Sunday book review – The Long Spring by Laurence Rose

  I enjoyed this book a lot. It is written by a former RSPB colleague of mine and his knowledge of birds and nature conservation are clearly demonstrated in this book.  But he can write too! The long spring starts in Spanish Ceuta on the north African coast at the beginning of February, and ends…

Sunday book review – A Shadow Above by Joe Shute

  This book, by a Sheffield-based journalist, is about the Raven and its comeback.   It’s a good read as the author travels around the country visiting places where Ravens live, many of them places where Ravens have  recently returned. He interviews naturalists and land owners from Orkney to Kent, and has also done a good…

Sunday book review – A Wild Life by Anthony Milbank

  Sir Anthony Milbank who passed away in 2016 was a lovely man whose family’s grouse moor is at Barningham on the North Yorkshire/Durham border.  He started this project, a photographic record of the impressive wildlife of his grouse moor, and the book was completed by the family after his passing.  The words are by…

Completely impossible to choose

What is the nation’s favourite nature book? The shortlist of 10 alleged nature books is open for you to vote for your favourite. How one can possibly choose between Fingers in the Sparkle Jar by my mate Chris Packham (which is a superb book but not really what I would class a nature book) and…

This blog’s books of 2017

Thanks to Ian Carter, this blog has reviewed more books than ever in 2017 – I think there were 37 in all. For a change I have simply chosen my favourite three books of the year here. A favourite book is a very personal choice.  These then are my personal choices but I have expanded…