht Tribune *'Clements is an authority on the popular tourist route that has become the Wild Atlantic Way.' * Fermanagh Herald *'A wonderful book with inspiring insights.' * IrelandWays.Com *'The Wild Atlantic Way is far more than a tourist trail and this book charts Clements' return journey along it.' * Pol O Conghaile, Irish Independent *'A must-read book in which Clements experiences both the mythic and the human.' * Culture Northern Ireland *'An epic journey full of thoughtful observations and showing a zest for people.' * Tyrone Herald *'A distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature.' * Clare Champion *'Very visual writing that delves into the facts and fantasies of the west of Ireland.' * Irish News *'Nature's sights and aromas are all around him while the thundering wild Atlantic plays its own soundtrack.' * Leitrim Observer *'A well paced and illuminating book full of quirky stories.' * Sligo Weekender *'An insight into a changing world where wit, humour and small-town Ireland anecdotes are as warm and as endearing as ever.' * The Kerryman *'With his seamless word-tapestry, Clements has written a vibrant and honest word-picture of the rolling, rocky, craggy and compelling Wild Atlantic Way.' * Mayo News *'A delightfully varied book on the changing face of Ireland.' * Niall Delaney, Ocean FM *'An informative, colourful and engaging book.' * Shaun Doherty, Highland Radio *'Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity.' * Donegal News *'A brilliant read.' * Stephen McCauley, Radio Ulster book club *'Three hundred and forty fascinating pages and a beautiful storied book that touches the hearts and souls of the communities.' * Weeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry *'A fascinating coastal journey that starts and continues in an unhurried way. Clements discovers the marvellous in the ordinary.' * BBC Radio *'Superb idea.' -- Sean Moncrieff * Newstalk *

Read more less