Wildlife: general interest Books
Candlestick Press Ten Poems about Wildlife
Book Synopsis
£7.41
Sixth & Spring Books Whimsical and Wild
Book SynopsisFrom bestselling author Jane Davenport comes the ultimate inspiration for mixed-media artists! Make more time for creativity! In the follow-up to her popular 'Whimsical Girls', internationally known artist Jane Davenport once again offers her signature fanciful female figures, now accompanied by a menagerie of animal friends: cuddly koalas, noble lions, exotic birds and more. Inspirational prompts and Jane's stunning illustrations accompany the journal pages, which are printed on a variety of fine-art papers, including colouring paper, marker paper and watercolour paper, all perforated for easy display. Colourful collage papers and bonus stickers with even more original art and quotations round out this gorgeous package.
£14.44
HarperCollins Publishers British Coastal Wildlife
Book SynopsisDiscover over 1,200 species of animals and plants found in the coastal regions of Britain and make the most of your surroundings, whether you are on a holiday browse or serious quest. This is the definitive photographic reference guide for nature enthusiasts.This informative photographic guide will help nature enthusiasts visiting the seashore to discover and quickly and accurately identify the animals and plants commonly found in the coastal areas of Britain.The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, the perfect seashore companion for staycation' travelling nature enthusiasts as well as general natural history buffs. Young and old alike keen to discover the wildlife of Britain''s coastal areas will delight in this beautifully practical guide.Trade Review‘Beautiful photographs’ The London Naturalist Praise for the Collins Complete series: 'Wonderfully descriptive photographs'BBC Wildlife 'Packs in lots of well-chosen detail in compact form'British Wildlife ‘A bookshelf essential’The Field
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Dark Skies
Book SynopsisDarkness has shaped the lives of humans for millennia, and in Dark Skies, Tiffany Francis-Baker travels around Britain and Europe to learn more about nocturnal landscapes and humanity's connection to the night sky. For a year, Tiffany travels through different nightscapes across the UK and beyond. She experiences 24-hour daylight while swimming in the Gulf of Finland and visits Norway to witness the Northern Lights and speak to people who live in darkness for three months each year. She hikes through the haunted yew forests of Kingley Vale and embarks on a nocturnal sail down the River Dart. As she travels, Tiffany explores how our relationship with darkness and the night sky has changed over time. In this personal and beautifully written nature memoir, Tiffany Francis-Baker investigates how our experiences of the night-time world have permeated our history, folklore, science, geography, art and literature.Trade ReviewTiffany Francis-Baker has gone into the last dark continent, the night, and brought back wondrous tales with starlight in her pen. -- John Lewis-Stempel * Author of Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field *Tiffany Francis-Baker's eloquent and experiential narrative illuminates the shadow filled enclaves of our nocturnal world. -- Joe Harkness * Author of Bird Therapy *Beautifully written...Francis-Baker combines memoir, history and some glorious landscape writing to provide a thoroughly absorbing evaluation of the role of darkness and night in our literature, culture and, most importantly, our environment. -- Charlie Connolly * New European *Rich in literary references, Dark Skies is also rippled through with memoir...it's a warmly personal narrative. -- Suzi Feay * Financial Times *A genuinely inspiring and poetic tale of a year spent exploring the natural world under dark and sometimes star-filled skies. -- Peter Fiennes * Author of Oak and Ash and Thorn *Table of ContentsChapter One: Witching Hour Chapter Two: Ghost Stories Chapter Three: Polar Night Chapter Four: Taxus Baccata Chapter Five: Greenwich Chapter Six: Under Dark Skies Chapter Seven: The Mountain Chapter Eight: The Wickerman Chapter Nine: Midnight Sun Chapter Ten: Fern Owl Chapter Eleven: The Dart Chapter Twelve: Poet Stone
£11.39
Templar Publishing Animalium (Mini Gift Edition)
Book SynopsisThis elegant mini edition of the bestselling Animalium is the perfect gift for animal-lovers or anyone who appreciates beautiful books. Wander the galleries - open 365 days a year - and discover a collection of curated exhibits on every page, accompanied by informative text. Each chapter features a different branch of the tree of life, from the simple sponge to the enormous elephant. Welcome to the museum!
£8.54
Bradt Travel Guides Madagascar Wildlife
Book SynopsisThis new, fifth edition of Bradt's Madagascar Wildlife, first published over 25 years ago, celebrates the unique fauna of this remarkable Indian Ocean island. Written by naturalist tour-leaders and Madagascar experts, and aimed at visitors and natural-history enthusiasts alike, this guide has been thoroughly updated to reflect both the latest discoveries - on an island where new species for science are continuously discovered - and the latest developments at the country's top wildlife-tourism locations. Wildlife is the key draw for English-speaking visitors to Madagascar. Enjoying nature couldn't be more different to continental Africa. Rather than going out on safari to see the Big Five from the safety of a jeep, in Madagascar you approach wildlife on rainforest strolls, without fear of encountering dangerous snakes or angry elephants. From its endearing lemurs and comical chameleons to the endemic birds and bizarre insects, this is the only guide to showcase the whole range of Madagascar's captivating wildlife. It features lively descriptions of animals and their behaviour - perfect for the interested layman - complemented by 280 sumptuous colour photographs. A 'Habitats and Hotspots' chapter details the island's various ecosystems and presents concise information on where best to see fascinating species, helping readers choose which parks and reserves to visit - from Masoala and Ranomafana to Ifaty and Berenty. An incredible 90% of Madagascar's plants and animals are unique to the world's oldest island. Accordingly, this guide also tells the story of how Madagascar came to be so different from the rest of the world, and why evolution took a different tangent to create such an extraordinary and unparalleled array of creatures. Read about Madagascar's remarkable chameleon diversity: half the world's species occur here, including the smallest and largest. And prepare to be astonished by an orchid with a ridiculously long nectary tube that prompted Charles Darwin to correctly predict that there would be a moth that had evolved an equally absurd 30-cm-long tongue to reach it. As a practical guide to help you plan your dream wildlife trip to this special destination, Bradt's Madagascar Wildlife is readable, user-friendly and inspiring; as a souvenir, it's unbeatable.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Technical terms, Classification Habitats and Wildlife Hotspots Rainforest Montagne d'Ambre, Marojejy, Masoala, Nosy Mangabe, Anjozorobe, Andasibe-Mantadia, Ranomafana Deciduous Forests/Seasonally Dry Forests Ankarana, Daraina area, Anjajavy, Sahamalaza-Îles Radama, Ankarafantsika, Tsingy de Bemaraha, Kirindy, Zombitse The Southern Region Andringitra, Isalo, Anja, Ifaty area, Tsimanampetsotse, Andohahela, Mandrare Valley: Berenty and Ifotaka Threatened Wetlands Betsiboka Delta, Lac Kinkony and the Mahavavy Delta Mammals Lemurs, Malagasy carnivores, Tenrecs, Rodents, Bats, Whales and whale-watching Birds Primitive parrots, The birds and the beaks (vangas), Rallying rarities, Rhapsody in blue Reptiles and Frogs Chameleon, Geckos, Other lizard, Snakes, Tortoises and turtles, Frogs Invertebrate In hiding, Out of hiding, Millipedes, Spiders, Other land invertebrate, Conservation issues Madagascar at Night From dusk to dawn Camouflage Safety matches Further Information Index
£17.09
Little Toller Books My House of Sky: A Life of J A Baker
Book SynopsisSince his rise to fame in 1967 when his work "The Peregrine" was awarded the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize, J A Baker has captured the popular imagination with his vivid descriptions of British landscapes and native wildlife. Compelling, strange and at times both startlingly funny and cruel, Baker's prose is at one with his image as a writer, which has, since the publication of his first work, been characterized as an obsessive recluse.Next to nothing was known about Baker, who died in 1987, until an archive of his materials and those related to him was gifted to the University of Essex in 2013. Only now has it been possible to piece together an accurate view of the life and unpublished work of the man whose writing has been described as "the gold standard for all nature writing" (Mark Cocker), and whose work has influenced naturalists such as Richard Mabey and Simon King, as well as film-makers David Cobham and Werner Herzog.This new book showcases the most compelling parts of the Baker Archive, containing previously unknown elements of his life, many photographs and unpublished poems.It provides an invaluable new insight into both his sensitive and passionate character, and late twentieth century Britian, a country experiencing the throes of agricultural and environmental change.
£17.00
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Animal Atlas
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Princeton University Press The Arctic Guide
Book SynopsisThe Arctic Guide presents the traveler and naturalist with a portable, authoritative guide to the flora and fauna of earth's northernmost region. Featuring superb color illustrations, this one-of-a-kind book covers the complete spectrum of wildlife--more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals--that inhabit the Arctic'sTrade Review"This book takes my breath away and it may leave you gasping with glee, too. Ms. Chester begins with a lively crash course in boreal geography and ecology, then begins her heroic march through nearly all of taxonomy... The Arctic Guide takes the reader on a tour de force of nearly everything that's interesting in the circumboreal world."--Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "Do you plan a visit to Alaska? If you do, you could do no better preparing for your natural history observations than by reading Sharon Chester's The Arctic Guide: Wildlife of the Far North."--Gerry Rising, Buffalo Spree "This is a phenomenal book. It covers the species you'd expect--birds and marine mammals--in depth. But it also includes fish, flies, even flora. It's the only book a naturalist requires for a field trip to the Arctic."--Matt Miller, Cool Green Science blog "This handy tome not only covers this vast region's fauna, but also touches upon climate, flora, atmospheric phenomena, landforms and oceanography... The illustrations are simply sublime... As a longtime Arctic guide, I recommend Chester's wholeheartedly... Browse it and daydream or stuff it into your river drybag or backpack if you head north this summer."--Michael Engelhard, Alaska Dispatch NewsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 2 About This Book 3 Geographic Coordinates 4 Glossary 5 Arktos 10 Defining the Arctic 11 Map of the Arctic 12 Mammals 25 Birds 127 Fishes 373 Lizards and Frogs 399 Flies, Bees, and Butterflies 401 Flora 425 Bibliography 535 Indexes 537
£25.20
Whittet Books Ltd Hedgehogs
Book SynopsisIn his refreshingly lighthearted style, Pat Morris presents scientific and downto-earth information about one of Britain's best-loved wild creatures, the bumbling and endearing hedgehog.
£16.14
Canongate Books Rootbound: Rewilding a Life
Book Synopsis'Breathtakingly beautiful' i'Tender and wholehearted' Helen JukesLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZEA BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE INDEPENDENT, FINANCIAL TIMES, I and GARDENS ILLUSTRATEDWhen she suddenly finds herself uprooted, heartbroken, grieving and living out of a suitcase in her late twenties, Alice Vincent begins planting seeds. She nurtures pot plants and vines on windowsills and draining boards, filling her many temporary London homes with green. As the months pass, and with each unfurling petal and budding leaf, she begins to come back to life.Mixing memoir, botanical history and biography, Rootbound examines how bringing a little bit of the outside in can help us find our feet in a world spinning far too fast.Trade ReviewBreathtakingly beautiful writing about the natural world . . . Vincent's championing of female gardeners from eras past is both cheering and fascinating . . . Rootbound is a story of growth * * i * *This memoir has the potential to be the millennials' answer to Eat Pray Love * * Daily Telegraph * *Rootbound is a poignant testimony to the joy that greenery will bring to your life, and it is a magical reminder that humans, like plants, can mend and grow in their own good time * * Independent * *Reading this book is like breathing fresh spring air. Rootbound is achingly honest and earthily good, a beautiful hymn to wild hope, strength and tenderness, in nature and in ourselves. I loved it -- CHARLOTTE RUNCIE author of SALT ON YOUR TONGUEA book about heartbreak, salvation, nature and balcony gardens . . . Alice Vincent mixes memoir with botanical history to explore how plants can heal us * * Huffington Post * *As much a green prescription for a richer, more connected life as a beautiful story of hope. Rootbound captures our universal need for nature, freedom and replenishment, away from the manmade, rushed woes of modern living . . . A valuable reminder to us all, that couldn't come at a better time -- SARAH IVENS author of FOREST THERAPYA deeply personal exploration of the healing power of plants * * Independent * *There are riffs on everything from famous women gardeners to the history of New York's wondrous High Line elevated linear park . . . Rootbound gives a revealing insight into Alice's generation, their concerns, self-absorption and earnestness. It also radiates a youthful enthusiasm and optimism, a hunger to reconnect with nature even in the midst of a sea of concrete, and the refreshing belief that anything is possible. Millenials, in particular, will love it * * Daily Mail * *Unrestrained, exuberant, vigorous, forthright . . . A tender and wholehearted story of re-finding that most precious resource, the space to grow -- HELEN JUKES author of A HONEYBEE HEART HAS FIVE OPENINGSHeartbreak can be the best teacher . . . [A] hopeful memoir of self-discovery and horticulture . . . A beguiling bouquet whose vibrancy feels extra welcome as the first green shoots of spring start to show * * Mail on Sunday * *
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools
Book SynopsisCollins Complete Guide to British Muchrooms and Toadstools allows everyone to identify mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the species you are most likely to see.By only covering Britain and Ireland, fewer species are included than in many broader European guides, making it quicker and easier for the reader to accurately identify what they have found.Extensive details on size, shape and colour are given and over 1,500 photographs help you identify each species.This is the essential photographic guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain and Ireland.Trade ReviewPraise for the Collins Complete series: 'Wonderfully descriptive photographs'BBC Wildlife ‘Whether you are a keen amateur or someone with a passing interest, this book will satisfy your needs.’The Sea 'Packs in lots of well-chosen detail in compact form'British Wildlife Magazine
£17.09
The Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 33
Book SynopsisThis powerful collection features the 100 winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition.
£23.80
Simon & Schuster Ltd History of the World in 100 Animals
Book Synopsis'So, so good! ... More gems than a pirate's chest ... science, art, history, culture - it's epic and mammoth, a repository of all our truths through their lives' Chris PackhamA powerful and fascinating insight into the 100 animals - from the blue whale to the mosquito - that have had the biggest influence on humanity through the ages. We are not alone. We are not alone on the planet. We are not alone in the countryside. We are not alone in cities. We are not alone in our homes. We are humans and we love the idea of our uniqueness. But the fact is that we humans are as much members of the animal kingdom as the cats and dogs we surround ourselves with, the cows and the fish we eat, and the bees who pollinate so many of our food-plants. In The History of the World in 100 Animals, award-winning author Simon Barnes selects the 100 animals who have had the greatest impact on huma
£21.25
St. Martin's Publishing Group Animals Are AHoles
£16.00
Ebury Publishing A Charm of Goldfinches and Other Collective Nouns
Book SynopsisA charm of goldfinches, an ascension of larks, a school of dolphins, a cloud of bats, a murder of crows. All these and more are portrayed in this enchanting new book by much loved artist Matt Sewell, playing on the theme of collective nouns for animals. Illustrated with Matt’s inimitable watercolours, and imbued with a love of his subjects that will resonate with people everywhere and of all ages, this book is a great gift for nature and art lovers. Accompanying each illustration is a playful, quirky description of each groups' personality that readers cannot help but smile at. Sewell's unique witty take on the subject, and delicately vivid illustrations make for a lovely addition to his collection of pocketable books.
£12.60
Penguin Books Ltd The Ring of Bright Water Trilogy
Book Synopsis''Gavin Maxwell''s trilogy is essential reading'' Sunday HeraldFifty years ago Gavin Maxwell went to live in an abandoned house on a shingle beach on the west coast of Scotland. A haven for wildlife - he named his home Camusfearna and settled there with the otters Mij, Edal and Teko.Ring of Bright Water chronicles Gavin Maxwell''s first ten years with the otters and touched the hearts of readers the world over, brilliantly evoking life with these playful animals in this natural paradise. Two further volumes followed bringing the story full circle telling of the difficult last years and the final abandonment of the settlement.For the first time the entire trilogy is available in a single narrative in this beautifully presented collection.''If you like your wildlife, this is a must-read'' Reader Review''For lovers of otters this is an admirable compilation'' Reader Review''You will fall in love with Scotland'' Reader ReviewTrade Review"Gavin Maxwell's trilogy is essential reading" - Sunday Herald"
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Peregrine
Book SynopsisReissue of J. A. Baker's extraordinary classic of British nature writingDespite the association of peregrines with the wild, outer reaches of the British Isles, The Peregrine is set on the flat marshes of the Essex coast, where J A Baker spent a long winter looking and writing about the visitors from the uplands peregrines that spend the winter hunting the huge flocks of pigeons and waders that share the desolate landscape with them.Including original diaries from which The Peregrine was written and its companion volume The Hill of Summer, this is a beautiful compendium of lyrical nature writing at its absolute best. Such luminaries as Richard Mabey, Robert Macfarlane, Ted Hughes and Andrew Motion have cited this as one of the most important books in 20th Century nature writing, and the bestselling author Mark Cocker has provided an introduction on the importance of Baker, his writings and the diaries creating the essential volume of Baker''s writings.Papers, maps, and letters have rTrade Review‘A masterpiece of natural history writing. I would recommend to anybody who loves the English language, let alone birds of prey’ Monty Don, Financial Times ‘A visionary, vision-changing masterpiece; a book that, once read, will never release its grip upon you.’ Robert Macfarlane, Author of Landmarks and The Wild Places ‘Passionately fierce but also wonderfully tender’ Andrew Motion ‘…an inspiring example to future writers, and a gift to lovers of nature.’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘… a literary masterpiece, one of the 20th century’s outstanding examples of nature writing.’ Independent ‘The Peregrine should be known as one of the finest works on nature ever written' BBC Wildlife ‘… some of the most marvellous prose of the twentieth century.’ Literary Review ‘A tour de force … what can I do except praise writing which involves all the senses? This book goes altogether outside the bird-book into literature.’ The Sunday Times ‘A rapt and remarkable book … his phrases have a magnesium-flare intensity.’ Observer ‘… what is certain is that The Peregrine is the most precise and poetic account of a bird – possibly of any non-human creature – ever written in English prose.’ Daily Telegraph ‘J. A. Baker's poetic prose has a hard intensity and an exquisite lyric grace that takes it far beyond the stereotypical stuff of larks ascending and questing voles. Cruelly beautiful and brutally exact, it sees the countryside anew to give us nature in the wild and in the raw.’ The Scotsman ‘Including original diaries from which The Peregrine was written and its companion volume, The Hill of Summer, this is a beautiful compendium of lyrical nature writing at its absolute best […]. For those with an interest in the Peregrine Falcon or classic natural history writing. ‘ Guardian
£12.34
Canongate Books The Secret History of Here: A Year in the Valley
Book SynopsisThe Secret History of Here is the story of a single place in the Scottish Borders. The site on which Alistair Moffat's farm now stands has been occupied since prehistoric times. Walking this landscape you can feel the presence and see the marks of those who lived here before. But it is also the story of everywhere. In uncovering the history of one piece of land, Moffat shows how history is all around us, if only we have the eyes to see it. Taking the form of a journal of a year, this is a walk through the centuries as much as the seasons, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who came before, as well as those who live here now.Trade Review[Moffat] is a great teacher . . . Alert though he is to change and to the world we have lived into, he is forever in search of time that is lost and can be recovered. It is also enthralling . . . Moffat is aware that he will himself come in time to belong to the past. This book, like his earlier ones, should ensure that in a sense he survives * * Scotsman * *It's the spirit of Moffat's place which gives The Secret History of Here its heft . . . The book is written in the form of a diary. It follows the march of the seasons - how could it not? - and allows Moffat to delve into both his family history and the history of the Borders landscape * * Herald * *Joyous . . . a delightful meditation on a place, and on the role that humans played in its evolution * * Foreword * *Delightful and richly personal . . . The charm of this book is that it is rooted in Moffat's lived experience. But, in his gracious humility, he sees himself as just one more [of] 300 generations * * Church Times * *Praise for To the Island of Tides: [To the Island of Tides] is often beautifully evocative of places, the past and the landscape . . . compelling and revealing * * The Times * *Written with both wisdom and love . . . This is a wonderfully rich and consoling book . . . and it is very good indeed * * Scotsman * *Extraordinary . . . a triumph . . . This book is an intriguing account of St Cuthbert and his times, a lyrical testimony to the wonder of nature and a beguiling account of the power of place in all lives. But . . . it becomes something more, something sublime in the realm of memoir . . . There is a powerful, natural beauty in Moffat's writing * * Herald * *Joyous . . . Fine pencil drawings of flora, fauna and other discoveries complement the text's deep respect for nature . . . a delightful meditation on a place, and on the role that humans played in its evolution * * Foreword * *This pilgrimage incorporates local lore and biblical references, touching self discovery and a Saint's life. Above all it is a homage to the importance of family and of belonging * * Wee Review * *Praise for The Hidden Ways: Our ancestors walked everywhere, unless they lived by a river or loch and travelled by boat, or were rich enough to keep a horse or pony. So Moffat will walk. He will walk over much of Scotland, following, sometimes struggling to follow, old roads that are now sometimes hard to find. This book is the story of a dozen such walks. This is a splendidly rich book - a treasure-house of information, memories and speculation -- ALLAN MASSIE * * Scotsman * *
£10.44
Waterford Press Ltd African Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to
Book SynopsisEco-tourists, adventurers, and nature lovers will find African Wildlife to be the ideal pocket-sized, folding guide to refer to on safari. The familiar elephant is one of thousands of species of animals inhabiting the diverse ecosystems found throughout region. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and includes a map of the country's vegetation zones. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field on safari. Made in the USA.
£9.36
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC I Belong Here
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2021 BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 WAINWRIGHT PRIZEI knew in every bone of my body, in every fibre of my being, that I had to report what had happened, not only for myself but to help stop anyone else having to go through what I did. I knew I could not remain silent, or still, I could not stop walking through the world. A journey of reclamation through the natural landscapes of the North, brilliantly exploring identity, nature, place and belonging. Beautifully written and truly inspiring, I Belong Here heralds a powerful and refreshing new voice in nature writing. Anita Sethi was on a journey through Northern England when she became the victim of a race-hate crime. The crime was a vicious attack on her right to exist in a place on account of her race. After the event Anita experienced panic attacks and anxiety. A crushing sense of claustrophobia made her long for wide open spaces, to breathe deepTrade ReviewFor anyone who has ever felt out of place, I Belong Here is a moving and comforting read. For everyone else, it is an education. Punchier and more political than most nature writing, this book is a thing of beauty. * Sunday Times *Nature’s beauty and wilderness provide a welcome escape from Sethi’s city life and kickstart a healing process as she becomes enveloped in the great outdoors, taking us on an emotional journey at the same time. It’s an amazing odyssey: inspiring, powerful, encouraging and incredibly brave. * Independent *Forever asked where she’s from originally, Sethi writes that she has always felt like an ‘outsider’. Instead, this passionate and reflective book stakes her claim to the English countryside and nature writing itself. * New Statesman *A heartfelt examination of identity and place ... it is the way Sethi's connection to nature is refracted through her experience as a woman of colour that gives the book its rare power. * Guardian *Restored and enlivened by the wonders of nature, Anita Sethi finds the courage to embrace her vulnerabilities and strengths and to claim her place in the world. A brave and life-affirming book. * Sunday Express *An unforgettable journey … the genius of the author is how she takes the narrative of hatred and discrimination hurled at her and turns it upside down by ‘going back to where she is from’ – the landscapes of the north. Not only deeply moving but also quietly transformative. * The Observer *Excellent...A powerful memoir about nature and belonging and racism and Britishness, as Anita Sethi undertakes a journey to reclaim her space in Britain following a terrifying hate crime on public transport. A brilliant writer. -- Nikesh Shukla * author of Brown Baby *Anita Sethi invites her reader to walk, not just at her side, but in her shoes, and to feel for themselves both the exhilaration and the chagrin of travelling the backbone of her home country as a woman of colour. By turns joyous and humbling, I Belong Here is an urgent and necessary addition to the canon of contemporary writing about place in the island of Britain. -- Katharine Norbury * editor of Women on Nature and author of The Fish Ladder *In gorgeous prose that rolls along like the uplands, Anita Sethi opens our eyes to the beauty of our countryside and the hurt and healing found therein. It is rare to find writing that evokes landscape so finely but also conveys our inner world with such power, emotion, vulnerability and truth. I Belong Here deserves its place alongside the Macfarlanes and Macdonalds as a classic of modern British nature writing. -- Patrick Barkham * author of Wild Child *Manchester-born Sethi achieves a powerful blend of memoir, travelogue and natural history as she reflects on nature, place and belonging; and at its beating heart, her book is a stirring love letter to this troubled country of ours. I find it so moving that such a beautifully written, hate-defying book has been born from such a horrific experience. I Belong Here is a shining example of how books, at their best, can be an act of resistance and a communal force for good. -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller Book of the Month, Editor’s Choice review *A brilliantly accomplished mix of powerful memoir and revelatory nature writing, Sethi’s account of finding solace in the Northern countryside following a traumatic racial attack is a defiant act of reclamation and an astonishing piece of testimony. -- Best Books to Look Forward to in 2021 * Waterstones *A powerful and moving memoir * BBC Countryfile Magazine *Incredibly powerful, moving and beautifully told. Full of wild magic. This book will make the world a better place. -- Lucy Jones * author of Losing Eden *Table of ContentsPrologue: A Place Called Hope MOUTH Onwards: A TransPennine Express Journey 1. Speaking Up 2. Bearing Witness SKIN Wanted: A Long Green Trail 3. If Your Nerve Deny You, Go Above Your Nerve 4. You Make Your Own Path as You Walk 5. Walking as a Woman of Colour 6. On Race and Place BACKBONE Malham Cove and Limestone Country 7. Protected Characteristics 8. On Strength, Courage and Trauma 9. Going Viral LIFEBLOOD Upwards: A Pennine Journy 10. Settlements 11. Scars FEET The Way: North Pennines to Hadrian's Wall (via Manchester) 12. Northern Nature 13. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty 14. Forces 15. Walking and Witnessing Epilogue: Up From a Past that's Rooted in Pain Resources Acknowledgements Bibliography Notes Index
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Book of Vanishing Species: Illustrated Lives
Book Synopsis__________________ Our Earth is more beautiful and more diverse than we can possibly conceive of. The Book of Vanishing Species is a stunning homage to the planet’s most mysterious, bizarre and wondrous creatures and plants. Their stories are captivating, from the eyeless and tiny dragonlike olm to the hawksbill turtle, whose gender will be determined by the temperature of the sand it is born in. These species may have survived for hundreds of thousands of years by cleverly adapting to their environments, but their future remains far from certain. The book brings to life red cranes as they dance and bow for the sheer joy of movement, trees that breathe out a haze of misty atmosphere for insects that only feast on one kind of flower, a deep-ocean snail quietly building its shell from iron... and each one of them is illuminated with an exquisite illustration. As you turn the pages, there emerges a network of life that stretches across and around the planet in a dazzling web of existence. This is both a love letter to life on Earth, and an urgent summons to protect what is precious and lovely in this world. Trade Review‘Bea Forshall’s images make the heart sing, but her beautiful, revelatory text also makes one weep. From dung beetles to lemurs, we may lose these extraordinary creatures. Forshall makes us fall in love with them, all over again. Let’s hope, to stir us into action, so these wonders don’t join the ranks of dodos and Tasmanian tigers' * Isabella Tree *'This wonderful book, with Beatrice Forshall's superb engravings, serves to remind us of the wonder and beauty of some of the species that may disappear for ever unless we take action to save them - now and before it is too late' * Dr Jane Goodall *'Through her prose and illustrations, Forshall makes a passionate case for protecting each and every one of these species' * The Times *'Forshall might not have a scientific background, but her poetic, human perspective and unique artistry are incredibly moving... The Book of Vanishing Species is both a celebration of our world and an urgent call to action' * BBC Wildlife Magazine *'Forshall's synthesis of artisanal craft, the artist’s eye and the sensibilities of an idealistic yet clear eyed environmentalist…is thrilling' * Sir Tim Smit *'Beatrice draws you into the sublime wonder of the Brazil nut tree, snakes head fritillary or the albatross and then, with gentle frankness enlightens you on their plight. Somehow it left me feeling more motivated, not just devastated, which is a testament to the skill of the author' * Geetie Singh-Watson *'As well as a beautiful celebration, this book is a call to arms' * Chloë Ashby *'Our disappearing flora and fauna are lovingly described and wittily illustrated in Beatrice Forshall's homage to what we are about to lose' * Daunts Books *
£21.25
Profile Books Ltd Being a Beast
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2016 Charles Foster wanted to know what it was like to be a beast: a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, a swift. What it was really like. And through knowing what it was like he wanted to get down and grapple with the beast in us all. So he tried it out; he lived life as a badger for six weeks, sleeping in a dirt hole and eating earthworms, he came face to face with shrimps as he lived like an otter and he spent hours curled up in a back garden in East London and rooting in bins like an urban fox. A passionate naturalist, Foster realises that every creature creates a different world in its brain and lives in that world. As humans, we share sensory outputs, lights, smells and sound, but trying to explore what it is actually like to live in another of these worlds, belonging to another species, is a fascinating and unique neuro-scientific challenge. For Foster it is also a literary challenge. Looking at what science can tell us about what happens in a fox's or badger's brain when it picks up a scent, he then uses this to imagine their world for us, to write it through their eyes or rather through the eyes of Charles the beast. An intimate look at the life of animals, neuroscience, psychology, nature writing, memoir and more, it is a journey of extraordinary thrills and surprises, containing wonderful moments of humour and joy, but also providing important lessons for all of us who share life on this precious planet.Trade ReviewTranscendentally eccentric nature writing of the first order. Charles Foster digs deep under the skin of other animals, uncovering gems of wisdom that our usually superficial gaze will otherwise miss -- Hugh WarwickGleefully lascivious in its physical curiosity, Being a Beast advocates for our highest animality by expanding our sensory intelligence. A flabbergasting, thunderstriking, stupendous, brilliant book -- Jay GriffithsThrilling, brilliant, bonkers... a strange kind of masterpiece: the song of a satyr, perhaps, or nature writing as extreme sport. * Financial Times *Charles Foster's chronicle of the sensory lives of beasts and his own forays into self re-wilding is like nothing you have ever read. Deeply serious and at times laugh-out-loud funny, this is an extraordinary book. -- Caspar HendersonUnimaginably different from any book you have ever read - an exploration of our deep kinship with animals that is thought-provoking, funny and full of adventure all at once, brilliantly written, and sparkling with ideas -- Iain McGilchristFoster is funny and profound and his empathic mission shows our kinship with other species -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *Extraordinary... very funny... Foster is well read and writes beautifully. * The Sunday Times *A wild and whimsical memoir. * The Times *Takes nature writing to new levels... his work is a triumph. -- Kate Green * Country Life *Very funny... hones senses long neglected... Mr Foster is the real thing, going truly feral and in the process discovering a whole new world. It is not a midlife crisis so much as a lifelong passion. * Economist *Funny, exuberant and courageous, nudging closer and closer to how it might feel to enter the non-human world. * Guardian, readers' BOTY 2016 *
£9.49
Field Studies Council Woodlands trees flowers and fungi
Book Synopsis
£6.73
The History Press Ltd Animal Kingdom
Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey through natural history and shows the richness of animal life on our planet like you’ve never seen it before.
£18.00
Birlinn Ltd The Scottish Nature Pocket Diary 2026
Book SynopsisAfter gaining a degree in Zoology, Jane Smith became a wildlife film maker for the BBC Natural History Unit and National Geographic. She won an Emmy for her work and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4's Tweet of the Day. She now creates wildlife art from her home on the west coast of Scotland to communicate her passion for the natural world.
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Unexpected Truth About Animals: Stoned
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2018 Royal Society Investment Science Book Prize'Endlessly fascinating.' - Bill Bryson 'Eye-opening, informative and very funny!' - Chris Packham'Well-informed and downright funny' - Richard DawkinsHistory is full of strange animal stories invented by the brightest and most influential, from Aristotle to Disney. But when it comes to understanding animals, we’ve got a long way to go. Whether we’re watching a viral video of romping baby pandas or looking at a picture of penguins ‘holding hands’, we often project our own values – innocence, abstinence, hard work – onto animals. So you’ve probably never considered that moose get drunk and that penguins are notorious cheats. In The Unexpected Truth About Animals Zoologist Lucy unravels many such myths – that eels are born from sand, that swallows hibernate under water, and that bears gave birth to formless lumps that are licked into shape by their mothers – to show that the stories we create reveal as much about us as they do about the animals. Astonishing, illuminating and laugh-out-loud funny.Trade ReviewA bloody fabulous read. Thoroughly recommend. -- Sue Perkins (Twitter)A riot of facts....Cooke scores a series of goals with style and panache. * The Times *Beautifully written, meticulously researched, with the science often couched in outrageous asides, this is a splendid read. In fact, I cannot remember when I last enjoyed a non-fiction work so much. * Daily Express *Best science pick.Sigmund Freud's first paper involved the dissection of eels in an attempt to locate their testes. To his frustration, Freud failed to find any. The eel's life cycle remains slippery, notes natural-history broadcaster Lucy Cooke in her deeply researched, sassily written history of "the biggest misconceptions, mistakes and myths we've concocted about the animal kingdom", spread by figures from Aristotle to Walt Disney. Other chapters spotlight the sloth, vulture, hippopotamus, panda, chimpanzee and others, and dismantle anthropocentric clichés with scientific, global evidence. * Nature *Lucy Cooke's The Unexpected Truth About Animals was a joy from beginning to end. Who could resist a writer who argues that penguins have been pulling the wool over our eyes for years, and that, far from being cute and gregarious, they are actually pathologically unpleasant necrophiliacs? * Guardian *
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Baby Animals Amazing Adorable Facts
Book SynopsisWho doesn''t love baby animals?AMAZING FACTS ABOUT BABY ANIMALS is an adorable celebration of all kinds of fuzzy, fluffy, scaly, and feathery animal babies and their parents.Full of interesting, weird, and funny facts about animals before they are born (elephants are pregnant for 22 months!), when they are born (whales are born tail-first so they don''t drown!), and life as babies (parrots give their offspring names! Baby macaques have snowball fights!), this book couldn't be cuter.
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd A Year on Our Farm
Book SynopsisEscape into nature with Matt Baker''s fascinating journey through the natural year and family life on the farm''A delight'' Countryfile Magazine_______Matt Baker finds his calm on the farm.Surrounded by nature with his family, dogs, array of sheep, Mediterranean miniature donkeys and a whole host of wildlife in the farm''s ancient woodland, Matt shows us how the power and beauty of the countryside can bring joy to us all.Following the ever-changing seasons of the year, we see woodland animals emerge after a long winter of hibernation and lambs begin to gambol in April. We hear the dawn chorus in the height of summer and see the preparations unfold for the harsh and wild winter months.Peppered with hand drawn sketches, unforgettable moments from Matt''s TV career and stories of a landscape you''ll fall in love with - from its sun-soaked pastures to 6ft snow drifts - Matt reveals how the outdoors has made him who he is today.Trade ReviewA delight -- Margaret Bartlett * Countryfile *Delightful * Daily Mail *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan The Wild Journal: A Year of Nurturing Yourself
Book SynopsisWhether you live in a house or flat, in a rural or urban environment, this beautiful book shows how to harness the natural world around us and feel more grounded and rooted in our surroundings.'Inspirational' – Cara DelevingneThe Wild Journal is a beautifully illustrated guide from leading florist and nature writer Willow Crossley. Guiding you through creative practical projects and therapeutic seasonal reflections, The Wild Journal celebrates the potential of nature to mend, heal and transform our mood.The simple, back-to-basics habits and small seasonal changes in the book can help everyone to counteract the unpredictability and chaos of everyday life. Wherever you live, there are simple mindful actions – from listening to birdsong instead of rushing on your commute, to collecting natural treasures such as feathers, branches, pebbles or pine cones. Willow shares her creative techniques for bringing nature into your daily routine – whether it's planting and potting, identifying wild flowers, trying your hand at beautifully simple flower arrangements or making your own essential oils and candles. There is space to record reflections and your favourite seasonal activities, as well as ideas for star-gazing, bird-watching, and so much more.Willow Crossley's creative approach is informed by an artistic eye and a life spent immersed in nature. From growing up in Wales where days were spent exploring outdoors and flowers adorned every surface, to living in France surrounded by fields of sunflowers, iris and fragrant lavender, nature has always been an intrinsic part of her everyday life.Trade ReviewBeautifully illustrated...a pleasing entry into the transformative and healing power of the outdoors. -- Evening Standard Top Pick for books on mindfulness and meditationHaving moved to the countryside four years ago, this book is not only a wonderful guide, but also feels like it could be my own personal journal. In her passion-driven knowledge and playful storytelling, Willow talks and cares for her surroundings the way one would for a friend. It has reminded me how much love, loyalty and kindness are as important to nature, as they are to me. -- Jack SavorettiA must-have for anyone interested in the positive impact engaging with nature can have on your soul -- Chloe Delevingne
£10.44
Canongate Books Gods of the Morning: A Bird’s Eye View of a
Book SynopsisWinner of the Richard Jefferies Society Writers' Prize'No one writes more movingly, or with such transporting poetic skill, about encounters with wild creatures. Its pages course with sympathy, humility, and wisdom' Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk From his home deep in a Scottish glen, John Lister-Kaye has watched and come to understand intimately the movements and habits of the animals, and in particular the birds, that inhabit the wild and magnificent Highlands. Drawing on a lifetime of observation, Gods of the Morning is his wise and affectionate celebration of the British countryside and the birds that come and go through the year. It is also a lyrical reminder of the relationship we have lost with the seasons and a call to look afresh at the natural world around us.Trade ReviewExquisitely observed and deeply evocative, Gods of the Morning is a joyful affirmation of the changing seasons, the wonders of wildlife and the value of living close to nature. Generous, poetic and wise, John Lister-Kaye is a national treasure -- PATRICK BARKHAM * * author of BADGERLANDS * *Compelling . . . a tour de force of forensic observation and imaginative reconstruction. The prose carries a deep, rich polish -- MARK COCKER * * Spectator * *John Lister-Kaye keeps a seasoned eye on the seasonal behaviour of birds, logging unusual variations in their migration and nesting patterns, and developing a wry sense of their character . . . Though Lister-Kaye warns of the damage caused by humankind, and sometimes strikes an elegiac note, he sings full-throatedly in praise of the persistence of nature * * The Times * *Gods of the Morning is a rich treasury of secrets stolen from the Highlands, seen through the eyes of a great naturalist -- CHRIS PACKHAMI am addicted to the writings of John Lister-Kaye. Reading this book is to be at his side on the hills of Scotland. You can practically smell the leaf mould and stare in the merlin's eyes -- JOANNA LUMLEYThis book has a beating heart. Intimate, sweetly sorrowful and sharply observed, Gods of The Morning will open hearts and minds with its blend of vitality, wonder and wisdom. This book is just what we need right now: a song that calls up and re-enchants the world in which we live. John Lister-Kaye's writing enfolds a conservation-scientist's eye with the soul of a poet. This book embodies all the cherished sounds and sights of the turning seasons and becomes a blessing, a prayer for protection -- MIRIAM DARLINGTON * * author of OTTER COUNTRY * *I love this book. It quickens the heart with hope and wrests real beauty from keen observations of the natural world. If only we could all be as attentive to the life around us as John Lister-Kaye. No one writes more movingly, or with such transporting poetic skill, about encounters with wild creatures. Its pages course with sympathy, humility and wisdom -- HELEN MACDONALD * * author of H IS FOR HAWK * *John Lister-Kaye invites us to range deep into an extraordinary landscape, then soar over it and sense it change. Gods of the Morning is a triumph in nature writing -- TRISTAN GOOLEY * * author of THE NATURAL NAVIGATOR * *Renowned conservationist John Lister-Kaye finds as much drama tracking the creatures of his garden in the Highlands as watching polar bears cross frozen ice packs near the North Pole. Whether it's the clever pine marten trying to find a way into its hen-house or the wild geese flocking south from the Arctic, John can see it all from the windows of his home. And he has fallen in love with these moments of everyday adventures . . . Gods of the Morning follows a year in the Highlands seen through the eyes of someone who's learned to notice what others pass by without a second glance * * Sunday Mail * *Gods of the Morning is an exquisitely observed account of a year in the life of a Scottish glen, backed by a deep understanding gleaned through decades of study by a working naturalist, and homing in on the struggle the local wildlife is facing in coping with weather patterns that have become more and more unpredictable -- NEIL ANSELL * * author of DEEP COUNTRY and DEER ISLAND * *The spirit of nature holds many unknowns, mysteries and magic. John Lister-Kaye questions these unknowns with perfectly crafted words, delving so deep that you can almost feel nature's pulse -- COLIN ELFORD * * author of A YEAR IN THE WOODS * *Gods of the Morning is an extraordinary, beautiful and honest book by a writer of profound personal and scientific knowledge. The trees, the pine martens, the fatalities brought by the beautiful but bitter winters, the abandoned nests, the robin's song - John Lister-Kaye's love and concern for all of these will touch the reader in a unique way, as his descriptive prose soars and glides and rests. Like the birds for whom he is a fierce and loyal guardian. Few books urge me to read them again but this is one of them' -- VIRGINIA MCKENNAJohn Lister-Kaye is a rare species - a respected naturalist and a consummate wordsmith. Whether in person or on the printed page, there is no one I would rather choose to guide me through the glens in search of Scotland's wildlife -- BRIAN JACKMANA wonderful piece of writing * * The Times * *Lister-Kaye writes with infectious joy about the wildlife he knows and loves . . . his endless curiosity and constant fascination with the natural world around him reads more as love story than as tragedy * * Caught by the River * *Truly evocative * * Horse & Countryside * *His writing is poetic and informative, rich with description but unsentimental * * Evening Herald * *Lister-Kaye celebrates the turning of the seasons in prose that is as fine as poetry . . . the perfect observer of the to-ing and fro-ing of the wildlife that graces the landscape * * Sunday Express * *May well inspire you to get in the great outdoors * * Sunday Post * *The beginning of wisdom is the asking of many questions, and this, you feel, is what Lister-Kaye does all day . . . This is the kind of naturalist one can relate to . . . endearing . . . Gods of the Morning is often sharp and poetic' * * Herald * *Enjoyable and entertaining * * NFU Countryside * *A lyrical account of a landscape intimately observed . . . John Lister-Kaye gets up at dawn so you don't have to . . . Intimate moments are captured with such immediacy that we are right there beside him * * Country Life * *Very engaging * * Scotland Outdoors * *This is a book that needs to be savoured, John's descriptions evoke a sense of being in the landscape and his emotive language instils an enthusiasm for the natural world * * Hexham Courant * *Tantalising . . . makes you think about things . . . heart-warming * * Highland News * *Gods of the Morning proves what a haven for wildlife Lister-Kaye has created and the joy that can be evoked from understanding nature so closely * * Scottish Field * *Lister-Kaye uses his observations as a springboard to a wide range of topic, some general and others highly personal . . . Birds feature most prominently. The author describes in vivid detail his encounters with a female Blackcap on the nest and a male Merlin surveying the glen at dawn. But it's not all about the birds. We also read about migrating money spiders, the author's Jack Russells, Roe Deer, how Pine Martens have returned to the Highlands and much more . . . This is a lyrical, even beautiful, exploration of Highlands wildlife * * Birdwatch * *
£10.44
Guardian Faber Publishing The Accidental Countryside: Hidden Havens for
Book Synopsis'A superb naturalist and writer.'CHRIS PACKHAM'From Stone Age remains to modern day skyscrapers, Stephen Moss takes us on an exhilarating journey through place and time, providing a fascinating insight into nature's relationship with environments created by man.' DR MYA-ROSE CRAIG (BIRDGIRL) Welcome to The Accidental Countryside.This is the fascinating and remarkably empowering story of our influence upon the landscape and wildlife of these crowded islands, and of how wildlife has co-opted its most unlikely corners - even when we least expected it.From the seabirds sheltering in the prehistoric stone structures of Shetland to the peat diggings in Somerset teeming with life, and from the rare insects hidden in Belfast's docklands to the falcons that make London's Shard their home, Stephen Moss reveals the unexpected oases which foster the crucial links in the chain that bind the natural world together.
£9.49
Anness Publishing Animals of Africa and Europe
Book SynopsisIncludes an amazing range of animals, from the largest, such as the big cats, giraffes and reindeer through to the smallest, such as the fire salamander, stoat and rock elephant shrew.
£5.62
Anness Publishing African, British & European Animals, The New
Book Synopsis
£7.59
Whittles Publishing Seasonality: A personal account of nature through
Book SynopsisSeasonality is an uplifting look at British wildlife through the seasons of the year, but it is also about our relationship with that wildlife. The author, a keen and passionate naturalist, takes us on a journey through spring, summer, autumn and winter, and on this journey we look at how our wildlife lives throughout the year, how it adapts and changes as necessary. The author shares how wildlife makes him feel, how he derives joy and a sense of well-being from the wildlife he sees and describes. But he also shares his frustration at how some of our actions and land management impact on our increasingly pressurised wildlife. It shares the delight of watching birds in the garden, fox cubs in the countryside and peregrines in the city. It shares the sadness of seeing stuffed examples of extinct birds, the anger at the mismanagement of potentially wildlife-rich hedgerows, and the confusion and contradiction of the management of our so-called natural spaces. It is a book of delights and frustrations, but above all hope and celebration. Whether it is the flash of bright yellow butterfly wings signalling that spring has arrived, the slicing of the air by sickle-shaped swifts telling us that summer has come, the wonderful show of colour that the leaves of trees display in the autumn, or the deep-throated chuckle of fieldfares gleaning berries in the winter, the seasons are full of life and this book describes them in vivid detail. The role of the seasons in our own lives may have diminished, but for wildlife the seasons are everything, they are the framework within which everything happens. Seasonality is your guide, through a naturalist’s eyes and thoughts, to the incredible journey of the four seasons. The seasons of the year roll on regardless, an endless cycle that dictates the rhythm of life.
£15.19
APA Publications Rough Guides Wild Earth
Book Synopsis
£35.25
David & Charles A Masterclass in Needle Felting Wildlife: Methods
Book SynopsisThe art of needle felting can produce endless possibilities of hyper-realistic, almost taxidermic results. With a little know-how, some needles, wool and a few inexpensive accessories, you can learn to needle felt like a professional. Take your needle felting to a whole new level to create a range of lifelike British wildlife. World class felting master Cindy-Lou Thompson of Chicktin Creations will take you through the steps. Covering four different British wild animals, with illustrated step-by-step instructions, Cindy guides you through the process of creating different body shapes, proportions, armatures, coats, and blending, as well as realistic finishing touches such as eyes, nails, ears and detailing. Learn how to achieve a professional finish you will be proud of with different textured coats, blending, clipping, and adding shape and giving a realistic finishing touch with a variety of mediums and methods, some of which Cindy has designed and developed herself. From the author of the best-selling book A Masterclass in Needle Felting Dogs, this follow-up book will teach you new techniques, and inspire you to try new and exciting creations of your own!Table of ContentsChapter 1. Basic information, items used etc. Chapter 2. The Fox, highlighting armature, initial covering, long fur attachment and coat pattern, Fox eyes and texturing wool. Chapter 3. The Hare, highlighting proportions, blended coat, large ears, eyes and finishing off details Chapter 4. The Badger, highlighting an unusal body shape and armature, claws Chapter 4. The Deer, highlighting long thin legs, large ears and a shorter coat.
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand
Book SynopsisA portable, photo-packed guide for all visitors to the country.New Zealand''s dramatic scenery is home to some equally dramatic wildlife, featuring a host of endemics found nowhere else in the world. From giant wetas and the ancient Tuatara to a suite of beautiful birds, including flightless wonders such as the Kiwi and Kakapo, these animals help make New Zealand one of the world''s greatest wildlife-tourism destinations. Although there have been severe losses due to introduced predators, the country has a fiercely determined conservation sector, and the future looks bright.This fully revised and updated second edition of Julian Fitter''s classic photographic field guide illustrates most of the vertebrate species to be found on the islands, there, as well as a large number of typical invertebrates and flora, with the photography accompanied by concise species texts. Reader-friendly and portable yet covering everything the visitor is likely to see, this book Trade ReviewFor the inquisitive visitor, this photographic field guide is the perfect companion - small and compact. * Birding World *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Author's Introduction Map of New Zealand Map of New Zealand and its Offshore Islands Introduction Geology and Geography Habitats Birds Mammals Amphibians and Reptiles Invertebrates Freshwater and Estuarine Fish The Seashore Native Trees and Shrubs Native Vines, Epiphytes and Parasites Native Herbs Native Grasses, Sedges and Rushes Ferns and their Allies Fungi Bryophytes - Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts Lichens Places to Visit Glossary Index Photo Credits
£22.50
Princeton University Press Animals of the Serengeti
Book SynopsisContaining 146 color photos, this book looks at the mammals and reptiles most likely to be encountered in the world-famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. It includes 89 species of mammal and reptile.Trade Review"The book is uniquely peppered with anecdotes and tips from six local safari guides working in the region. This human touch is a nice feature, and it's likely you'll come across one of the 'Big 6' on safari in the region... Animals of the Serengeti is an accessible and attractive photographic field guide, appropriate for the wildlife enthusiast who is looking for more than simply not going on safari empty handed."--Derek Kverno, Birding in Tanzania "Essential book if you are heading for the Serengeti... Excellent."--Derek Moore, Derek Bird Brain "Animals of the Serengeti: And Ngorongoro Conservation Area by Adam Scott Kennedy and Vicki Kennedy is an easy-to-use guidebook that is also very readable... The book is lightweight with each page filled with pictures and brief scientific explanations for each animal. Still, what I find most intriguing about the book, which I also think you will also enjoy, is the incorporation of short first-hand stories told by local guides... A great read."--Gabriel Thoumi, MongaBay.com "It's an indispensible companion for anyone thinking of making a visit to the region, to enhance your overall experience of the wildlife to be found there and inform you about the characteristics and behaviors that you will observe."--Wild Travel Magazine "A colorful, easy-to-read overview of the fascinating animals to be found on safari in Tanzania."--Library Journal "Filled with vivid anecdotes, Animals of the Serengeti will enable any safari traveler to identify the area's wildlife with ease."--BASE "Animals of the Serengeti is an accessible and attractive photographic field guide, appropriate for the wildlife enthusiast who is looking for more than simply not going on safari empty handed."--Birding Tanzania Blog "Animals of the Serengeti is an accessible and attractive photographic field guide, appropriate for the wildlife enthusiast who is looking for more than simply not going on safari empty handed."--Birding Tanzania Blog "These two guides are keys to prepare you for your journey, whether it is an actual safari or an imaginary one from the comfort of your home."--Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife ActivistTable of ContentsAbout this book 7 About the guides 10 Geography of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) 12 The great migrations 14 Map of the 'Greater Serengeti area' 16 Where to watch wildlife in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) 20 MAMMALS Lion Panthera leo 24 Leopard Panthera pardus 28 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus 32 Serval Leptailurus serval 36 Caracal Caracal caracal 37 Wild Cat Felis sylvestris 38 African Civet Civettictis civetta 39 Small-spotted Genet Genetta genetta 40 Large-spotted Genet Genetta tigrina 40 Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta 42 Aardwolf Proteles cristata 44 Striped Hyena Hyena hyaena 45 Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula 46 Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo 47 Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus 48 Ichneumon Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon 49 Marsh Mongoose Atilax paludinosus 50 White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda 51 Zorilla Ictonyx striatus 52 Honey Badger Mellivora capensis 53 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas 54 Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus 55 Golden Jackal Canis aureus 56 Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis 58 Wild Dog Lycaon pictus 59 Pangolin Smutsia temminckii 60 Aardvark Orycteropus afer 61 African Elephant Loxodonta africana 62 Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 67 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius 68 Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer 70 Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus 73 Warthog Phacochoerus africanus 74 Plains Zebra Equus quagga 76 Maasai Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis 80 Eland Tragelaphus oryx 84 Roan Hippotragus equinus 86 Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia 87 Steinbuck Raphicerus campestris 88 Oribi Ourebia ourebi 89 Kirk's Dik-dik Madoqua kirkii 90 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 91 Mountain Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula 92 Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca 93 Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus 94 Defassa Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 95 Impala Aepyceros melampus 96 Grant's Gazelle Nanger granti 98 Thomson's Gazelle Eudorcas thomsonii 100 Coke's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus 102 Topi Damaliscus lunatus 103 White-bearded Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus 104 Cape Hare Lepus capensis 108 Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis 108 Springhare Pedetes capensis 109 Unstriped Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus 110 Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus 111 White-bellied Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris 112 Crested Porcupine Hystrix cristata 113 Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis 114 Southern Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus 115 Bush Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei 115 Greater Galago Otolemur crassicaudatus 116 Lesser Galago Galago senegalensis 117 Guereza Colobus Colobus guereza 118 Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas 120 Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis 122 Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus 124 Olive Baboon Papio anubis 126 Rufous Sengi Elephantulus rufescens 128 REPTILES Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus 130 Savanna Monitor Varanus albigularis 132 Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus 132 Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis 134 Helmeted Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa 135 Flap-necked Chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis 136 Striped Skink Mabuya striata 136 Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia 138 Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capensis 139 Mwanza Flat-headed Agama Agama mwanzae 140 Red-headed Rock Agama Agama agama 140 Blue-headed Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis 141 Black-necked Spitting Cobra Naja nigricollis 142 Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis 143 Spotted Bush Snake Philothamnus semivariegatus 144 Velvety-green Night Adder Causus resimus 144 Puff Adder Bitis arietans 145 African Rock Python Python natalensis 146 Further reading and useful resources 148 Acknowledgements 149 Photographic credits 149 Index 150
£25.20
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Bumblebee Flies Anyway
Book Synopsis''Wonderfully intense and honest - a poignant manual of how to grow hope against the odds.'' - Chris Packham, TV presenter and author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar.Finding herself in a new home in Brighton, Kate Bradbury sets about transforming her decked, barren backyard into a beautiful wildlife garden. She documents the unbuttoning of the earth and the rebirth of the garden, the rewilding of a tiny urban space. On her own she unscrews, saws and hammers the decking away, she clears the builders'' rubble and rubbish beneath it, and she digs and enriches the soil, gradually planting it up with plants she knows will attract wildlife. She erects bird boxes and bee hotels, hangs feeders and grows nectar- and pollen-rich plants, and slowly brings life back to the garden.But while she's doing this Kate''s neighbours continue to pave and deck their gardens locking them away, the wildlife she tries to save is further threatened, and she feels she's fighting an uphill battle. Is Trade ReviewShines a light on the simple brilliance of life. -- Chris PackhamA moving, unpretentious account of starting again. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian, Books of the Year *A truly inspiring account of transformation, The Bumblebee Flies Anyway made me simultaneously want to read on to the final page, and rush out to my garden. -- Melissa Harrison * author of All Among the Barley *Bradbury makes a passionate plea for us all to follow her example - to ditch the decking and fill our own outside spaces, however small, with plants. -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *Reading this book made me itch to get out into my own garden and peer under piles of dead leaves to look for beetles. A moving tribute to the space Kate Bradbury creates and her skill as a gardener. -- Alys Fowler * The Garden *A glorious thing that is part autobiography, part gardening book and part fierce invective against the sterilisation of our urban landscapes when they are an increasingly important haven for wildlife. * Amateur Gardening *Quirky, passionate and endearing, an inspiring account of bringing a tiny garden back to life. -- Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale and Bee QuestA beautiful story of a garden brought back from the dead. -- Eleanor Morton * Countryman *A very personal story of love, loss and rebirth. -- Fionnuala Fallon * Irish Times *It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me mourn the loss of our green spaces but have hope for the wild places that remain. There is no louder, fresher voice for the value of urban wildlife. -- Jules Howard * zoologist and author of Sex on Earth *Bradbury 'unbuttons the earth' and lets the bumblebees, foxgloves and sparrows return at their own pace. A rallying cry for the wildlife garden. -- Louise Gray * author of The Ethical Carnivore *This is an important and timely book. I defy anyone who reads it not to want to do more to help their local wildlife. -- Brigit Strawbridge, wildlife gardener and bee campaignerA gorgeous - and informative - read. -- Penny McCormick * The Gloss *A wonderful and moving book about how a slice of nature at the backdoor offers refuge not only to the city wildlife but to the garden too. -- Alys Fowler * author of Hidden Nature and The Edible Garden *This is a beautiful, heartfelt book of hopeful wildlife gardening in the face of declining habitats and life's tendency to trip us up when we least need it. * Amateur Gardening *Table of ContentsPrologue: A garden Part One: The Bones, A Skeleton Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Part Two: A Phoenix Spring Summer Species list Author acknowledgements If you want to learn more... Index
£10.79
Amber Books Ltd Strange Animals
Book SynopsisHow does a mudskipper fish manage to “walk” on land? Why is the Hoatzin also known as ‘The Stinkbird’? And once the female Pipa toad has laid her eggs, where does she put them? The answers? The mudskipper can “walk” using its pectoral fins, the Hoatzin has a unique digestive system which gives the bird a manure-like odour, and the female Pipa Toad embeds its eggs on its back where they develop to adult stage. Illustrated throughout with outstanding colour photographs, Strange Animals presents the most unusual aspects of 100 of the most unusual species. The selection spans a broad spectrum of wildlife, from the tallest land living mammal, the giraffe, to the light, laughing chorus of Australian kookaburra birds, from the intelligence of the Bottlenose dolphin to octopuses that change colour when they dream to the slow pace of the three-toed sloth. Arranged geographically, the photographs are accompanied by fascinating captions, which explain the quirky characteristics of each entry. Including egg-laying mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, cannibalistic insects and other invertebrates, Strange Animals is a compelling introduction to some of nature’s most curious beasts.Table of ContentsIntroduction Asia Tokay Gharial Japanese Macaque Mudskipper Proboscis Monkey Honeybadger Siamese Fighting Fish Tarsier Mekong ray Saiga Golden snub-nosed monkey Colugo Sturgeon Baikal seal Sloth bear Racoon dog Komodo dragon Slow loris Giant hornet Leaf insect Malayan tapir Africa Aardvark Madagascar chameleon (Brookesia) Giraffe Hoopoe Marabou stork Naked Mole Rat Fat tailed gecko Gaboon viper Tree pangolin Giraffe weevil Aye aye Lungfish Tomato frog Aardvark Okapi Springhare Gerenuk Spotted hyena Hammerhead bat Rain frog, Breviceps fuscus Armadillo girdled lizard Mandrill Australia Duck-billed Platypus Red Kangaroo Emu Koala Laughing Kookaburra Echidna Sugarglider Kakapo Tuatara Archerfish Wombat Tasmanian devil Frilled lizard Thorny devil Funnel web spider Peacock spider Turtle frog Frogmouth Dingo Honeypot ant Witchetty grub Weta Kea Kiwi North America American Bullfrog Beaver Red wolf Ghost bear Alligator gar Thorn bug Wolverine Peccary Star nosed mole Alligator snapping turtle Hellbender Ajolote Blue-footed booby Manatee Monarch butterfly Stinkpot (musk turtle) Rainbow snake Virginia opossum Gila monster Coati American White Pelican Central and South America Giant Otter Vampire bat Hoatzin Emperor Tamarin Pipa Pygmy Marmoset Red Howler Monkey Southern Tamandua Three-toed Sloth South American horned frogs Elephant beetle Axolotl Jaguarundi Capybara Pink fairy armadillo Piranha Marine iguana Pink river dolphin Roseate spoonbill Red lipped batfish Spectacled bear Vicuna Europe Iberian ribbed newt Cuckoo Death’s Head Hawkmoth Great Diving beetle Wels catfish Wisent (European bison) Slow worm Puffin Badger Common chameleon Alpine ibex Beluga sturgeon Oceans Narwhal Angler Fish Cleaner Wrasse Sea dragon Megamouth shark Dumbo octopus Blobfish Giant isopod barreleye fish Kiwa Sea spider Sea anemone Parrot fish Nudibranch Hagfish Mantis shrimp Christmas tree worm Stargazer Wobbegong Gulper eel Oarfish Coral Hammerhead shark
£16.99
Profile Books Ltd The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder
Book Synopsis'Kindness and co-operation have played a crucial role in raising humans to the top of the evolutionary tree ... We have thrived on the milk of human kindness.' Observer BY THE AUTHOR OF ARE WE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW SMART ANIMALS ARE? 'There is a widely-held assumption that humans are hard-wired for relentless and ruthless competition ... Frans de Waal sees nature differently - as a biological legacy in which empathy, not mere self-interest, is shared by humans, bonobos and animals.' Ben Macintyre, The Times Empathy holds us together. That we are hardwired to be altruistic is the result of thousands of years of evolutionary biology which has kept society from slipping into anarchy. But we are not alone: primates, elephants, even rodents are empathetic creatures too. Social behaviours such as the herding instinct, bonding rituals, expressions of consolation and even conflict resolution demonstrate that animals are designed to feel for each other. From chimpanzees caring for mates that have been wounded by leopards, elephants reassuring youngsters in distress and dolphins preventing sick companions from drowning, with a wealth of anecdotes, scientific observations, wry humour and incisive intelligence, The Age of Empathy is essential reading for all who believe in the power of our connections to each other.Trade ReviewHis writing and science are infectiously good -- Adam Rutherford * Guardian *There is a widely held assumption that humans are hard-wired for relentless and ruthless competition... Frans de Waal sees nature differently - as a biological legacy in which empathy, not mere self interest, is shared by humans, bonobos and animals -- Ben Macintyre * The Times *A pioneer in primate studies, Frans de Waal sees our better side in chimps, especially our capacity for empathy * Wall Street Journal *Freshly topical ... a corrective to the idea that all animals - human and otherwise - are selfish and unfeeling to the core * Economist *Warm, engaging and empathetic ... the more we learn about nature, the more richly we're able to imagine a better society * Independent *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Wild Kingdom
Book SynopsisShortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT BOOK PRIZE 2017Can Britain make room for wildlife? Stephen Moss believes it can. The newspaper headlines tell us that Britain's wildlife is in trouble. It's not just rare creatures that are vanishing, hares and hedgehogs, skylarks and water voles, even the humble house sparrow, are in freefall. But there is also good news. Otters have returned to the River Tyne; there are now beavers on the River Otter; and peregrines have taken up residence in the heart of London. Stephen Moss travels the length and breadth of the UK, from the remote archipelago of St Kilda to our inner cities, to witness at first-hand how our wild creatures are faring and ask how we can bring back Britain's wildlife.Trade ReviewRich with examples of what can be done to help Britain’s wildlife thrive. -- Matt Ridley * The Times *Well-written, lively, lovingly detailed book. -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Express *A must-read for nature lovers. * Choice Magazine *A thoroughly good book and a very readable one… Well-researched and well-argued ammunition for our cause. -- Rob Hume * Birdwatch *A must-have. * Country Living *
£10.44
The Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year Unforgettable
Book SynopsisAstonishing underwater shots taken from past years of the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
£17.00
Hodder & Stoughton If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal
Book SynopsisCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 BY WATERSTONES AND THE TIMES''Entertaining and original.'' Guardian''Accessible and insightful, it''s a thought-provoking read.'' Observer'' Highly readable.'' The Times''Nothing less than brilliant.'' Wall Street JournalWhat if human intelligence is actually more of a liability than a gift? After all, the animal kingdom, in all its diversity, gets by just fine without it. At first glance, human history is full of remarkable feats of intelligence, yet human exceptionalism can be a double-edged sword. With our unique cognitive prowess comes severe consequences, including existential angst, violence, discrimination, and the creation of a world teetering towards climate catastrophe. What if human exceptionalism is more of a curse than a blessing?As Justin Gregg puts it, there''s an evolutionary reason why human intelligence isn''t moreTrade ReviewI love the book and everyone should read it -- Ryan HolidayIf Nietzsche Were A Narwhal makes some extraordinary and thought-provoking points. It is not only engagingly written, but its controversial thesis is worth taking seriously... some of the cognitive concepts introduced...are nothing less than brilliant. * Wall Street Journal *Beautiful, thought-provoking, and often hilarious * BBC Science Focus *Gregg's clever and provocative book is full of irreverent notions and funny anecdotes - the creative upside to being a human animal. But our ability to abstract from our immediate experience means we can take that creativity too far....undeniably entertaining * New York Times *A dazzling, delightful read on what animal cognition can teach us about our own mental shortcomings. You won't just tear through this book in one sitting - you'll probably want to invite Justin Gregg over for dinner to spend more time inside his brilliant mind. This is one of the best debuts I've read in a long time, and I dare you to open it without rethinking some of your basic ideas about intelligence. -- Adam GrantI defy you not to be interested by this book - it finds a novel way of getting at very deep questions about who we are and what it means, and does so with clear-eyed compassion and a certain humor that softens the conclusion a bit -- Bill McKibbenCombining first rate story-telling with the latest research on animal minds and cognitive psychology, If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal is the rare book that will cause readers to think deeply about big questions and moral issues and to laugh out loud on nearly every page. I loved it. -- Hal HerzogIf Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is a book full of observations as surprising and off-the-beaten-path as its title. It's scientifically very well informed. It's not a treatise - it's a pleasure. -- Carl SafinaI felt dumber after reading this book. Mission accomplished, Justin! -- David GrimmWe've heard that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but have you ever considered that having a human mind is more a bane than a gift? Justin Gregg's delightful and provocative book melds science with anecdote to explore that question. Read it, have your preconceptions challenged, and feel some humility. It might do you good. -- Jonathan BalcombeA highly original take on the nature of intelligence across life forms. Simultaneously thought -provoking and delightfully humorous, Justin Gregg guides readers into an essential re-thinking of human exceptionalism. This is a welcome upending of all we have been molded to believe about humans and other animal minds. -- Lyanda Lynn HauptThis is an important book to read if you want to understand animals for what they are - not as cardboard cutouts, or as furry humans. Animal minds aren't in competition with us, although Gregg makes a good case that if they were, they would win hands down. The idea that human intelligence may be nothing more than a failed evolutionary dead end, gives humanity an important challenge to which we must rise. -- Arik KershenbaumWhat's it like to be a bat, a bee, or a bed bug? In this enthralling book, Justin Gregg offers a window into the minds of other creatures, and debunks many of the myths of human exceptionalism. He makes the provocative argument that human thinking may be complex, but it is by no means superior - and its unique qualities could even be the cause of our species' ultimate downfall. If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is both a humbling and awe-inspiring read. -- David RobsonA funny, perceptive book that answers questions we've been told not to ask. Like many of the great sages, Justin Gregg uses animal stories to treat deep questions of consciousness and justice. The result is a deft field guide to the mixed blessings of intelligence and the real possibility that consciousness (and joy) exist perfectly well without it. -- William PoundstoneA sparkling and witty tour of the many minds we share this planet with. Nietzsche might be surprised to find himself contemplated in the company of beasts from narwhals to slugs - but the fascinating and detailed payoff of the cognitive lives of so many animals is immense. -- Clive WynneEnlightening! If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is a hilarious and thrilling look at intelligence that asks: are humans really the best? Gregg will dazzle and sweep you off your feet with his detailed exploration of the animal kingdom and its many secrets. This is an absolute must-read. -- Wednesday MartinIf Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is an unusual, delightful, and entertaining book that will help us achieve a more precise understanding of human nature, counterintuitively by looking at our reflection in light of the clues of conscious behavior expressed by our fellow animals. I loved Dr. Gregg's book because I learned quite a few interesting things from each chapter. As a scholar, I can offer no higher praise. Highly recommended. -- Oné R PagánIf Nietzsche were a Narwhal is a beautiful, thought-provoking and often hilarious exploration of this planet's different kinds of minds. Justin Gregg points out that while many of the hallmarks of human intelligence are also found, in some form, in animals from insects to narwhals, humans are by all means exceptional. But our intelligence is still constrained by our evolutionary history; we may be too intelligent for own good, and too stupid to look after our planet with a sufficiently long-term planning perspective. Gregg's magnificent book is a poignant reminder that if we don't raise our game fast, we might once again cede Earth to the rule of insects and other supposedly less intelligent creatures. -- Lars Chittka[If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal] challenges deep-seated ideas about the superiority of human intelligence by contrasting it with stories of animals who've gotten along just fine without it * Publishers Weekly *A fascinating take on human intelligence. * Kirkus Reviews *Wonderfully accessible and charmingly narrated, this is a fascinating investigation of intellect and cognition -- Publishers Weekly(An) entertaining and original book...Gregg is a brilliant communicator of complex ideas, with a writing style that is rich in both humour and detail. His argument is also surprisingly convincing. * PD Smith, Guardian *So many of our narratives describe how our mega-human brains have allowed us to conquer the world. But these brains have also led us to a point where we might make ourselves extinct. And crucially, do they make us any happier? These are deep and important questions; Gregg harnesses his marvellous human brain to also make them really funny. This is a great way to get acquainted with the current understanding of other animal intelligence and an interesting corrective to our anthropocentric instincts. * BBC Science Focus *Justin Gregg's witty exploration of animal intelligence is a useful guide - but there is more to human life than a search for contentedness... No one who reads Gregg's witty and instructive book will come away without having learnt some humbling truths about themselves and their animal kin. His argument is twofold. He details instances of intelligent behaviour which show that attributes believed to be uniquely human are present, in varying degrees, in animals, birds, fish and insects. On the other hand, he suggests that in humans these attributes come at a price. Consciousness - the hallmark of the human species in many philosophies - is double-edged in precisely this way. * New Statesman *'By melding science, history and philosophy, the book becomes a highly readable, and on occasion quite surprising, tour of the limits of consciousness.' * The Times *'His understanding of human and animal cognition provides real insight into how we think, why our brains have evolved to think that way, and what we might want to do about it - since, perhaps uniquely as a species, we can.' * Financial Times *'A fascinating work of popular science... Accessible and insightful, it's a thought-provoking read.' * The Observer *
£18.70
Red Robin Publishing Ltd. Wildlife of America 2026 Square Wall Calendar
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Gill Ireland’s Animals
Book SynopsisNiall Mac Coitir provides a comprehensive look at the folklore, legends and history of animals in Ireland, and describes their relations with people, being hunted for food, fur, sport, or as vermin, and their position today. A final section, inspired by stories of animal transformation, looks at twelve animals and how we can enrich our lives by visualising ourselves with their special qualities. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated compilation of folklore, legends and natural history will delight all with an interest in Ireland’s animals.Trade Review'Full of arcane and interesting facts' * Irish Examiner *
£11.99
Whittles Publishing Life in Lethinnis: A croft in the Highlands
Book SynopsisAfter 20 years working as a professional biologist, the author decided to 'retire' to the Highlands, moving with his wife to a croft at the edge of a small and somewhat inaccessible village on the west coast. This was no romantic and idealistic aspiration for the Good Life, nor really an attempt to 'get away from it all'; rather a growing disaffection with living in the overpopulated south of England and a desire to return to his Scottish roots. Moving was like stepping back 50 years in time: most of the other residents of this tiny hamlet had been born and bred there, the majority were Gaelic-speaking and, with few of the conventional 'services', there was a strong sense of community that had been missed. This engaging story gives a collection of cameos from those first few years as they moved into and settled in their remote smallholding. It is developed as a series of short 'anecdotes' about life in this isolated west-coast Scottish community. Actual anecdotes are interwoven with snippets of natural history observation related to various topical wildlife issues. In the tradition of Lillian Beckwith's The Hills is Lonely, the stories revolve around the strong characters who made up this isolated community and became part of their everyday life. All the people and events described in this book are real, although places and names may have been changed. Enough clues remain that professional biologists or those with a keen interest in natural history will readily identify the peninsula. It is a joy to read and reveals Highland life with all its humour and character. Beautifullly illustrated by wildlife artist Catherine Putman.
£16.14
