Wildlife: general interest Books

Book SynopsisA captivating introduction to the physics of animal behavior.The principles of physics lie behind many of the ways animals go about their daily lives. Scientists have discovered that the way cats and dogs lap up liquids can be explained by the laws of surface tension, how ants navigate is due to polarized light, and why pistol shrimps can generate enough force to destroy aquarium glass using their elbows!Each of Furry Logic''s six chapters tackles a separate branch of physics and, through more than 30 animal case studies, examines each creature''s key features before describing the ways physics is at play in its life, how the connection between physics and animal behavior was discovered, and what remains to be found out. Science journalists Matin Durrani and Liz Kalaugher make the incredible interdisciplinary world of animals accessible to all, in an enthralling and entertaining read.Trade ReviewFurry Logic is an important book that is equally inspiring and humbling. * Science *An appealing mix of familiar animals ... and the life stories and weird research techniques of physicists and biologists, past and current, famous and unknown. * The Daily Telegraph *An enlightening and entertaining slant on two very different scientific disciplines, rendering a tricky subject accessible. * BBC Wildlife *A fun, informative chronicle of how myriad animals take advantage of the laws of physics. * Science News *Packed with insight and information. -- Jim Al-Khalili, physicist and broadcasterAn intriguing, funny and clever insight into the physics of the animal world. You'll never look at a wet dog or a bloody-thirsty mosquito in the same way. -- Fran Scott, science presenterWonderful, wild and witty. -- Ian Sample, science editor, GuardianIlluminating and intriguing. An entertaining book that provides fresh insight into how animals survive – providing food for thought whatever your level of scientific knowledge. -- Dame Athene Donald, Professor of Experimental Physics and Master of Churchill College, University of CambridgeThere is nothing fuzzy about this book. With crisp prose and intuitive descriptions of physical processes, this book reveals how natural selection tunes the laws of physics to solve the myriad problems posed by nature ... a must read. -- Daniel Rubenstein, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton UniversityReaders don't need a background in physics to enjoy this engaging, educational title. Recommended for fans of popular science, including YA audiences. * School Library Journay *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Furry Physics Chapter 1: Heat: The Warm-up Chapter Chapter 2: Forces: The Big Push Chapter 3: Fluids: When Things Get Stickier Chapter 4: Sound: Good Vibrations Chapter 5: Electricity and Magnetism: Let the Sparks Fly Chapter 6: Light: A Final Physics Fandango Conclusion: Life, the Universe and Everything Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisErnest Hemingway is a writer we often associate with particular places and animals; Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Spain’s countryside, East Africa’s game reserves, Cuba’s blue water, and Idaho’s sage- brush all come to mind. We can easily visualize the iconic images of Hemingway with y rod bent by hefty trout, with bulls charging matadors, or of the famous author proudly posing with trophy lions, marlin, and a menagerie of Western American game animals.As Robert E. Fleming once put it—updating Gertrude Stein’s famous quip that Hemingway looked like a modern and smelled of museums—Hemingway “was also a hunter, sherman, and naturalist who smelled of libraries.” Hemingway indeed read widely in natural history and science, as well as the literature of eld sports. is lifelong interest in the natural world and its inhabitants manifests itself in Hemingway’s writing in myriad ways. From the trout Nick Adams care- fully releases to Santiago’s marlin and Robert Jordan’s “heart beating against the pine needle oor of the forest” to Colonel Cantwell’s beloved Italian duck marshes, and from African savannahs to the Gulf Stream, animals and environments are central to Hemingway’s work and life. While these representations often served as background for broader human centered matters in early scholarship, contemporary critics have opted to treat animals and environments directly. Teaching Hemingway and the Natural World marks a key entry in Hemingway studies, bringing the questions from the rapidly evolving eld of environmental literary studies to bear on Hemingway’s places, animals, and life. It not only advances scholarship on Hemingway’s relationship to the natural world, but it also facilitates bringing this understanding to the classroom. This latest volume in the Teaching Hemingway series explores how his writing sheds light on broader questions of the human relationship to the nonhuman world. Organized geographically, the 16 essays by leading scholars are divided into five sections about Hemingway’s favorite places. Each essay includes specific classroom advice as well as theoretically sophisticated close readings.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's amazing what we can learn from animals ... From summers at his grandparent's farm to serving the community through animal care as the local veterinarian, Dr. Keene spins heart­warming stories that do more than just entertain. These memoirs are rich with anecdotes and insights on how to care for your pets, for others, and yourself. God loves all creatures great and small, and surprisingly He can use the life and love of animals to teach and inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves possible. Take a journey through the colorful memories of Dr. Keene as he cared for all different types of animals, from pigs to parrots, cats, dogs, snakes, skunks, horses, cows, and everything in between.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis comprehensive handbook covers all the rodents occurring in Southern, Central, East and West Africa, south of the Sahara. Genus and species accounts include diagnostic descriptions, systematics and taxonomy, biogeographical environment, fossil species, photographs of skull and mandible, illustrations of molar dentition, photographs of live animals, distribution maps and tables of standard museum measurements.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive and heavily illustrated guide to every species of British wildlife, this book is the definitive photographic reference guide for nature enthusiasts.Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife allows everyone to identify the wildlife found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates you are most likely to see, as well as all the common plants.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.This is the essential photographic guide to the wildlife of Britain and Ireland.Trade Review'Wonderfully descriptive photographs'BBC Wildlife

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of invasive species is really the story of human history, and Eatherley tells it with great verve Fascinating' Daily TelegraphA unique history of plant and animal invaders of the British isles spanning thousands of years of arrivals and escapes, as well as defences mounted and a look to the future.As Brits we pride ourselves as stoic defenders, boasting a record of resistance dating back to 1066.Yet, even a cursory examination of the natural world reveals that while interlopers of the human variety may have been kept at bay, our islands have been invaded, conquered and settled by an endless succession of animals, plants, fungi and other alien lifeforms that apparently belong elsewhere. Indeed it's often hard to work out what actually is native, and what is foreign.From early settlement of our islands, through the Roman and mediaeval period, to the age of exploration and globalisation, today's complement of alien species tells a story about our past.Trade ReviewPraise for Invasive Aliens‘Fascinating … Eatherley has the unflagging curiosity of a Victorian explorer. The man seems to be indefatigable as he hacks away at Himalayan balsam (the pink, flowery weed that lines almost every riverbank in Britain) or goes on patrol for invasive signal crayfish in the River Barle. He’s not afraid to get wet, dirty or tired on his mission to get up close and personal with intruders of all shapes and sizes. It feels as if we are on the front line with him.’ The Times ‘[Eatherley’s] approach to his complex subject is open-minded, nuanced, and free-ranging to the point of wildness’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Fascinating … the story of “invasive species” is really the story of human history, and [Eatherley] tells it with great verve’ Daily Telegraph ‘Eatherley has an impressive grasp of history – both human and natural … [and] Invasive Aliens provides a well-researched overview of this complex and controversial topic. There is plenty here to surprise as well as enlighten’ Literary Review ‘A fascinating, comprehensive and thoughtful compendium of the flora and fauna that have reached our shores over the years … Invasive Aliens is full of extraordinary and often complex stories.’ Country Life ‘Eatherley’s thorough digest of a complex subject is engaging, informative and balanced. It is the first of these which most explains why Invasive Aliens has garnered such a sheaf of book awards. If the journalistic style puts off a few readers, it will please many more because the subject has been presented with verve and panache; I did not expect to be drawn in so comprehensively or to learn so much’ James Robertson, British Wildlife ‘[Dan Eatherley,] a talented naturalist writing with a genuine passion for the subject, has tackled the daunting task of charting the history of alien species in Britain with gusto. The result is an engrossing and utterly entertaining book’ British Deer Society

Read more less

Book Synopsis Established over a century ago, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) was the world’s first international conservation organisation. The pioneering work of its founders in Africa led to the creation of numerous protected areas, including Kruger and Serengeti National Parks. For the first time, the story of FFI’s history is told in its entirety.

Read more less

Book Synopsis**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**One man''s quest to save the bumblebee...Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee is now extinct in the UK, but still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, descended from a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century.A Sting in the Tale tells the story of Goulson''s passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land and contains groundbreaking research into these curious creatures, history''s relationship with the bumblebee, the disastrous effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.Trade Review[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. -- Michael McCarthy * Independent *Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. -- Hannah Rosefield * Literary Review *A worthy book of the year. -- Mary Beard * Observer *Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. -- Mark Mason * Spectator *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautiful companion set to the award-winning and internationally beloved phenomena, The Lost Words and The Lost Spells, adults and children alike will love receiving, sending and displaying The Wild Cards''Breathtaking and magical. Jackie Morris has created something that you could spend all day looking at'' New Statesman''Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris have made a thing of astonishing beauty'' ObserverDiscover and share the wonders of the wild world as seen in The Lost Words and The Lost Spells...This collection of 100 postcards features artwork and words from two beloved modern classics, in which Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane celebrate the creatures, trees and plants of nearby nature, from Acorn to Wren, by way of Curlew and Kingfisher, Silver Birch and Snow Hare, Goldfinch and Gorse.The front of each card bears one of Morris''s Greenaway Medal-winning paintings; on the reverse, y

Read more less

Book SynopsisCreative activities and ideas to explore the outdoors. This is a fun and educational outdoor activity book, ideal for green-fingered and nature-friendly families

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The future of all life on this earth depends on our willingness to take action now'' David AttenboroughThe official companion to the ground-breaking Netflix original series.With a foreword by Sir David Attenborough, breathtakingly beautiful still photography, specially commissioned maps and graphics, and compelling text expanding on the remarkable TV stories and giving the reader a depth of information that is impossible on screen, this companion book presents a whole new view of the place we call home.Featuring some of the world''s rarest creatures and previously unseen parts of the Earth from deep oceans to remote forests to ice caps, Our Planet takes nature-lovers deep into the science of our natural world.Revealing the most amazing sights on Earth in unprecedented ways, alongside stories of the ways humans are affecting the world''s ecosystems, from the wildebeest migrations in Africa to thTrade ReviewAstonishing book...full of beautiful photographs * Radio Times *Featuring some of the world's rarest creatures and previously unseen parts of the Earth - Our Planet travels deep into the science of our natural world. Revealing the most amazing sights, alongside stories of the way humans are affecting the world's ecosystems - this book is part of a vital global conversation about protecting and preserving the planet. * Compass Magazine *A treat on your coffee table and a fine companion to any binge watch of the series * Wanderlust *Breathtaking photographs * Radio Times *Revealing the most amazing sights on Earth, alongside stories of the way humans are affecting the world's ecosystems, this book places itself at the forefront of a global conversation as we work together to protect and preserve the planet. * Catholic Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecret Nature of Devon is an inspirational introduction to the unique character of Devon's countryside, and the animals and plants that are special to the county. The book explores the extraordinary richness of Devon's wildlife habitats: Estuaries, Farmland, Fresh Water, Heathland, Limestone and Chalk, Lundy, Moorland, Sand Dunes, Sea Cliffs, Sea Shore, Woodland, Wood, Pasture and Parkland It includes a comprehensive list of the species that make Devon special, with the best times and places to see them; details of recommended nature reserves and a map showing their locations; and contact details for local wildlife organisations. Secret Nature of Devon is written and photographed by Andrew Cooper, one of the country's leading wildlife film makers, with advice from county Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB, Butterfly Conservation and many other organisations. The title is from one of his most popular, award-winning BBC natural history television series. This book is the first in a major new nationwide series.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements How to Use This Book Introduction Setting the Scene Wild Highlights Section 1: HABITATS & THEIR WILDLIFE Estuary Farmland Fresh Water Heathland Limestone and Chalk Lundy Moorland Sand Dunes Sea Cliffs Sea Shore Slapton Ley Wood Pasture and Parkland Woodland Section 2: WHAT TO SEE & WHERE TO SEE IT What to See: Plants and animals that make Devon special Map: Showing nature reserves and country parks Where to See: Nature reserves and country parks Visitor Attractions Section 3: FURTHER INFORMATION Organisations Books & Guides Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautifully lyrical collection of essays on the natural world in Britain by the Guardian's country diary writer Paul Evans. With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don't, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. Other chapters look at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author's personal encounters.Trade Review'Evans has a lovely way of writing, evocative with an eye for detail on the bigger picture' * Half Man Half Book *'There is profound yet unobtrusive elegance in Paul Evans’ writing' * The Ecologist *'There is profound yet unobtrusive elegance in Paul Evans’ writing.' -- Peter Reason * Resurgence & Ecologist Review *'It’s the perfect collection to dip into and out of at leisure and is perfect for anyone with a natural history bent' * Epicurean *'It’s like going on a short walk with a knowledgeable guide. Refreshing and educational.' * The People's Friend *‘By celebrating [the natural world] so beautifully, Evans is playing as important a role in its conservation as anybody.' * Birdwatching *'The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this fascinating book' -- Miriam Darlington * BBC Wildlife *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the best places to spot 300 of the world’s most exciting and unusual creatures, from the soaring Andean condor and prowling Bengal tiger, to singing humpback whales and migrating wildebeest. For many people, one of the most rewarding experiences of travel is seeing creatures you wouldn’t encounter back home. Whether you set out to see them on safari or spot them by sheer luck, there’s a thrill and a beauty in watching a wild animal in its natural habitat. That’s why we created Lonely Planet’s A-Z of Wildlife Watching. It’s packed with stunning photos, details of each creature’s habits and characteristics, and tips on how to increase the chances of an encounter. Inside, you’ll find all the most iconic animals like lions, tigers, elephants and sharks, but we’ve gone even further than these headline acts to showcase the mind-blowing diversity of the natural world, with other animals including: snow leopards, mountain goats, antelopes, fennec foxes, giant albatrosses, hog-nosed bats, giant clams, corals, whales, wobbegongs, birdwing butterflies and Hercules beetles. Created in consultation with biologist and writer Amy-Jane Beer, and with a foreword by nature photographer Mark Carwardine.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the simple and considerate things YOU can do to save the elephant- and the world!In recent years, the global elephant population has diminished rapidly in recent years. Both Asian and African elephants face a number of grave threats, including poaching and loss of habitat. African elephant numbers are estimated to have dropped by 30% in the past decade alone. These beautiful creatures need your help more than ever, but it's never been so easy to make a difference. 50 Ways to Save the Elephants is packed with steps you can take to help elephant populations recover and protect elephants in captivity. Whether it's engaging in online activism from your home, helping to reduce climate change, or being a conscientious consumer and traveler, these simple contributions will benefit more than just the elephants - they also help make a difference in our community and the world!

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis practical pocket field guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, includes 150 butterfly and moth species from Britain and the near Continent. Each species account contains accurate artworks that show details to help readers differentiate between male and female butterflies, moths and caterpillars of varying species. A concise written account outlines further essential information, such as size, description, habitat, flight times, distribution, foodplants and habits.The easy-to-follow layouts and illustrations aid quick identification, and make this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet filled with essential information for nature enthusiasts.Table of ContentsIntroduction Butterflies - Skippers - Swallowtails - Whites - Hairstreaks - Coppers - Blues - Metalmarks - Emperors - Vanessids - Fritillaries - Danaids - Browns Moths - Micropterigids - Leaf Rollers - Pyralid Moths - Plume Moths - Swift Moths - Leopard & Goat Moths - Forester Moths - Burnet Moths - Clearwing Moths - Eggar Moths - Kentish Glory - Emperor Moths - Lutestring Moths - Geometer Moths - Hawkmoths - Prominent & Kitten Moths - Footman Moths - Tiger Moths - Ermines - Cinnabar Moth - Processionary Moths - Noctuid Moths

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe second edition of Richard Lewington''s pocket guide to the butterflies of Great Britain and IrelandPresented in an accessible, easy-to-use format, this is an ideal guide for both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts. It includes more than 600 superb illustrations of all the life stages of each species, together with beautiful artworks of the butterflies in their natural settings and pertinent species information, distribution maps and life history charts. The second edition features a new, illustrated at-a-glance' identification guide, updated distribution maps and species accounts, and new spreads and artwork for the Cryptic Wood White and Scarce Tortoiseshell.Trade ReviewThis is a beautiful piece of work and exceeds any expectation that one might have of a pocket guide, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. -- Peter Eeles * UK Butterflies website *This is an excellent edition of a very useful, beautiful, well priced and portable guide. -- Dr Katie Cruickshanks * Butterfly Magazine *This is a good update to an already excellent book, with the addition of the 'at a glance' guide and new treatment of the wood whites likely to tempt some owners of the first edition to move to the new edition. -- Mike Toms * BTO *This is the second edition of the essential pocket guide to UK lepidoptera. Climate change is altering the shape of our butterfly life, but in this up-to-date guide you'll find precise illustrations showing the top and underwing for both sexes, plus eggs, larvae, pupae, associated plants and locator map for each species. * RSPB Nature's Home magazine: pick of new nature books *Richard Lewington’s butterfly paintings are legendary … the text is also first rate. It is filled with facts and oozes common sense. So far as UK butterfly field guides go, this is as good as it gets. -- John Tennent * Atropos *This easy-to-follow fact-packed field guide is perfect for beginners and compact enough to slip into your rucksack or pocket when out for a stroll. * Caravan Club Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Conservation The structure of a butterfly The life cycle of a butterfly The six butterfly families How to use this guide At-a-glance guide Main descriptions Swallowtail Skippers Whites and yellows Browns Fritillaries, admirals and tortoiseshells Duke of Burgundy Coppers, hairstreaks and blues Extinct species and rare migrants Day-flying moths Further reading Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Garden Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 39 of our most widespread and familiar garden birds by renowned artist Stephen Message.Whether you are watching small birds at your garden bird feeder or a raptor soaring overhead, birds are everywhere. But could you recognise a Marsh Tit from a Coal Tit? Or distinguish between a Song Thrush and a Redwing? These are just a handful of the array of birds that are attracted to the UK''s gardens to nest and feed.The species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification, while the artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field. The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our garden birds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB is working to support them. Practical tips on how to make your own ''bird pastry'' and put up nest boxeTrade ReviewThey are great for showing children the wide variety of species […] and small enough to take away with you on location, or just to keep in the car. -- John Miles * Bird Watching *Table of ContentsIntroducing the UK’s Garden Birds Habitat Distribution and Migration General Behaviour, Life Cycle and Diet Conservation Spotlight ID with Artwork

Read more less

Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Wetland Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 51 of our most widespread and familiar wetland birds by renowned artist Stephen Message.Whether you are listening to a flock of geese communicate as they fly overhead or watching a group of feeding waders on an estuary, wetland birds are among the UK''s most gregarious and charming waterbirds. But do you know a Coot from a Moorhen? And can you tell the difference between a Wigeon and a Pochard? The UK''s wildlife-rich freshwater habitats are home to a diverse collection of our most beautiful wild bird species.The species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification, while the artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field. The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our wetland birds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPTable of ContentsIntroducing the UK’s Wetland Birds Habitat Distribution and Migration General Behaviour, Life Cycle and Diet Conservation Spotlight ID with Artwork

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PEOPLE''S BOOK PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION AND LONGLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON CONSERVATION.''Enchanting a joy to read.'' JOANNA LUMLEY''Vibrant and vital.'' CHRIS PACKHAM''Forget Me Not is a tonic.'' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT''Remarkable.'' NELL FRIZZELL''A fierce, passionate stand for the wild.'' MEGAN MCCUBBIN''Funny, full of interest and often poignant.'' ISABELLA TREE''Beautiful. Rare. Profound. Hopeful.'' CHARLOTTE PHILBY''Passionate, pragmatic and seriously funny.'' GILLIAN BURKE''Wonderfully refreshing.'' BENEDICT MACDONALDJoin Sophie Pavelle on a low-carbon journey around Britain in search of ten animals and habitats threatened by climate change in the 21st century.Forget-me-not a beautiful flower and a plea from our islands' wildlife. When climate change has driven dozens of our most charismatic species to extinction, will they be forTrade ReviewThis enchanting book could not be more timely: it brings much to inspire our future thinking, and is a joy to read. * Joanna Lumley *Vibrant and vital. The trials of ten treasured species that we can’t afford to fail. A biological romp with a real mission. -- Chris Packham * broadcaster and author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar *This engaging romp in search of our most endangered species is a timely reminder of the magic we have in nature and what we are set to lose if we don’t wake up. Funny, full of interest and often poignant, travelling with Sophie Pavelle is a journey to remember. * Isabella Tree, author of Wilding *A fierce, passionate stand for the wild. * Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist and broadcaster *Forget Me Not sings and rings with a distinctive combination of passion, humour and energy; Sophie Pavelle's low-carbon journey round the overlooked, undersung species of our island group makes a heartfelt plea for the need to conserve, restore and replenish the wildlife we have left. -- Robert Macfarlane * author of Underland *If the canon of British nature writing has a reputation for being male and overly earnest, then Sophie Pavelle’s Forget Me Not is a one-book rebalancing act. -- India Bourke * New Statesman *This is such a beautiful book. Full of humour, adventure, poignancy. It will make you value the country around you and even hungrier to protect it. Remarkable. -- Nell Frizzell * journalist and author of The Panic Years *Forget Me Not is a tonic... Pavelle’s writing is a delight, full of extended sartorial or food-related metaphors, puns and cheeky humour. -- Rebecca Foster * Times Literary Supplement *The prose is as lyrical as it is sassy, as insightful as it is impassioned. -- Amy-Jane Beer * Guardian Book of the Day *A clarion call for us all to do something to make a difference. -- Ceri Levy * Caught by the River *Urgent and challenging, but also fun and beautifully written, Sophie documents her low-carbon journeys exposing the reality of climate change in Britain. -- Simon Reeve * broadcast journalist, adventurer and author of Step by Step *Beautiful. Rare. Profound. Hopeful. -- Charlotte Philby * author of A Double Life *Finding wonder in the familiar and celebrating the unknown in the everyday, this is a beautiful book - and so perfectly told. -- Professor Ben Garrod * author, broadcaster, biologist *Sophie Pavelle writes with the urgency and voice of a generation. Her commitment is matched with a fierce knowledge of conservation biology and policymaking, whose murky corridors are expertly navigated. Passionate, pragmatic and seriously funny. -- Gillian Burke * biologist, presenter and writer *From rare butterflies to bats and bumblebees, Sophie takes us on a breathless but strangely relaxing whistle-stop tour of Britain in search of some of our less familiar, fragile and fascinating wildlife. Charming, witty and moving. -- Professor Dave Goulson * Professor of Biology and author of A Sting in the Tale *Pavelle is the best kind of science writer – who makes you feel almost as smart as she is, priming and signposting in such a way that you grasp the punchline in the moment before she delivers it. Make no mistake, this is serious stuff, requiring serious communication. But she balances love and irreverence, data and ditz. I loved the breezy humour, the sass and savviness. -- Dr Amy-Jane Beer * naturalist, writer, campaigner and Guardian Country Diarist *A wonderfully refreshing look at the vanishing species around us, what they mean and why they matter. -- Benedict Macdonald * naturalist, wildlife TV producer and author of Rebirding *Forget Me Not is that enchanting book that makes you want to put on your hiking boots and big coat, get outdoors and immerse yourself in nature. Sophie’s writing is funny and accessible whilst being a call to arms for us to protect Britain’s most vulnerable species. Perfect for old hats and newbies to wildlife. Highly recommended. -- Dr Amir Khan * NHS doctor, broadcaster, author and Vice President of The Wildlife Trusts *Sophie has a warm tone of voice in this enjoyable and accessible read. * BBC Wildlife magazine *Pavelle has a lively mind and sense of humour ... [she] explains the science well and has done a serious amount of research. -- Simon Lester * Country Life magazine *Here is a vibrant and vital voice from the millennial generation that is fighting climate change and its devastating effect on the world around us. -- Ceri Levy * Caught by the River *Like the captured sunshine she describes persisting in a seagrass meadow even on a cloudy day, she [Pavelle] has captured a different kind of light here, that of youth and love and hope. -- Dr Amy-Jane Beer * Guardian Book of the Day *Pavelle pulls no punches, giving the facts as they are, but weaving them together with a poetic touch and some light-hearted relief. It felt counterintuitive to be chuckling out loud while reading a book about such a bleak topic, but that is the beauty of Forget Me Not. -- Jeni Bell * British Wildlife *A lively introduction to the nature crisis in the British Isles. * New Statesman *Her style is lively, casual and autobiographical, and her book would suit young people new to nature writing and keen to learn more about the biodiversity on our doorstep. -- Katie Burton * Geographical *This is perfection. -- Ben Goldsmith * environmentalist *Gritty, amusing and wonderfully educational, a truly inspiring account of species at the forefront of climate change in Britain. -- Jake Fiennes * author of Land Healer *A journey well worth joining. -- David Brown * Best of Britain *Sophie Pavelle's book properly stands out in the increasingly crowded nature writing field. She writes powerfully about vital issues, in a totally fresh, funny and accessible way that is distinctively her own. Loved it. -- Lee Schofield * author of Wild Fell *An absolute triumph in science communication. -- Leif Bersweden * author of The Orchid Hunter and Where the Wildflowers Grow *Passionate and thought-provoking. -- Mark Whitley * Countryman *It's full of wonder and joy. And crucially, it's written in the voice of a friend [...] while there's wit and warmth flowing through each chapter, the message never stops being urgent. * Country Walking *Pavelle’s weapons in the face of these difficult truths are positivity and action. -- Katie Burton * Geographical *This is a very thought-provoking read and hopefully will inspire us to do something about it [climate change] to prevent future losses. -- John Miles * Bird Watching *...amusing and thought-provoking. -- Kim Smith * Bury and West Suffolk magazine *A book about climate change with deep adoration for the natural world at its heart. -- Francesca Donovan * The Great Outdoors *Low-carbon wandering propels Sophie Pavelle’s jauntier tour of climate-change Britain in Forget Me Not. * Country & Town House *...refreshingly new voice. -- Stephen MossAt the heart of Sophie’s book is a fierce and merlin-like love of all that is wild. -- Nick Acheson * author of The Meaning of Geese *This book aims to challenge and it succeeds with a quiet and constant hum of urgency. -- Mannie Coe * author of brother.do.you.love.me *Before reading Forgot Me Not, I hadn’t thought it possible to write a book about the effect of climate change on different species that is buoyant, funny and hopeful - yet Sophie Pavelle has pulled it off superbly. This book is wonderful. -- Claire Ratinon * author of Unearthed *Engaging, compelling and more important than ever. -- Sarah Langford * author of In Your Defence and Rooted *Packed with facts from the experts she meets on her travels, we learn a lot about the underdog species that have missed our attention ... This is Sophie’s first release, and like the species she discovers, it’s not to be forgotten. * Rewilding Britain *A remarkable and fascinating book that manages to convey a wealth of facts about the daunting future of these species… with humour and lightness of touch. -- Tom Tivnan * The Bookseller *Seldom have I learned so much, while laughing out loud. A joyous but quietly angry book about the beauty of Britain’s wildlife, how we have failed it, how to save it, and how accessible it is by public transport. At the end I felt determined to see our most threatened species protected. -- Louise Gray * author of Avocado Anxiety *A unique, brilliant and beautiful new way of writing and celebrating the good stuff, whilst reminding us of the precarity of it all […] Forget Me Not is fresh and funny, sharp and poignant; stop scrolling and read this book! -- Nicola Chester * author of On Gallows Down *A lovely journey into our wildest places with the inspiring message: conservation works and we should let it. -- Charles Clover * journalist, conservationist and author of Rewilding the Sea *A lightness of touch, given to a serious subject: that's what makes this British journey urgent reading, for young and old. I loved this book — a moving story about what we're losing, introduced to me by my son, who urged me to read it. * journalist and author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia *A beautiful, immersive read. -- Clover Stroud * author of The Red of my Blood *Pavelle's wit makes the book a joy to read. -- Sam Taylor * The Times *If getting people to listen is key to highlighting today’s conservation issues, then [Pavelle], with her ability to communicate so passionately and knowledgeably, is unlocking all the doors. -- Jeni Bell * British Wildlife *Table of ContentsCHAPTER ONE: MARSH FRITILLARY I begin my journey in the south-west of England, where I take a short train and cycle ride to Bodmin Moor to see one of the UK’s rarest species of butterfly, which is persisting deep in the heart of the Cornish mire despite unimaginable challenges. CHAPTER TWO: HARBOUR PORPOISE Wasting no time, next I head straight to the Welsh coast, where I travel to Pembrokeshire to try and spot Britain’s smallest cetacean feeding amid the infamous tidal races and renewable energy developments. CHAPTER THREE: SEAGRASS Staying in Wales and heading north to Snowdonia, I snorkel the freezing waters of the Irish Sea to find out why seagrass is fast becoming the habitat that we cannot afford to lose. CHAPTER FOUR: GREY LONG-EARED BAT Back home in Devon again, I hike one of my favourite stretches of the Jurassic coast to a rural farm to see whether I can find one of the last maternity roosts of Britain’s rarest and most elusive bat. CHAPTER FIVE: BLACK GUILLEMOT Eager to get up to Scotland, I venture to the Orkney Islands, specifically the northernmost isle of this unique archipelago, to spend time with one of the British Isles’ most overlooked seabirds and try to understand more about the threats this quirky bird faces. CHAPTER SIX: DUNG BEETLES Testing out how ready the UK is to function on electric vehicles, I borrow an electric car and drive to Knepp Castle Estate to learn why dung and its beetles are making a resurgence in this tiny patch of England and why we cannot ignore dung. CHAPTER SEVEN: ATLANTIC SALMON Back home to Devon and into a kayak, I travel down a swollen, autumnal river to try and understand why, in the face of climate change, the epic salmon run might become a feat of the past. CHAPTER EIGHT: MOUNTAIN HARE Travelling north to Scotland again, I head to the high heather moorlands of the East Cairngorms to see our native mountain hare and investigate why they are set to become strangers in their own habitat if temperatures continue to rise. CHAPTER NINE: MERLIN Cycling across England’s Peak District to the Dark Peak, I’m searching for Britain’s smallest falcon, hoping to discover why we keep forgetting about these birds and how they will fare in a warming world. CHAPTER TEN: BILBERRY BUMBLEBEE Finishing on my home patch, I make a final trip to Dartmoor, searching for Britain’s ‘mountain bee’ and one of its last surviving populations in the south-west to understand better why its upland habitat might become too hot to handle.

Read more less