Shortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2022 for Nature Writing - Highly Commended Winner for the Richard Jefferies Award 2021 for Best Nature Writing 'A rural, working-class writer in an all too rarefied field, Chester's work is unusual for depicting the countryside as it is lived on the economic margins.' The Guardian 'An important portrait of connection to the land beyond ownership or possession.' Raynor Winn 'It's ever so good. Political, passionate and personal.' Robert Macfarlane 'Evocative and inspiring...environmental protest, family, motherhood and...nature.' Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground, Costa Novel Award Winner 2021 Nature is everything. It is the place I come from and the place I got to. It is family. Wherever I am, it is home and away, an escape, a bolt hole, a reason, a place to fight for, a consolation, and a way home. As a child growing up in rural England, Guardian Country Diarist Nicola Chester was inexorably drawn to the natural landscape surrounding her. Walking, listening and breathing in the nature around her, she followed the call of the cuckoo, the song of the nightingale and watched as red kites, fieldfares and skylarks soared through the endless skies over the chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs: the ancient land of Greenham Common which she called home. Nicola bears witness to, and fights against, the stark political and environmental changes imposed on the land she loves, whilst raising her family to appreciate nature and to feel like they belong - core parts of who Nicola is. From protesting the loss of ancient trees to the rewilding of Greenham Common, to the gibbet on Gallows Down and living in the shadow of Highclere Castle (made famous in Downton Abbey), On Gallows Down shows how one woman made sense of her world - and found her place in it.

Whether it's a soaring eagle or a restlessly gliding owl, chances are you will know a bird of prey when you see one, and there is something in the way they fly that captivates our gaze. But can you tell a Goshawk from a Peregrine? Or distinguish between a Common Buzzard and Honey Buzzard in flight? The UK has just 16 species of raptors and five owls, but among them are some of the world's most spectacular birds. RSPB ID Spotlight Birds of Prey is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of all 21 of the UK's birds of prey by renowned artist Stephen Message. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - 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 birds of prey, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB is working to support them - Information on successful UK raptor reintroductions and other campaigns that help our birds of prey are also included The RSPB ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Lakeland Book of the Year 2018, Bookends Prize for Art and Literature, WINNER. With its enchanting song, striking orange bill and endearing willingness to share our living space, the blackbird is one of our best-loved birds. And, in common with all our garden wildlife, it plays a critical role in Britain's fragile and precious biodiversity. In The Blackbird Diaries, Karen Lloyd shares her deep-rooted knowledge and affection for the flora and fauna of these isles. And she issues a clarion call for the conservation of endangered habitats and species - most notably the curlew, Europe's largest wading bird. Over the four seasons, Karen intimately chronicles the drama of the natural world as it all unfolds in her garden and in the limestone hills and valleys of Cumbria's South Lakeland. What emerges is a celebration of landscapes that rarely feature in nature writing. But more than that, at a time of critical species loss, she offers rare insights into the lives of animals that may be common but are no less remarkable.

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the diverse range of birds that inhabit their gardens. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including information on each species' feeding, behavioural habits, breeding, voice and population. An extensive introduction provides information on nesting sites, water, pests and predators. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering all birds most likely to be found in our gardens.

'A soaring gift of a book' Owen Sheers 'Remarkable' Mark Vanhoenacker, author of Skyfaring 'Stunning . . . a love letter to nature' Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love The day she flew in a glider for the first time, Rebecca Loncraine fell in love. Months of gruelling treatment for breast cancer meant she had lost touch with the world around her, but in that engineless plane, soaring 3,000 feet over the landscape of her childhood, with only the rising thermals to take her higher and the birds to lead the way, she felt ready to face life again. And so Rebecca flew, travelling from her home in the Black Mountains of Wales to New Zealand's Southern Alps and the Nepalese Himalayas as she chased her new-found passion: her need to soar with the birds, to push herself to the boundary of her own fear. Taking in the history of unpowered flight, and with extraordinary descriptions of flying in some of the world's most dangerous and dramatic locations, Skybound is a nature memoir with a unique perspective; it is about the land we know and the sky we know so little of, it is about memory and self-discovery. Rebecca became ill again just as she was finishing Skybound, and she died in September 2016. Though her death is tragic, it does not change what Skybound is: a book full of hope. Deeply moving, thrilling and euphoric, Skybound is for anyone who has ever looked up and longed to take flight. Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award 2018.

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.

As you build skills and experience, the book will help you expand horizons from walks with binoculars around your "local patch" to visiting remote wildlife reserves and other nature hotspots, with their contrasting birdlife and different demands, from dense woodland to expansive estuaries teeming with flocks of waders.

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the most commonly seen species in Britain and Europe. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including notes on appearance, colour and distinctive features, and information on juveniles, range and habitat, nests, call and breeding sites. In addition, an extensive introduction covers general information on plumage, habitats and migration, and gives first-time birdwatchers advice on what equipment to buy and where to go to spot the most desirable species. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering over 200 species of bird found in Britain and Europe.

Hierdie fotografiese veldgids tot die voels van Suider-Afrika bevat die grootste en omvattendste versameling foto's van die area in een volume.

Die 958 voel spesies wat in Suider-Afrika gevind word, word beskryf en geillustreer asook 'n ekstra 17 spesies van die Suidelike Oseaan en geassosieerde eilande en Antarktika. Meer as 2 500 illustrasies wys die ouderdom en geslag variasies, voels op land en in die lug asook kleure.

Teks deur Suid-Afrika se top voel skrywers fokus op identifikasie, roep, habitat en status, broei besonderhede en dieet. Kleur gekoordineerde verspreidingskaarte. Jaarlikse seisoen kolomme wys wanneer spesies daar is en wanneer hulle broei. A-Z gids om groepe op te spoor.

Hierdie gids volg die tradisionele spesie volgorde en bring 'n nuwe dimensie na voel identifikasie in Suider-Afrika. Dit sal onvervangbaar wees in die veld.

Whether you are scanning cliff faces packed with auks or watching large seabirds dive underwater to find food, visiting a colony of coastal birds is an unforgettable experience. But can you tell a Razorbill from a Guillemot? Or accurately distinguish between a Fulmar and a Common Gull? The vast and varied coastline of the UK provides refuge for an enormous number of seabirds that visit our shores to breed or spend the winter months here. RSPB ID Spotlight Coastal Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 44 of our most widespread and familiar coastal birds by renowned artist Stephen Message. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - 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 coastal birds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB is working to support them - Advice on the best time of year to visit a seabird colony and practical tips on what we can all do to reduce the plastic waste that can end up in our seas are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.