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Natural History
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Sea bean
When a seed falls from a vine in the tropics and is carried by ocean currents across the Atlantic to the shores of Western Europe - it is known as a sea bean. It is still considered lucky to find a sea bean on the shore, they have been used as magical charms for more than a thousand years. Sally's search for a sea bean begins not long after she moves to the windswept archipelago of Shetland. When pregnancy triggers a chronic illness and forces her to slow down, Sally takes to the beaches. There she discovers treasure freighted with story and curiosities that connect her to the world. The wild shores of Shetland offer glimpses of orcas swimming through the ocean at dusk, the chance to release a tiny storm petrel into the dark of the night and a path of hope.
£10.99
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The shell-spotter's guide
Supported by the National Trust, who look after over 780 miles of Britain's coastline. Turns any beach into a treasure hunt. A simple, nostalgic pleasure and a connection with the wonders of nature. Beautifully illustrated and packed with surprising and delightful facts.
£9.99
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The observant walker
When we go for a walk, whether in the countryside or city, we pass through landscapes full of natural beauty and curiosities both visible and invisible - but though we might admire the view, or wonder idly about the name of a flower, we rarely have the knowledge to fully engage with what we see. When we do, our sense of place is expanded, our understanding deepened and we can discover richness in even the most everyday stroll. John Wright has been leading forays around Britain for decades. As an expert forager, he shows people how to identify the edible species that abound - but he also reveals the natural history, stories and science behind our surroundings. Warm, wise and endlessly informative, with helpful illustrations and suggested routes, this book will help you to see the world around you with new eyes - no walk will be the same again.
£12.99
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One thousand shades of green
For most of 2020, Mike Dilger's normal day-job of travelling to the four corners of the British Isles to film wildlife for The One Show all but disappeared, limiting his daily wildlife fixes to those short walks to and from home with son and dog. With his wings clipped, he couldn't shake the feeling he was missing out and even felt he was suffering from some form of 'nature deficit disorder'. But as spring slowly turned to summer, the simple pleasure of getting to know the wild plants on his own local patch turned his daily exercise from being somewhat tedious to utterly enthralling.
£11.99
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British woodland
Nobody sees and understands woodland better than Ray Mears.With deep natural history knowledge and practical woodcraft skills, gained over a lifetime of learning from the world's last remaining Indigenous peoples, Ray offers a different way to experience our wooded landscapes. He challenges the old concepts. He looks to our ancestors and shows how man's hand in shaping woodland is critical. We are not separate from nature, we just need to ensure that our interactions have a positive impact. With the emphasis on interaction, 'British Woodland' is structured by usage. We learn that sycamore and clematis are among the best woods for burning, pine and oak help us navigate, and hawthorn and beech have edible leaves. Rope can be made from willow, utensils and tools from hazel, and historically, weapons were made from yew and wych elm.
£12.99
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Ghosts in the hedgerow
A body lies motionless on the ground. Small, with a snouty head and covered with spines, it is unquestionably dead before its time. And all of those gathered around the corpse are suspect. So which one of them is responsible for this crime - and for the disappearance of many many thousands of hedgehogs in recent decades? Is it the car driver, the badger, the farmer, the gardener? Who could possibly have it in for a hedgehog? In poll after poll they come out top as our favourite mammal. And yet their numbers are estimated to have halved in less than twenty years. Magnifying glass in hand, Tom Moorhouse investigates the evidence. On a vital mission to bring those responsible to justice, prevent further murder and save a species, he uncovers a story full of twists, turns and uncomfortable truths about the trade-offs that exist between humans and wildlife. But he can also see a solution.
£10.99
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Many things under a rock
A riveting new exploration of the octopus from the world-leading expert, marine biologist David Scheel. For fans of 'My Octopus Teacher' and Other Minds.
£12.99
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Natural Explorer
Combining the work of the some of the most insightful travellers of the past 2000 years with his own experience, Tristan Gooley demonstrates how it is possible to connect profoundly with the lands we travel through.
£12.99
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Wisdom From The Hidden Life of Trees
A beautifully illustrated collection of insights from the international bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees. A perfect book for anyone who wants to forever remember the wisdom of the forest.This gorgeous compendium distills the essence of the beloved bestseller, The Hidden Life of Trees, and is the perfect pocket-sized gift for holding forester Peter Wohlleben's words dear, and sharing them with your loved ones. Discover the operations of the forest ecosystem where themes of communication, resilience, beauty, age, family, society and survival tie into our human world. With rich yet easy-to-understand language and evocative artwork from world-renowned master painters, this treasure of a book highlights the fascinating interconnectedness of our world and celebrates trees in all their glory.
£9.99
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The Secret Life Of Your Cat
"Have you ever wondered how your cat views the world or how he would ever behave if you weren't there? This fascinating book uncovers the truth about why cats behave the way they do"--Back. cover.
£12.99
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A brief history of the countryside in 100 objects
The untold story of rural Britain revealed through its artefacts
£22.00
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Wild Woman
Surviving in the wilderness has long been associated with men, and traditionally conservation and environmental biology have been male-dominated subjects. Yet many remarkable women also choose to live and work in wild and challenging landscapes. In her book, Philippa Forrester studies and celebrates what it means to be a wild woman. Taking an anthropological approach, Philippa considers the grit and determination required for women to maintain connections to wildlife. She reveals stories of female conservation heroes and other extraordinary wild women and relates some of her own experiences from three decades spent travelling around the world working in some of the wildest places on Earth.
£18.99
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Pathless forest
As a child, Chris Thorogood dreamed of seeing Rafflesia - the plant with the world's largest flowers. He crafted life-size replicas in an abandoned cemetery, carefully bringing them to life with paper and paint. Today he is a botanist at the University of Oxford's Botanic Garden and has dedicated his life to studying the biology of such extraordinary plants, working alongside botanists and foresters in Southeast Asia to document these huge, mysterious blooms. 'Pathless Forest' is the story of his journey to study and protect this remarkable plant - a biological enigma, still little understood, which invades vines as a leafless parasite and steals its food from them.
£25.00
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Ten birds that changed the world
For the whole of human history, we have lived alongside birds. We have hunted and domesticated them for food; venerated them in our mythologies, religion and rituals; exploited them for their natural resources; and been inspired by them for our music, art and poetry. In 'Ten Birds that Changed the World', naturalist and author Stephen Moss tells the gripping story of this long and eventful relationship through ten key species from all seven of the world's continents. From Odin's faithful raven companions to Darwin's finches, and from the wild turkey of the Americas to the emperor penguin as potent symbol of the climate crisis, this is a fascinating, eye-opening and endlessly engaging work of natural history.
£12.99
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Chris Packham's birdwatching guide
Chris Packham's infectious passion for nature will inspire you on your birdwatching journey. Chris is a lifelong birdwatcher and the perfect guide on a day out bird spotting. Through a series of chapters, he can build you from an absolute beginner exploring your own backyard, giving you tips and insights that he has gained from years of birdwatching. Whether you are in a city or deep in the country, birds are guaranteed and provide an easy doorway into nature. Learn where, when, and how to look and what to look out for. Find out what equipment to buy and how to use it. Discover the different characters and characteristics of birds - from the shy bittern to the bold robin and gymnastic red kite.
£12.99
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Elderflora
Historian Jared Farmer tells the globe-spanning story of humanity's deep fascination with the oldest living trees, the lessons in survival they offer us, and how to alter our behaviour so that the young trees of today can become ancient themselves.
£10.99
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Time and tide
Red squirrels and red kites, drained lakes and flooded valleys, sulphurous springs and sea-filled caves. The land, sea and skyscapes of the UK are constantly shifting. Species, landmarks and ways of life slip in and out of existence, and firm ground is often just out of reach. Weaving together stories drawn from literature, local history and her own family heritage, Oxford professor Fiona Stafford leads us along coastlines and through forests and fens, revealing the forces, both natural and human, which leave places unrecognisably changed. Following in the footsteps of John Keats, Charles Dickens, and Wilkie Collins, the book takes us from the monkey puzzles planted in Cornish coastal gardens to the wave-beaten rocks of Fingal's Cave. The book offers glimpses into the past and a sense of nature's resilience that gives us hope for the future.
£20.00
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The return of the grey partridge
'The Return of the Grey Partridge' tells the extraordinary story of how wildlife is restored to the Arundel Estate in West Sussex. Prompted by the collapse in numbers of one species, the grey partridge of the title, the managers of the estate woke up to the devastating effect modern farming methods were having on wildlife. Following the estate through the seasons of one year, the book shows how the farm of Peppering is gradually renatured: fields are divided up with hedgerows and trees, beetle banks are built across fields, the land is manured rather than fed with artificial fertilisers, and much of it is returned to pasture. Detailed descriptions of nature give a sense of this large estate coming back to life - still very much farmland, but with a rapid increase in wildlife and biodiversity. And the partridges return.
£20.00
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The climate book
It seems like an impossible task: secure a safe future for life on Earth, at a scale and speed that the world has never seen, in the face of vast and powerful forces - not just oil tycoons and governments, but the changing climate system itself. The odds are against us, and we are running out of time. But it doesn't have to be this way. Around the world, geophysicists and mathematicians, oceanographers and meteorologists, engineers, economists, psychologists and philosophers have been using their expertise to develop a deep understanding of the crises we face. Greta Thunberg has created 'The Climate Book' in partnership with over one hundred of these experts in order to equip us all with this knowledge.
£22.00
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The hidden histories of flowers
An exploration of the world of flowers.
£14.99
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Grounded
For thousands of years, our ancestors held a close connection with the landscapes they lived in. They imbued it with meaning: stone monuments, sacred groves, places of pilgrimage. In our modern world we have rather lost that enchantment and intimate knowledge of place. James Canton takes us on a journey through England seeking to see through more ancient eyes, to understand what landscape meant to those that came before us. We visit stone circles, the West Kennet long barrow, a Crusader round church and sites of religious visions. We meet the Dagenham Idol and the intricately carved Lion Man figure. We find artefacts buried in farmers' fields. There is history and meaning encoded into the lands and places we live in, if only we take the time to look.
£10.99
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The modern bestiary
From the familiar to the improbable, the gross to the endearing, 'The Modern Bestiary' is a compendium of curious creatures. It includes both animals that have made headlines and those you've probably never heard of, such as skin-eating caecilians, harp sponges, or zombie worms - also known as bone-eating snot flowers.
£12.99
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The hidden life of garden birds
Did you know that woodpeckers are capable of learning simple codes? Hooded crows can form connections with humans? A jay's call affects the behaviour of surrounding squirrels? All these fascinating bird activities and more are revealed in this book. Unusual feeding behaviour is just the tip of the iceberg. From territorial conflict and strange relationships with man, to breeding and nesting oddities, this book exposes all the drama behind garden birds' everyday survival.
£18.99
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Planet Earth III
Few places on Earth remain untouched by humans, creating challenges for the wildlife we share it with. We have entered a new age, and we must look at the splendour of the natural world through a different lens. From the depths of our oceans, to scorching deserts and the darkest jungles, 'Planet Earth III' features spectacular places and surprising animal behaviours from all corners of our world. And for the first time, a human element is introduced to each landscape, highlighting how, in the age of the Anthropocene, today's planet has been forever changed by humanity and that wildlife now faces new challenges in our crowded, modern world.
£30.00
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