The English naturalist William Burchell set off from Cape Town in June 1811 to explore the flora and fauna of the vast southern African interior. Over a four-year period, and travelling in a custom-built ox wagon, he amassed an astonishing 63 000 specimens of plants, bulbs, insects, reptiles and mammals – many not previously documented for science – as well as over 500 paintings and illustrations.

While the outbound trek is well described in Burchell’s famous Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa, little has been published about the challenges and discoveries made on his return journey to Cape Town, from 1812–1815. This pioneering book traces the homeward leg of Burchell’s epic odyssey – through the arid northern Cape, the Great Karoo, the warravaged eastern Cape, and along the Eden-like southern Cape coast.

Drawing on primary and secondary sources, including Burchell’s letters, his handwritten records archived at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the detailed map he created to record his trek, the authors have crafted a thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated account that encompasses both the genius of the man and the natural history of the region that so intrigued him.

In this fascinating and entertaining memoir, the legendary White Bushman, Peter Stark, writes about his experiences in the former German South West Africa: first as a farm manager and lion hunter, and later as nature conservationist.

Stark's fearless personality and phenomenal knowledge of the veld, combined with an intimate knowledge of the San people and their culture make for stories and experiences that most people can only dream of. Whether it's about lions chasing San trackers, elephants trampling a campsite or the spearing of 32 scorpions with a kebab-skewer - Stark's stories are bound to awe and entertain.

With Peter Stark's unique and genial narrative voice, The White Bushman presents an important cultural-historical perspective on the country that became Namibia. The photographs, taken either by Stark himself or his fellow game wardens, contribute greatly to enhancing the images conjured up by these captivating adventures and anecdotes.

Old Jock, the Shepherd, that's what everybody called him. He was born a long time ago in the year of 1880. He was born in a croft farm in the bonny Highlands of Scotland. His father was a shepherd all through the eighteen-hundreds. In those distant bygone years everything was done by horse-drawn and all these old-fashioned ways of how things were done was all passed on to Old Jock from his father. I am Douglas Cox, better known as Countryboy. During the decade of the 1970s I got to know Old Jock very well, very well indeed. During that whole decade he would tell me his whole lifetime of stories. How people would travel by stagecoaches, but more to the point, how he worked his croft farm with horse-drawn machinery and how he shepherded his vast flock of several thousand sheep. I might add, well into his nineties. As I write this story in the year of 2012 Old Jock is now dead, but he dearly wanted me to write about his shepherding lifetime. He told me his story in Scottish broken tongue; I will tell you his story in English broken tongue. And what a terrific knowledgeable story Old Jock did tell!

Aquatic and Wetland Plants of southern Africa is the most comprehensive identification guide to the aquatic and wetland plants of southern Africa. The book aims to conceptualise the importance of aquatic and wetland plants in the aquatic and transitional zone environment where they are found, and includes scientifically accurate descriptions on 690 species within 91 plant families, illustrated with more than 2 000 full-colour photographs.

AMAZING FEATURES
An introductory chapter on the importance and functioning of the aquatic and wetland habitat types.
The plants are divided in habitat type, covering ferns, monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants.
Each species page contains a summarised description, a distribution map, available measurements of characteristic plant parts, flowering times, habitat preferences, general information, known medicinal properties and potential lookalike plants.
Scientifically correct plant names and historical synonyms.
Origin of the plantnames, which often include characteristics of the plant.
All available common names of the aquatic and wetland plants in indigenous languages.
Icons that enable the reader to easily identify habitat, indigenous or alien status, weed status and red data status.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. CE van Ginkelis a freshwater scientist, with a Ph.D. in Botany. As a special scientist in the then Department of Water Affairs, she practiced aquatic science over several decades throughout South Africa. She was the coordinator of the National Eutrophication Program (NEMP) where the need for the first field guide on aquatic plants originated.
Dr. CJ Cilliersis a retired researcher with a Ph.D. in Entomology. She is known for her research on the biological control of insect pests and aquatic weeds, implementing biological control and integrated pest and weed management in South Africa and elsewhere. Her extensive experience in the biology and ecology of aquatic environments was invaluable in this publication.

Fall in love with Sarah Bennett's bestselling Mermaids Point series!Bestselling author Alex Nelson is slowly coming apart at the seams after a failed marriage and an abrupt change in career leave him at a crossroads in life. When an unexpected opportunity arises to escape to the idyllic village of Mermaids Point, he's hot on the heels of his brother, Tom, who has recently moved there. Buying a rundown bookshop might be just his latest harebrained scheme, but Alex has never been one to do things by halves. After spending her early years caring for her mother, Ivy Fisher is finally ready to start living her own life. But when the impossibly charming, impossibly good-looking Alex Nelson swoops in and snatches her dream out from under her nose, it really is the last straw. Forced by circumstances to spend more time with him, Ivy finally gets a peek of the real man beneath the confident exterior, and she likes what she sees. But just when things are starting to come together for them, Ivy is reminded why men can never be trusted. Is Alex who he says he is, or is he using Mermaids Point as nothing more than research fodder for his next bestseller? Enjoy a gloriously uplifting, page-turning, romantic escape to the seaside with the bestselling author Sarah Bennett. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martin and Milly Johnson. Praise for Sarah Bennett: 'A gorgeous story packed with love, romance and heartfelt emotion. Will bring sunshine into your day!' Phillipa Ashley 'Cosy, heartwarming and moving, this story is as beautiful as its cover.' Samantha Tonge 'This is a real page turner, with a brisk plot and a really emotional core. The community we've grown to love at Mermaid's Point is alive with love, laughter and vibrancy, and I can't wait for the next instalment!' Fay Keenan 'If you're looking for a book to wrap you in a hug from the very first page to the last, then this is it! I absolutely adore Sarah Bennett and her Mermaids Point series is now firmly one of my all time favourites. Make sure you grab her latest release Love Blooms at Mermaids Point because it is blooming well marvellous!' Katie Ginger 'A gorgeous warm hug of a book. I want to move to Mermaids Point right now and take up residence in the bookshop. A story with the joy of community and love at its heart, a sure fire winner.' Jules Wake 'This is the perfect escapist read and I can't wait to follow the characters in what promises to be a wonderful series. Five sparkling stars!' Rachel Griffiths'What a Mer-mazing book! I'm so glad this is a series and I'll get to meet the characters again because you won't want to leave them after the final page.' Catherine Miller 'I inhaled this book in two days. Absolutely gorgeous. Sarah Bennett is back, and better than ever!' Rachel Burton 'A perfect heartwarming read full of family, romance and intrigue, set in a stunning location - what's not to love?' Bella Osborne

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author Fay Keenan.Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson. So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all - from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself. At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is. As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halstead House's future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together - or apart... Escape to the beautiful, idyllic English countryside with Fay Keenan. Romantic, feel-good and utterly charming, this is perfect for all fans of Julie Houston, Cathy Bramley and Holly Martin. What authors and readers say about Fay Keenan's novels: 'This novel has such a gorgeous setting. A lovely light read and the perfect book to pack in your suitcase and take on holiday. Recommended.' Della Galton 'A gorgeous rural romance full of warmth and charm.' Victoria Connelly 'Guaranteed to put a spring in your step. Feel-good, frisky and great fun with a hearty dash of romance and intrigue.' Julie Houston 'Moving, funny, thoughtful and romantic. Bring on the next one!' Jenny Kane 'This is a lovely and heart-warming story, that has a serious side hidden within the romance.' Amazon reviewer 'It was a wonderful book, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.' Amazon reviewer 'I was so engrossed in the storyline, which is thoroughly heart-warming, that I read the entire book without stopping. I always enjoy Keenan's books and am looking forward to the next one!' Amazon reviewer

Never say never to falling in love...Val didn't expect to be starting again in her seventies, but when life gives her lemons, Val is determined to make lemonade. Settled into her new home - a picture-perfect fisherman's cottage in the small Cornish seaside town of Lowenstowe - Val is ready to start a new chapter. And with her son due to get married next Christmas, there's also the little job of finding herself a plus-one to help her face her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. With the support of her neighbour Connie, and after decades of married life, Val takes the plunge back into the world of dating with trepidation and excitement. But can she remember how the single life works, let alone what her type is? There seem to be plenty of Mr Maybes, but no sign of Mr Right. As the year passes, and as friendships and community life flourish, Val begins to blossom. And as Christmas approach, she might just decide she doesn't need that plus-one after all - although never say never... Judy Leigh is back with her trademark promise of laughter, love and friendship. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins. Readers love Judy Leigh: 'Loved this from cover to cover, pity I can only give this 5 stars as it deserves far more.' 'The story's simply wonderful, the theme of second chances will resonate whatever your age, there's something for everyone among the characters, and I do defy anyone not to have a tear in their eye at the perfect ending.' 'With brilliant characters and hilarious antics, this is definitely a cosy read you'll not want to miss.' 'This is just one of those books that makes you feel good about being alive!' 'A lovely read of how life doesn't just end because your getting old.' 'A great feel-good and fun story that made me laugh and root for the characters.' Praise for Judy Leigh: 'Brilliantly funny, emotional and uplifting' Miranda Dickinson 'Lovely . . . a book that assures that life is far from over at seventy' Cathy Hopkins bestselling author of The Kicking the Bucket List 'Brimming with warmth, humour and a love of life... a wonderful escapade' Fiona Gibson,

Martha M. Ezzard and her physician husband John are among the pioneers in the movement of professionals trading busy city careers for a return to the land. While this story about saving a family farm is distinctly Southern, it typifies the national locally grown movement which has begun to sweep the US. Locally grown foods call for wines that are a taste of the local earth-what wine aficionados call the terroir, the soils and climate that give them unique flavours not found in California or Burgundy or anywhere other than, in this case, Tiger Mountain. What follows initially are long sweaty days of post hole digging, trellis wire stringing, and weed pulling mixed with a few chiggers and ticks-but also the thrill of sighting a giant blue heron in the dawn mist of the farm pond-of hearing the honking of geese at sunset. There are times when the city high rise still beckons, but what Martha and John learn after burning smudge pots all night in a late April freeze only to see their pink buds turn brown despite it all, is that wine grapes have a second bud -and so too, because of their shared venture, does their relationship. The Second Bud is a story that reflects today's agricultural evolution in the southeast, from tobacco, logging, and truck farming to agri-tourism, outdoor recreation, vineyards, and farm wineries. Filled with small town characters, unlikely obstacles and dirt based success, this memoir is a down home version of "Under a Tuscan Sun," a couple's risk taking to revive a fifth-generation family farm in the tiny North Georgia town of Tiger by cultivating fine wine grapes. It will appeal to romantics, wannabe winemakers, and all who covet the rural life.

Historic Glacier National Park captures the most interesting moments in the park's history, the slices of life in northwestern Montana that provide an idea of what life was like for those who chose to explore this gloriously beautiful snowy corner of the United States. There's the presence of Native Americans in nearly every aspect of the park's history, the significant influence of the Great Northern Railway as a leader as the park gained its footing, and people who made history in this astonishing Rocky Mountain landscape. Once Congress decided to make Glacier a national park, developers created hotels, chalets, campgrounds, residences, and the most spectacularly scenic road in the United States. Historic Glacier National Park provides just enough of this rich history to make the experience of visiting the park better than expected.

'Lovely, lively, passionate... a celebration of nature's ability to inspire healing and joy' Robert MacFarlane

This is one man's journey, swimming across Britain's countryside while coming to terms with something more challenging than the choppy waters of the English Channel. As Joe Minihane comes up for air, he discovers that swimming is both a joyous activity and a voyage into oneself. Minihane became obsessed with wild swimming and its restorative qualities, developing a new-found passion by following the example of naturalist Roger Deakin in his classic Waterlog. While fighting the currents, sometimes treading water, Minihane begins to confront the buried issues in his life. Along the way, he rekindles old friendships and forges new ones, and after an unexpected setback discovers that he has already gained enough strength to continue his recovery on dry land. Both strange and beautiful, the wild water puts him in touch with nature and himself. Floating is a remarkable memoir about a passion for swimming and nature. Moving from darkness into light, it is as intense and moving as it is lyrical and generous. It captures in memorable detail Minihane's struggle to understand his life, to move forward and, steeped in the anti-authoritarian and naturalistic spirit of Deakin, celebrates the joy of taking time to enjoy life. From Hampstead to Yorkshire, and Dorset to Jura, from the Isles of Scilly to Wales, Minihane has written a love letter to wild stretches of water. We swim with him through ponds and lakes, rivers and canals, lodes and marshes, even the ice-cold sea and come out of the water healthier.

Urban Fox is a frank and humorous memoir that shares with us a lifetime of adventures and tells of one man's love of the countryside. Beautifully illustrated with evocative wood engravings, Urban Fox will delight the reader with its tales of a hidden world. It celebrates a way of life that few will believe possible, that of the urban poacher.

One hundred years ago, Henry Thoreau wrote of the charms and joys of simple living in the woods, away from the hectic nuisances of our city civilization. His philosophy has become part of our American heritage, as sound today as the day he first set it down. But his advice on the simple life has seemed too rugged for later generations, brought up in cities, pampered with conveniences and scared of nature. Vena and Brad Angier were fed up with their city bound existence and longtime readers and admirers of Thoreau, they set out to see if his discoveries were valid today. This is the account of two wilderness-loving tenderfeet, who headed for the tall timber on the banks of the Peace River, British Columbia. There near the trading post of Hudson Hope they found their Walden. How they made themselves 'At Home in the Woods,' stocked their cabin, met their interesting wilderness neighbors who helped them get settled and who saw them through their first winter makes honest and exciting reading. The city-bred Angiers found out that Thoreau was right when he wrote: "What people say you can not do, you try and find you can."