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There are quite a lot of books about Big Years – when birders try to see a high number of species of birds in a calendar year.  These books are quite similar as they usually have some introduction about why the author, usually male, bothered, and then an account of the ups and downs of…

This is a companion volume to The Artful Hare and is dedicated to the memory of Robert Gillmor. A book full of illustrations of British mammals by nearly 80 artists, including Gillmor himself. A feast of illustrations from gifted printmakers – what’s not to like? I came across some names I had not previously noticed,…

This is Nicholas Milton’s third book this year – I’m tempted to say ‘so far’ – after The Role of Birds in World War Two and The Secret Life of the Adder.  That’s quite an output considering that each of them is well-researched, well-written and covers areas where the author has quite a specialised interest and…

This is an account of an almost 2-year stint wardening the nature reserve on Aride Island in the Seychelles. Idyllic tropical paradise or small island community with plenty of difficult characters to navigate? Or both? Sally Mills worked for the RSPB in Somerset and, with her partner, she took the opportunity to see the sand,…

A sumptuously illustrated and beautifully written volume with accounts of 100 plants and their roles in human existence. This is one of those fairly rare books that is good to look at and even better to read.  If you have forgotten what a brilliant writer is Simon Barnes then this book is a fine reminder….