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A beautifully illustrated and accessible book on the naming of butterflies and moths.
"First published by Square Peg, an imprint of Vintage"--Title page verso.
Mushrooms, the first of a major new series of books on British natural history, provides a remarkable insight into the natural and human world of fungi. Peter Marren, in his inimitable, relaxed style, guides the reader through the extraordinary riches of this often overlooked group, from the amazing diversity of forms and lifestyles that populate the fungal landscape, to the pursuit of edible fungi for the pot, and the complexities of identification thrown up by our modern understanding of DNA. Throughout the book, the author tells a story rich in detail about how we have come to appreciate and, in some cases, fear the mushrooms and toadstools that are such an integral part of the changing seasons. Marren also provides a refreshingly candid view of our attempts to name species, the role of fungi in ecosystems, and our recent efforts to record and conserve them.
**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN’S BEST BOOKS OF 2018** Join renowned naturalist Peter Marren on an exciting quest to see every species of wild plant native to Britain. The mysterious Ghost Orchid blooms in near darkness among rotting leaves on the forest floor. It blends into the background to the point of invisibility, yet glows, pale and ghostly. The ultimate grail of flower hunters, it has been spotted only once in the past twenty-five years. Its few flowers have a deathly pallor and are said to smell of over-ripe bananas. Peter Marren has been a devoted flower finder all his life. While the Ghost Orchid offers the toughest challenge of any wild plant, there were fifty more British species Peter ...
This is a new paperback edition of an acclaimed and beautiful Poyser title on the rare flowers of Britain. The book looks at the evolution of individual species and of plant communties, the threats (natural and anthropogenic) that have caused declines and extinctions in some plant populations, and the various conservation efforts which have been made to protect them and to encourage their numbers to grow. Written in a lively and jargon-free style, with numerous examples and anecdotes, and illustrated throughout with gorgeous colour photographs, this lovely, engaging and accessible book is a must for all wild flower enthusiasts. 'This is a heartwarming and inspiring book for anyone who loves wildflowers and values their place in our culture.' BBC Wildlife
This entertaining and informative book traces the history of butterfly collection in Britain from the 17th century, when the study of natural history had its beginnings. Laced with anecdotes and quotations, the beautifully illustrated volume describes the equipment used and gives brief biographies of 101 deceased lepidopterists. 58 illustrations, 42 in color.
The somewhat enigmatic title of this book, by one of Britain’s most distinguished scientists in collaboration with a highly respected natural history writer, belies the arresting nature of its content. Eighty years ago, Miriam Rothschild’s father, Charles Rothschild – said by some to have been the inventor of nature conservation in Britain – first proposed the establishment of a network of 280 national nature reserves throughout the country to preserve the cream of its wildlife habitats – a monumental task. In this book she and her co-author discuss the efforts that went into the selection of these reserves and compare the state then and now of 182 of the English sites and their wildlife – depressing reading in many cases. The authors hope to spur everyone interested in the survival of the British countryside to take remedial action to safeguard it before it is too late. Published by Balaban in association with Harley Books, now Apollo Books, who are sole UK and European distributors.
ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S BEST NATURE BOOKS OF 2020 SHORTLISTED FOR THE RICHARD JEFFERIES SOCIETY & WHITE HORSE BOOKSHOP LITERARY PRIZE 'Lovely: full of fascinating detail and anecdote, but the undertow of the virus moving in real time beneath its sunlit surface gives it a unique emotional heft.' -The Times 'A literary window into the wonderful wild world during lockdown... a charming book.' -Daily Mail 'An entrancing testament to nature's power to restore us to ourselves.' -Ruth Padel Nature took on a new importance for many people when the coronavirus pandemic arrived, providing solace in a time of great anxiety - not least because the crisis struck at the beginning of spring, the season of light, growth, rebirth and renewal. Three writers, close friends but living in widely separated, contrasting parts of the country, resolved to record their experiences of this extraordinary spring in intimate detail, to share with others their sense of the wonder, inspiration and delight the natural world can offer. The Consolation of Nature is the story of what they discovered by literally walking out from their front doors.
Encyclopedias.
A look at what world history might have been like if not for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This is a fascinating exploration of how the history of Europe, and indeed the world, might have been different if the Western Roman Empire had survived the crises that pulled it apart in the fourth and fifth centuries. The author starts by showing how that survival and recovery might plausibly have happened if several relatively minor things had been different. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. Would the survival of a strong Western Empire have assisted the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire in halting the expansio...