Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs – The NHBS Conservation Hub

This Week in Biodiversity News – 16th December

Environment

An area larger than India has permanently degraded into arid conditions, research shows. Studies by the UN Science Policy Interface have reported that up to three quarters of the world’s land has experienced likely irreversible drying in the past thirty years and now, arid drylands make up 40% of land on earth. Driven by climate change, poor farming practices, excessive water extraction and many other factors, this drying could see significant decreases in crop yield, GDP, and a reduction in the capacity of the land to store water.

viviparous lizard — Image by David Evans via Flickr

A two-year restoration project in Avon Heath Country Park will help to restore a rare habitat. Funded by Defra, £1.2 million will be used to restore this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is home to 2.5% of the world’s remaining lowland heathland. The 210-hectare site provides key habitat for all of Britain’s native reptiles, including Smooth Snakes and ground-nesting birds such as Woodlarks and Nightjars. Restoration work will involve the removal of invasive rhododendron, scrub and pine trees to rejuvenate the heathland and increase the availability of light for low-lying plants.

Conservation

A recent survey has shown that Grey Squirrels are invading Red Squirrel strongholds. Conducted by Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE), the survey assessed 246 sites for an annual squirrel check. The survey found a rising presence of Grey Squirrels in Red Squirrel strongholds, a trend described as ‘concerning’ by RSNE project officers. These invasive, non-native species were found in 69% of surveyed sites, a 6.8% increase from last year and are now outnumbering Red Squirrels in Cumbria and Northumberland. However, RSNE successfully recorded a 2% increase of Red Squirrels in survey sites, up from 50% in 2023.

Cutting-edge technology is being used to inform forestry management in the UK. Forestry England is employing bioacoustic technology, environmental DNA (eDNA) and drones to inform conservation efforts across multiple sites. EDNA gathered from soil, air and water is being used to build a better picture of community composition across 21 forestry sites, and after four months of sampling, 5,000 unique fungal species and 1,000 invertebrate species have been identified. Bioacoustic data is also being gathered across four areas in Somerset, Dorset, Northumberland and North Yorkshire and will be used to track bumblebee activity through analysis of flight sound. This detailed data will be used to form a new biodiversity baseline to monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the midst of biodiversity decline and climate change.

A light brown rodent is sat on a river bank underneath grasses, it has small black eyes and a small brown nose — Image by Peter Trimming via Flickr

A reintroduction project has seen the return of Water Voles along the Severn shoreline, levels and moors of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Led by the West of England Nature Partnership (WENP) in collaboration with Bristol Zoological Society, the programme is seeking to restore intertidal habitats, wetlands and peatlands, and part of this will be actioned through re-establishing Water Voles in the area. Avon Wildlife Trust have observed evidence that these animals have returned to the area, contributing to the region’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Policy

Angela Rayner has been met with criticism following an interview discussing Labour’s housing pledge. With plans to build 1.5 million homes and fast-track over 150 major infrastructure projects, wildlife protection may take a back seat. Rayner expressed concern for those who desperately need housing, stating that providing homes in the UK should not be sacrificed for wildlife protection. Despite critics deeming the targets ‘unrealistic’, Rayner assured that compliance with national building plans would be mandatory under Labour’s National Planning Policy Framework.

Great crested newt in a hand — Image by Chris H via Flickr

Vital scrubland habitats are at risk following Labour’s announcement to build on grey belt land. Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has pledged to build 1.5 million homes on redefined green belt land, known as grey belt land. With what some call a ‘vague definition’ of grey belt land, swathes of countryside could be sacrificed for housing developments, in areas that could have been transformed to woodland or wetland habitats. This traditional landscape is vital for wildlife, including birds, reptiles and amphibians, and could prove essential in meeting 30×30 targets.

Author interview with Peter Marren: Rare Plants

Featuring hundreds of stunning photographs, the 14th volume in the British Wildlife Collection explores the meaning of rarity in our changing world and climate. It discusses the importance of these species in our landscape, provides an overview of different conservation techniques, examines the justifications for intervening in the life of a wild species and more.

Peter Marren is a natural history writer and conservationist whose wildlife-centred writing portfolio includes newspaper journalism, obituaries, book reviews and humorous opinion pieces. He was a regular contributor to British Wildlife magazine for 33 years and is the author of more than 20 books, including Bugs Britannica, After They’re Gone, and Mushrooms – the first title in the British Wildlife Collection series.

We recently chatted with Peter about Rare Plants, where we discussed how he first became interested in botany, why he chose to focus on rare species, what inspired him to return to the British Wildlife Collection and more.

Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you became interested in botany?

I have been interested in wild flowers since boyhood. I was lucky enough to have had a rural childhood, but my first serious attempt to track down rarities was during my gap year when I tried to find every British species of orchid. I failed.

What I love about flowers is that they evoke so much about our surroundings, the colour and texture of the landscape, its land-use and history, and its seasonality. Rare flowers in particular express the fine tuning of nature, and their presence suggests that here we are standing in a special place – one that, for whatever reason, has changed less, has perhaps preserved more of its naturalness, more stability. They are also wonderful in themselves. Orchids, for instance, trick and confuse insects into doing their bidding. Our alpine flowers are living links with the Ice Age. Bluebells have a scent that is impossible to reproduce chemically. These are some of the reasons why I love field botany.

Your first contribution to the British Wildlife Collection was the first monograph in the series, Mushrooms, which was published in 2012. What inspired you to return to this renowned series for the 14th volume?

I returned to the series because Katy, who edits the titles, asked me to! In the 1990s I wrote a book in association with Plantlife and the then English Nature, titled Britain’s Rare Flowers (1999). The rights are now owned by Bloomsbury, who publish the British Wildlife Collection, and she suggested that I revise the book for the series. It didn’t take long for a revision to turn into a completely new book, and I broadened the scope from angiosperms to wild plants in general, including pteridophytes, bryophytes and algae, and to Ireland as well as Great Britain – hence, Rare Plants. I dedicated it to my old friend, the plant photographer Bob Gibbons and his partner Libby, and half the 300-odd images are his.

Cottonweed (Achillea maritima) by Liam Lysaght, via flickr.

Why did you decide to focus on rare plant species for this book?

I concentrated on rarities partly because they are the focus of conservation efforts, and partly because they are the highlight of any excursion (as botanical trips are known). Rare plants have more ‘geography’. If only you knew enough, you could probably place yourself exactly where you are in the landscape without recourse to a map simply by looking at the plants. Britain is that kind of place: intimate, complex, infinitely varied. Above that, there’s the eternal thrill of tracking down a rarity, whether it’s a flower, or a bird, or a Ming vase. If you love plants, then setting your eye for the first time on an elusive species you have long known about and pictured in your mind is a moment to savour. As I hope I communicated in my book, Chasing the Ghost.

This is an incredibly well-researched and detailed book that covers all aspects of Britain and Ireland’s flora, from the uniqueness of some species and details on why plants become rare, to their role and representation within our culture. What was the most interesting aspect of researching this book?

What I enjoyed most when researching Rare Plants (and it was quite an enjoyable book generally) was the impressive new work on apomictic plants, that is, the ones that do without sex and so perpetuate minute differences. It helps that whitebeams and hawkweeds are not only beautiful in themselves, but tend to grow in beautiful landscapes. I was also enthralled by all the activity in the world of mosses and liverworts, mapping them in the same detail as ‘higher’ plants and getting them onto the conservation agenda. Some species have incredibly narrow niches, confined to lead mining spoil or lime kilns, or china-clay pits. Both are the work of relatively small groups of specialists who combine biological know-how with the ability to communicate to wider audiences – and to take brilliant photographs. I could say the same about lichens, but they aren’t really plants. So someone else will have to do them.

Eyebright by Donald Macauley, via flickr.

In the first chapter of the book, you discuss the IUCN’s criteria and red list. How accurate do you think this assessment is, and are there any disadvantages to using this method of classification to determine the rarity, and future protection, of any given species?

The IUCN criteria are only as good as current knowledge allows. Conservationists love to list and pigeon-hole; it creates a kind of order. But, in a rapidly changing world, the vulnerability of species is itself changing. Government and officialdom haven’t yet caught up with climate change and its implications for our flora. I think the most endangered plants are now our northern and arctic-alpine species, especially those that need long, cold winters with plenty of snow. It isn’t outright habitat destruction so much as the subtle consequences of a warmer but wetter and windier climate. The other problem with pigeon-holing is that it is boring. It creates the idea of fragile ‘things’, like pieces of china, and diverts our eyes from the marvels of the living plant with its ability to meld with its habitat, compete with its neighbours, and find necessary partnerships to survive.

The same idea of plants as passive ‘things’ has led well-meaning conservationists to substitute gardening for conservation. Plant conservation is under-funded and, alas, also under-expertised. Academic botany is in decline (count the university courses – not many).

Lady's-Slipper Orchid - Cypripedium calceolus by Bjorn S, via flickr. — Lady’s-Slipper Orchid – Cypripedium calceolus by Bjorn S, via flickr.

Finally, what’s taking up your time at the moment? Are you planning on working on any future volumes in the British Wildlife Collection?

I doubt I’ll be writing any more books for this series. They take a long time and I’m getting on a bit! Besides, these are hard times for writers who aren’t footballers or chefs, or others who have become famous from constant exposure in the media. While the natural history bookshelf has never been more bountiful, some of us are working for less than the minimum wage! I’ve recently finished a book (my 27^th, I think) about the world’s most noxious plants called The Devil’s Garden, which was fun, and I hope will be fun to read. I love plants that defend themselves with alchemy, vicious thorns and stings, horrific poisons, or play mind-games with their pollinators; in short those with a wicked reputation. They provide an antidote to the idea of plants as passive and compliant.

Vivat flores!

(Long live the flowers)

Rare Plants is available from our online bookstore here.

A Beginners Guide to Fungal Spore Printing

Whether you are a budding mycologist or a creative naturalist, spore printing can be a fantastic way to learn more about the intricate biology of fungi, and offers a unique glimpse into their inner structure. It is quick, simple and requires few resources to get started, allowing you to uniquely capture fantastic detail in just a few hours.

In this beginner’s guide, we delve into why we make spore prints and share how to capture the perfect print for identification or decoration.

What are spores?

Spores are the primary reproductive unit of fungi, consisting of haploid cells that contain the genetic material required to reproduce. They are generally released from the gills or pores located underneath the cap of the mushroom, where they are then distributed through the environment via air currents or animal movement. Once the spores have landed on a substrate with a suitable growing environment, they form hyphal threads, gradually building a mycelial network. When environmental conditions are ideal, the mycelium will develop to produce the widely-recognised, and widely loved mushroom fruiting body.

Why make a spore print?

Spore prints are used for a range of reasons and are an essential skill for budding mycologists.

For those interested in mycology, or even foraging for food, spore prints can help with fungal identification by analysing the shape, size, colour, pattern and density of spores (although exercise caution with foraged goods as spore printing alone is not a reliable form of identification). It is also possible to observe spore characteristics microscopically to aid in identification, which can be done by obtaining a print on a microscope slide.

For collectors and enthusiasts, it is possible to grow your own mushrooms using the spores collected with this technique, and many others choose to simply admire their intricate biology with this informative process.

Death Cap mushroom spore prints. — Spore print by Tom Hart, via flickr.

How to make a spore print

You will need:

White or black paper, foil or glass
A small, sharp knife or scalpel blade
A glass or bowl, depending on the size of the specimen
Artists lacquer spray (hair spray will also work)

Method:

Find a suitable mushroom and ensure that the fruit is mature. This technique works with gilled and pored mushrooms, bracket fungi and oyster-shaped mushrooms.
With a sharp knife, carefully remove the stipe as close to the cap as possible, without disturbing the gills around the stem.
Place the cap gills-down onto a piece of paper. For darker coloured spores, use white paper for a clearer print, and vice versa for white spores. If you wish to grow mushrooms from gathered spores, foil is often chosen for its sterility and glass is preferred for those wishing to observe spores under a microscope.
Cover the cap with a glass or bowl, depending on the size and let it sit for up to 12 hours. Covering the mushroom creates an air trap, allowing the spores to fall directly onto the material used for the print.
After 12 hours, remove the cover and allow to fully dry for a day or two. If you are planning to display your print, lightly (!) spritz with artists’ lacquer spray or hairspray to secure the spores.

To safely store spore prints, fold over and secure in a sealed bag at room temperature, or frozen if you plan to cultivate in the future.

Recommended Reading:

The Lives of Fungi

Filled with stunning photographs, this book invites the mycologically curious for an insider look into the hidden world of our planet’s diverse decomposers.

Collins Fungi Guide

A richly illustrated guide to the fungi of Britain and Ireland, this book ensures clear, detailed descriptions for accurate identification.

Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe, Volume 1

This third edition illustrates over 650 species in stunning watercolour and features drawings of spores and other useful microscopic features to aid identification.

Opticron Hand Lens 23mm 10x Magnification

An essential part of any naturalist’s field kit, a hand lens will allow you to observe the finer details.

Dissection Kit

Equipped with a range of tools, this dissection kit is suited to mycologists, botanists and entomologists alike, and features a scalpel and forceps for sample manipulation.

Mycology Field Beginners Kit

This comprehensive kit equips you with all the essentials to observe and document fungi in any weather, including a 10x magnification hand lens, weatherproof notebook and four waterproof identification guides to gilled fungi, non-gilled fungi, grassland fungi and common fungi.

Field Guides of the Year

Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned wildlife watcher or a curious beginner, these expertly crafted books are perfect for exploring the natural world. From identifying British wildflowers and lichens, to migratory bird calls and hoverflies, these field guides offer invaluable insights and stunning visuals. Here, we have selected a few of our favourite field guides of 2024, just in time for Christmas!

ID Handbook of European Birds (2-Volume Set)

This groundbreaking photographic reference book provides the most in-depth coverage of European birds available to date and features stunning high-resolution photographs of over 733 European species to aid identification – a must-have for any birder.

Britain's Hoverflies book cover showing a hoverfly from above perching on a daisy.

Hoverflies of Britain and Ireland

A beautifully illustrated photographic field guide focusing on the most readily identified hoverflies in Britain and Ireland. This fully updated third edition covers an additional thirteen species and contains remarkable photographs of hoverflies in multiple life stages to aid identification for beginners and seasoned naturalists alike.

Mammal Tracks of Europe

From passionate naturalist, photographer, illustrator and author David Wege, Mammal Tracks of Europe covers the tracks and trails of 72 European mammal species. It features detailed, life-sized drawings of tracks and animal portraits, with species names written in eight European languages to make an accessible field companion for trackers and naturalists across the continent.

Lichens of Ireland & Great Britain: A Visual Guide to Their Identification (2-Volume Set)

Brimming with detailed descriptions and lavish illustrations, this monumental work describes over 700 species and covers a wealth of information including biology, ecology, microscopy, and a short history and lichenology. As such, it is an invaluable reference guide for both beginners and experienced lichen enthusiasts.

An Identification guide to trees of Britain and Northwest Europe

An easy-to-use introduction to the identification of 89 tree species across Britain and North-West Europe. Expertly photographed, the trees featured in this guide are captured throughout the seasons and feature close-up details to effortlessly distinguish between species.

Brown Seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) of Britain and Ireland

The culmination of over 30 years of study, this book offers the first complete, up-to-date illustrated guide to nearly 200 species of British and Irish brown algae, including unique coverage of the lesser-known, more cryptic, or microscopic varieties. This exhaustive reference work contains over 300 compound plates of photographs and line drawings to complement its extensive coverage of distributions, morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, life histories and more, making it an indispensable research tool for phycologists and students.

British & Irish Wildflowers and Plants

Brimming with full colour photos and macro shots, this pocket-sized book allows for straightforward identification of the most common wildflowers and plants found in Great Britain and Ireland. It was designed with all capabilities in mind for a seamless identification process, with clearly illustrated drawings, species description and simple visual keys.

Bird Pellets

The first complete photographic guide to bird pellets, this book showcases a wide range of pellets produced by different species, including owls, hawks, waders and various garden birds. Pellets from each species are analysed in detail, and readers are informed of how to identify the remains of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and other birds. This must-have guide fills the gap in bird pellet knowledge and will prove to be invaluable to enthusiasts and field workers alike.

Identifying Migratory Birds by Sound in Britain and Europe

Learn to identify migratory birds with this extensive auditory guide. Often neglected in traditional birding guides, this unique work describes calls with precision and details the flight behaviour of over 450 species. It contains over 1,000 downloadable sounds and annotated sonograms, allowing readers to visualise, identify and memorise flight and contact calls of all European migratory species with ease.

Field Guide to the Orchids of Europe and the Mediterranean

This completely revised second edition draws on the latest research to produce an accessible, easy-to-use guide to the orchids of Europe and the Mediterranean. Written by some of the foremost experts on the group, it is richly illustrated with over 2,000 photographs, demonstrating with great clarity the natural variability seen in over thirty genera, including natural hybrids, making it an essential resource for orchid enthusiasts and botanists alike.

Smithsonian Trees of North America

Ten years in the making, this insightful work provides readers with an indispensable illustrated source to hundreds of North American tree species. Visually stunning and insightful, John Kress shares over 3,000 images of identifying characteristics and includes hundreds of range maps for the group. It also covers the diversity, structure, form and beauty of trees, and provides an in-depth introduction to their biology, conservation and value. A monumental marriage of science and art, this important book will be an invaluable reference for future generations.

Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland

Building on the expertise of the first edition by award winning photographer, botanist and mycologist Roger Phillips, this seminal work is the perfect guide to help both beginners and experienced botanists learn about the wildflowers they see around them. Whether in urban green settings or the countryside, identification has never been easier with this updated and extended addition. It features over 1,000 photographed and illustrated wildflowers, detailed descriptions and extensive background information to create an essential photographic guide.

Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa

An essential reference guide to all resident, breeding and migrant species for anyone exploring or living in the wildlife-rich landscapes of Southern Africa. Part of the Helm Field Guide Series, this field guide describes over 1,000 regularly occurring species in the region, illustrated in 272 colour plates by three of the world’s leading bird illustrators.

Frustrating Flowers & Puzzling Plants

Coming to the rescue of exasperated novices and those troubled with unfamiliar and complex groups, this accessible guide identifies a new approach to identifying difficult plants. The author directs readers to parts of the plant in which to investigate more closely for accurate identification, using user-friendly keys and diagnostic illustrations. This novel approach was designed for those getting to grips with baffling or cryptic specimens.

Our Favourite Paperbacks of 2024

The last few years have seen a fantastic range of paperback releases, ranging from deep dives into the fungal kingdom, to enthralling explorations of lost British landscapes. In this blog post, we highlight some of our top picks that are sure to delight naturalists this festive season.

Birds, Beasts and Bedlam

Farmer-turned-rewilder Derek Gow recounts his rewilding adventures, the realities of the practice and documents his work to save species in his Devonian farm. From Beavers to Glow Worms, Gow houses an array of animals, with hopes of one day releasing them into the wild.

Windswept

After taking the plunge to move to the remote highlands of Scotland, Annie learns of the raw beauty and force of this incredible habitat. This memoir tells the story of Scotland’s valleys, the glaciers that carved the landscape, the rivers that traversed through the mountains and how the earliest people established life in this forceful environment.

What an Owl Knows

The natural history of owls is brought to life with a captivating blend of art and science in this charming work. Through revelatory new behavioural research, this touching book invites readers to take a glimpse into the lives of these creatures and discover how these birds have fascinated humankind for millennia. This book covers their evolutionary quirks, romantic relationships and parenting styles.

The Jewel Box

An enriching reflection on the magical creatures and colourful jewels that can be conjured from the darkness with moth traps. Inspired by the diversity within the trap on his London roof, Tim Blackburn considers how the insects found in a moth trap can tell you more about the workings of nature and how paying true attention to these species, their relations and their connections to the web of life, we can discover a greater truth.

Late Light

The winner of the 2024 Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing, this meditative book is a rich blend of natural history and memoir. It tells a story of migration, belonging and extinction through the close examination of four overlooked animals – eels, mussels, crickets and moths. Michael Malay tells the story of the natural world, alongside his own story, and delves into the lives of our animal neighbours.

Wild Air

From shearwaters on coastal mountains to Nightjars on lowland heath, Wild Air provides readers with an audible introduction to eight birds and their habitat, each unique. The book is beautifully written as though the author is describing the bird song to his almost-deaf grandfather.

Meetings with Moths

In search of Britain’s most beautiful moths, author Katty Baird explores Scotland to document and observe these striking, yet often overlooked, insects. From Green Longhorns to Pimpinel Pugs, Katty shares her passion and highlights the unique adaptations, ecological importance and extraordinary beauty of these creatures.

The Swimmer

Written primarily through his own words, this unconventional biography of wild swimming champion and environmentalist Roger Deakin draws from notebooks, diaries, letters and recordings, with the help of friends and family, to bring his voice to life in this work.

The Earth Transformed

The Times Best History Book 2023, The Earth Transformed, paints a cautious environmental history on a big canvas. This groundbreaking work focusses on the impact of the environment on human history, and indeed how human history has impacted the environment. An epic Sunday Times bestseller, this work provides an expansive chronological history, from the big bang to present day, to understand how changes in natural patterns have shaped history and human evolution.

Blue Machine

Dive deep into the inner workings of the Earth’s oceans with the winner of this year’s Wainwright Prize for Writing on Global Conservation. This timely book draws on years of experience at the forefront of marine science to illuminate the inner workings of the world’s oceans, and examines the people who live in it, rely on it and travel over it. This book elegantly explores this complex system and builds on knowledge that is crucial to our future.

Black Ops and Beaver Bombing

A lively and light-hearted peek into Britain’s mammals, as never seen before. From Pine Martens to Water Voles, this delightful book reveals the peculiarities of our wildlife and reveals the wonder of these creatures in the search of answers to the problems that beset them through scientific insight and comedic anecdotes.

The Orchid Outlaw

An inspiring reintroduction to Britain’s most endangered flora, The Orchid Outlaw is a splendid combination of memoir, natural history and call to action. Decimated by land use changes, climate change, inadequate protection and habitat loss, Britain’s 51 orchids are in desperate trouble. This book follows Ben Jacobs rescue journey which put him onto the wrong side of the law and saw his home turn into an orchid refuge.

Deep Water

Through a thrilling blend of history, science and nature writing, James Bradley dives into the darkest corners of the natural world. In this personal meditation, Bradley delves into the history, science and ecology of our oceans and exposes the urgent threats on this ecosystem in a thought-provoking reflection on the relationship between humankind and the natural world.

The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi

Authored by esteemed mycologist Keith Seifert, The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi explores the connection between the fungal kingdom and all life on earth, reveals how these organisms enrich our lives and investigates the environments in which they live. Venture into our homes, bodies, farms and forest to find out more about the rich world of fungi and learn about how these species have evolved and adapted over millions of years.

Hairy-Foot, Long-Tongue

An accessible introduction to bee biology and diversity providing readers with an affordable alternative to a more technical handbook. Featuring themed double-page spreads, this book explores the complexities of solitary bees, their lives and evolution in an easily digestible format. Sections detail species diversity, taxonomy, anatomy and responses to climate change and feature over 400 drawings and photographs, most of which were produced by the author.

Natural History Bestsellers

Here we explore a selection of timeless classics, both old and new, that celebrate the wonders of the natural world.

Feral

A passionate plea for restoring wildness to our landscapes from one of the world’s most celebrated radical thinkers. In this monumental work, Monbiot explores the ecological and psychological benefits of allowing nature to take its course, and draws on scientific research and riveting tales of personal experience to illustrate how rewilding can restore damaged ecosystems on land and sea, mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and improve human well-being.

Entangled Life

Winner of the 2021 Wainwright Prize for Writing on Global Conservation, this fascinating book takes readers on a mind-altering adventure to showcase the incredible detail, vibrant colour and sometimes strange features of fungi. Spectacular, yet often neglected, Merlin Sheldrake expertly reveals the inner workings of this mysterious third kingdom and explores our understanding of the group and how they have shaped our planet.

The Lost Rainforests of Britain

A celebration of the long-forgotten temperate rainforests that once thrived in Britain. Guy Shrubsole tells the captivating story of this fragmented habitat, its history, how it was lost and how we can protect the last patches of this unique habitat. From Welsh wizards to Celtic druids, this book takes the reader over Britain to show how we can restore these places to their former glory.

The Book of Wilding

In this highly anticipated work, Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell share some of the many lessons they have learned from their pioneering rewilding project at the Knepp Estate in Sussex. This inspiring book is packed with practical solutions for rewilding on a range of scales, from farms and estates to allotments and gardens and explores the importance of rewilding techniques for nature conservation.

Bringing Back the Beaver

Farmer-turned-ecologist Derek Gow documents his experience rewilding Beavers in England and Scotland. This inspirational and riotously funny firsthand account shares the story of Gow’s work since the 1990’s to import, quarantine and assist the reestablishment of this species in Britain. Bringing Back the Beaver emphasises the importance of these animals in the face of climate-induced flood and drought, and their critical role in creating rich wetland habitats for a broad spectrum of British wildlife.

Secrets of a Devon Wood

Artist and illustrator Jo Brown has captured hearts and minds across the globe with this awe-inspiring nature journal. In a bid to document the small wonders of the wood behind her home, Jo beautifully depicts fauna and flora with rich detail and documents facts about each species’ physiology and life history in an exact replica of her original Moleskin journal.

Rebirding

The winner of the 2020 Wainwright Prize for Writing on Global Conservation, Rebirding highlights a forward-thinking roadmap to reversing the decline of bird populations, and wildlife decline, in Britain. It describes solutions to the ever-increasing problems our landscapes face, with visions of a beautiful, profitable British countryside.

The Wildflower Key

A comprehensive guide to identifying wild plants in Britain and Ireland. This revised and expanded second edition contains detailed keys to more than 1,600 wild plants and is packed with a range of identification tips and innovative features to benefit both beginners and experienced botanists. The text covers a wide range of flowers, shrubs and trees in great clarity, making it an invaluable reference for year-round identification.

All the Birds of the World

This all-encompassing new guide lists all the birds of the world, allowing readers to browse and compare Earth’s amazing avian diversity between the covers of one volume. All the Birds of the World presents over 11,000 species, accompanied by 11,558 distribution maps and 20,865 illustrations detailing sexual dimorphism, morphs and distinctive subspecies.

All the Mammals of the World

An exhaustive reference book featuring over 6,000 mammal species, including wild, domestic, and extinct species. It includes an enormous number of exquisite illustrations, distribution maps, and measurements for each species. This book is designed for a broad audience, including wildlife enthusiasts and researchers, offering a visually stunning and informative overview of the world’s mammalian diversity.

Solitary Bees

Often overlooked, solitary bees have remarkably complex behaviour and ecology, as is revealed in this New Naturalist volume. Solitary Bees draws on a new wave of knowledge to provide readers with a wonderful insight into the complicated lives of solitary bees – from nesting behaviours to interspecies interactions, this book calls on scientific literature and the authors’ own observations to explore the lives of these insects further.

Silent Earth

Part love letter to the insect world, part elegy, and part rousing manifesto, Dave Goulson draws on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime of study to reveal the shocking decline of insect populations. This powerful book is a call to arms for change at every level and argues that it is not too late to love, respect and care for our insect friends.

Otherlands

Otherlands, the exceptional debut of Scottish palaeontologist Thomas Halliday, immerses readers in a series of past world landscapes. Journey to all seven continents to visit the birthplace of humanity, giant fungal forests and the highest waterfall the world has ever known and discover the fantastical planet earth over the last 550 million years. Though very much grounded in fact, each ecosystem is lyrically written with an eye for detail and drama, making this work a masterpiece of spellbinding science communication.

Other minds

Combining science and philosophy, Peter Godfrey-Smith dives into the extraordinary history of evolved intelligence and explores how early forms of communication gave rise to advanced nervous systems in humans and cephalopods. Interspersed with captivating firsthand accounts, Other Minds sheds a new light on consciousness and the convergent evolution of intelligence in a fascinating blend of natural history, philosophy and evocative writing.

Wilding

Wilding chronicles the transformation of a struggling Sussex farm into a thriving 3,500-acre ecosystem through rewilding. By introducing free-roaming grazing animals like Exmoor Ponies, Longhorn Cattle, and Tamworth Pigs, the Burrell’s have allowed nature to take over the land with extraordinary results. This book is a hopeful and inspiring tale of ecological restoration and reveals the ways in which we can regain a wilder, richer country.

Stocking Fillers

From bite-sized reads to nature-inspired games, we’ve curated a selection of delightful stocking fillers for this festive season. Whether you’re shopping for an avid birder or a wildlife enthusiast, we have something for everyone to enjoy.

Little Books of Nature Collection

A stunning collection of richly illustrated mini reference guides covering an array of nature topics. This collection features eight expertly-written volumes, including weather, dinosaurs, whales, fungi, trees and beetles. Each pocket-sized book contains over 100 photographs and illustrations and is brimming with surprising facts and unique insights about the chosen topic. Beautifully designed with a foil stamped cloth cover, these little books are a highly collectible series, and the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in the natural world.

Collins Gem Guides Collection

This excellent selection of mini-pocket guides provide an accessible introduction for a range of topics, including mushrooms, butterflies, insects and garden birds. Each volume is packed with authoritative text and detailed images to aid in identification, making it the ideal companion for those wanting to learn more about the natural world. Digestible and portable, the Gem Guides collection is an ideal starting point for children and nature enthusiasts alike.

Bloomsbury Concise Guides Collection

Suitable for both beginners and seasoned naturalists, these popular guidebooks allow users to quickly identify a variety of different species, including pond wildlife, insects and herbs. This collection is particularly affordable, and is supplemented with stunning full-colour artworks, making these pocket guidebooks the ultimate gift for those that are nature-inclined.

#265127 Robin Mug - extended range available

Ornithology Mug Collection

High quality porcelain decorated with delightful drawings from Dutch artist and biologist Elwin Van der Kolk. Each mug is decorated with adult and juvenile birds, such as Robins, Blue Tits and Avocets. Shipped in a gift box, this range makes a lovely present to enrich a nature lover’s morning cuppa.

Playing Cards

A wonderful reference to the sheer variety of organisms that exist in our natural world, these delightful playing cards from Heritage Playing Card Company are a perfect stocking filler. Each pack is illustrated in colour to showcase the diversity of flora and fauna in each group, with topics ranging from mushrooms to insects and spiders.

Gift in a Tin Collection

The Gift in a Tin range makes a wonderful stocking filler and offers creative fun for all ages. The collection includes a selection of self-assembly models such as Woolly Mammoth, Sabre Tooth Tiger and British Wildflowers. These natural history themed items are designed to be self-assembled to create a charming model, perfect for display.

#211252 Bug Bingo - different varieties available in the full range

Nature Bingo Collection

A fun and engaging take on the classic game, the Bingo collection by Laurence King contains some uniquely themed varieties including Ocean Bingo, Tree Bingo and Monkey Bingo. Suitable for up to eight players, each box contains fabulously illustrated double-sided bingo boards, themed bingo chips, brightly coloured counters and a large bingo board. Suitable for people of all ages, this unique game is ideal for the festive season.

Soft Toys

A lovely collection of soft toys, depicting a range of British wildlife including Puffins, Red Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats and Brown Long-eared Bats. These soft toys are made from thick, double-lined fabric and the bats come with fully bendable wings. Each toy comes with an information tag featuring educational facts about the animal, its habitat and diet, making it the perfect gift for children who are learning about nature.

Woolly Mammoth in a Tin - different varieties available in the full range

3D Wooden Animal Models Collection

Build your own menagerie with these easy to assemble wood model kits. Suitable for both adults and children, these models will make an exciting addition to anyone’s bookshelf and make a unique displayable art piece. Each kit contains 42 FSC wooden pieces, step-by-step instructions and ideas for decoration. There are a number of different animal models to choose from in this collection, ranging from rays and sharks to owls and spiders.

Books of the Year

2024 has seen a fantastic range of field guide, academic and nature writing releases, ranging from fascinating visual guides to British lichen, to deep dives into the peculiarities of the fungal kingdom. In this blog post, we highlight some of our favourite releases of 2024 that are sure to delight naturalists this festive season.

The Starling: A Biography

Marking the sixth volume in Stephen Moss’s Bird Biography series, The Starling delves into the fascinating life of one of our most talented and surprising birds. Starlings are renowned for their iridescent plumage, impressive vocal abilities and mesmerising murmurations, and this captivating tale explores how they’ve shaped our world, inspired art and music through the decades, influenced the agricultural industry and more.

Ponds, Pools and Puddles

A recent addition to the New Naturalist Series, this long-awaited title has been in the works since the 1950’s. This detailed account synthesizes a wealth of information on these valuable freshwater habitats, covering what they are, how they differ from rivers and lakes, their types, origins, abundance and distribution. This book has made an invaluable contribution to raising awareness of these overlooked freshwater habitats and concludes with a chapter on conservation and pond management.

Hedges

Part of the British Wildlife Collection, Hedges introduces readers to the humble hedgerow, and celebrates the ecology, biology and cultural history of these rich habitats in Britain. In this book, Robert Wolton collates decades of research to explore the wider values of hedges and provides a comprehensive commentary on our relationship with these habitats.

ID Handbook of European Birds (2-Volume Set)

Oaklore

Join author Jules Acton on a joyful and creative exploration of one of Britain’s most important trees and their incredibly diverse history. This fascinating book is a treasure trove of botanical information, insights and anecdotes into the historical, mythological and ecological significance of oaks.

Close encounters of a fungal kind cover.

Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind

Acclaimed scientist and author Richard Fortey reflects on the unique and otherworldly charm of the mysterious third kingdom. As told through the author’s own adventures to find the most extraordinary, strange and delicious fungi, this book explores the vast fungal kingdom with warmth and enthusiasm.

British and Irish Wildflowers and Plants

Brimming with full colour photos and macro shots, this pocket-sized book allows for straightforward identification of the most common wildflowers and plants found in Great Britain. It was designed with all capabilities in mind for a seamless identification process, with clearly illustrated drawings, species description and simple visual keys.

Blue Machine

Hoverflies of Britain and Ireland

A beautifully illustrated photographic field guide focusing on the most readily identified hoverflies in Great Britain. This fully updated third edition covers an additional thirteen species and contains remarkable photographs of hoverflies in multiple life stages to aid identification for beginners and seasoned naturalists alike.

The Accidental Garden

A lyrical reflection of the natural world by Richard Mabey, inviting readers to reconsider the ‘disorder’ of nature. Rooted in the daily life of his own garden, Mabey shares a story where nature becomes its own gardener, reorganising itself against a background of disorder.

The Osprey

This Poyser monograph is a captivating dedication to the Osprey featuring more than 150 full-colour photographs. It looks at the distribution, foraging ecology, migration, breeding behaviour and population dynamics of the species and covers the conservation efforts that have been undertaken to successfully reintroduce Osprey in Britain.

Lichens of Ireland & Great Britain: A Visual Guide to Their Identification (2-Volume Set)

Brimming with detailed descriptions and lavish illustrations, this monumental work describes over 700 species and covers a wealth of information including: biology, ecology, microscopy, and a short history and lichenology. This book is an invaluable reference guide for both beginners and experienced lichen enthusiasts.

Our Staff Favourites

Welcome to our annual round-up of the books and equipment we have enjoyed reading and using this year, all chosen by members of the NHBS team.

Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind

This book takes you on a mycological odyssey, exploring the vast fungal kingdom through beautiful prose, engaging anecdotes, and fascinating facts. I particularly liked how the chapters are broken up into mushroom-based ecological niches like rotters or parasites, making an overwhelming amount of information easily accessible. An ideal gift for the fungally-inclined people in your life.

– Tom, Technical Advisor

Ocean Bottle

I love the simple design and vibrant colours of this recyclable bottle! Although what really sets the Ocean Bottle apart is its commitment to cleaner oceans – each item sold funds the removal of 1,000 plastic bottles from the marine environment! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to reduce their plastic consumption and help protect our planet.

– Jess, Equipment Purchasing Coordinator

Living on Earth

I was very excited to get my hands on the finale to this ambitious trilogy – and I was not disappointed! This book marks the conclusion to an exploration of intelligence on planet Earth and its origins. It touches on how life shapes, and has been shaped by, its environment and takes readers on an exploration through compelling accounts of intelligence in the natural world – an excellent read, and the perfect finish to this thought-provoking trilogy!

– Poppy, Ecology Content Editor

Viking Cygnus Monocular

If you are looking for a handy monocular then the Viking Cygnus is a great choice. It is easy to fit in my coat pocket so I tend to take it with me much more that I would a heavier pair of binoculars. It is also lightweight and easy to handle – my son had a great time with it in the woods!

– Adam, Marketing and Sales Manager

Wilding

Isabella Tree’s Wilding is a special blend of personal narrative and ecological exploration. Her vivid descriptions and terrific storytelling bring rewilding to life and paints a hopeful picture for the future of ecological recovery in Britain – it has left me with a renewed appreciation for the power of nature and its remarkable ability to heal itself. This illustrated children’s version makes a lovely gift.

– Jo, Marketing Assistant

Bird Photographer of the Year

As a wildlife photographer and cameraman, it’s always been a draw to me to look at the structure and composition of how others “see” their subject. Ansel Adams once said that it is the 12 inches behind the camera that is the most important part of an image making process. While the camera hardware is important, the photographer’s eye is more so. This book shows that that is the case, with amazing studies of birds, their lives, and the beauty of nature. This year’s book is truly inspiring.

– Simon, Books Purchasing Coordinator

Num’axes Bird Feeder

A step-up from the average bird feeder, this innovative product captures high-quality videos and photos of birds and other wildlife in action. It works well in all weather conditions and has been used to capture superb videos around my garden – a must have for any bird enthusiast!

– Mark, Product and Purchasing Manager

Under the Changing Skies

Under Changing Skies is a sweeping, lyrical and illuminating journey through the British countryside as written by some of the countries most celebrated nature writers. This collection of entries for the Guardian’s Country Diary will make a beautiful gift for nature lovers!

– Oli, Designer

Gift in a Tin Range

The Gift in a Tin range has everything you need to create your own wooden models, plus a cool fact sheet to learn more about the animals in the kit. They are a great way to spark children’s interest in nature, while having some creative fun at the same time, and are perfect for an affordable gift, or a treat for yourself!

– Dan, Technical Advisor

Bird Nester Gift Box

This gift box is a fantastic little package for any budding birdwatcher. The nest itself is beautifully designed and is made with recycled saris which adds a unique touch to every nest. Plus, the included bird food is a great way to support local wildlife, especially during the colder months – a great way to bring a bit of nature into your home.

– Elle, Marketing Coordinator

Nature’s Calendar

Inspired by the traditional Japanese calendar, this book takes the reader through 72 seasons in the British Isles. Each season is represented by different natural phenomenon, and the book features themes of folklore, tradition and natural history. It is a great way to learn more about how nature changes throughout the seasons and has allowed me to interact with the world around me in a unique way.

– Sam, Publishing Assistant

StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Refractor Telescope

StarSense Explorer LT 70AX Refractor Telescope

This telescope is a great choice for budding astronomers! It’s the first telescope that uses a dedicated app to analyse the night sky, which identifies all the constellations and celestial objects visible to the user. It’s perfect for those who are just getting started with astronomy and would make a brilliant gift this Christmas!”

– Adam, Technical Advisor

Interview with Charlotte Mead: The Wildwood Trust

The Wildwood Trust was established in 2002 and is one of the UK’s leading conservation and rewilding trust. The charity aims to push the boundaries of conservation by working alongside nature to fight the biodiversity crisis and halt species extinction using nature-based solutions. Alongside their conservation projects, volunteering opportunities and memberships, they also offer a host of educational courses and workshops across both of their sites.

Wildwood Devon is home to numerous native bat species, and over the last two years, they have been working alongside Devon Bat Conservation and Research Group to create, assist and monitor secure bat roosting sites for the breeding season to support endangered bat populations. In mid-2023, NHBS donated 10 general-purpose bat boxes to support this project. A year later, we had the opportunity to talk to The Wildwood Trust about the results from their first annual species survey on this site, how our donation has aided the project’s success, discuss their goals for the next five years and more.

Firstly, can you tell us about The Wildwood Trust and how the charity began?

Established in 2002, The Wildwood Trust is a native species conservation charity formed to push the boundaries of innovative conservation and rewilding. The charity began after it was decided that a small zoo could be instrumental in educating Kent locals about British wildlife – the zoo was subsequently renamed Wildwood Discovery Park and soon became The Wildwood Trust. Since then, the park has grown and changed, and the Trust has taken on a second site on the Escot Estate in Devon. We recently rebranded and the sites are now known as Wildwood Kent and Wildwood Devon, both working under The Wildwood Trust.

We work with nature to fight the biodiversity crisis, to halt the extinction of species and to create resilient habitats in which nature thrives. Wildwood’s experience and expertise in working with native species means we can work effectively across the UK in many projects, focussing on nature-based solutions to reinstate native species populations and recreate truly wild spaces.

Rewilding, through the reintroduction of keystone species, is the most powerful tool we have. These reintroduced animals alter their landscape by creating the space and complexity for hundreds of other species to thrive.

Which species are you hoping to encourage to the area with the installation of our bat boxes?

We have a number of resident species on site, including Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus), Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii), Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus). With the addition of the Schwegler 2F Bat Boxes supplied by NHBS, we are hoping to attract a wider range of species, including Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) and Nathusius’ Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii).

We have since completed our first bat box check and are pleased to see that our resident bats have taken to the boxes, and we have found pipistrelle droppings in multiple boxes. We were also lucky enough to find a female Common Pipistrelle in one of the boxes.

Breeding projects are a key element of the work you do. Why are these programmes so important and do you have a favourite success story that you can share with us?

Breeding projects are incredibly useful for a number of reasons, from maintaining genetic diversity within the population all the way through to providing an alternative to translocations. We work with a number of organisations and charities, who are also involved in captive breeding groups, to maintain high standards of husbandry and welfare to provide a healthy, genetically diverse captive population that can assist in future conservation projects.

I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite as Wildwood has bred and reintroduced many species, including Water Voles as part of development mitigation work and Hazel Dormice into suitable areas of former range. However, the memorable reintroduction of Red Squirrels to Anglesey was a successful project and re-established an iconic species after significant declines following the introduction of Grey Squirrels. We have also joined forces with other major captive breeding collections to implement a national captive breeding group which can assist in any future conservation projects.

How is Wildwood working to combat the effects of climate change?

Many of our rewilding projects aim to facilitate the restoration of native habitats, often through reinstating lost species. A good example of this would be our flagship wilding project ‘Blean Bison’ in Canterbury. Launched in 2019 with Kent Wildlife Trust, the project looked to promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes and aimed to bring transformational change through a controlled trial with European Bison. To combat climate change, the project is aiming to restore 600 hectares of ancient woodland, a vital natural carbon store that can hold around 30% of the world’s carbon.

What does the Wildwood Trust hope to achieve in the next five years?

Wildwood will continue to be a leader in the field of native species conservation. We will continue to deliver our mission to protect, conserve and rewild British wildlife by building long-term and sustainable partnerships with like-minded organisations. Through collaborative working, we can maximise our impact and bring resilience to our native ecosystems.

Are there any other conservation projects that you’re working on that you can tell us about?

We are proud to be a collaborative organisation and, with like-minded conservation partners, we are now working towards the conservation and reintroduction of several species across Britain, including wildcats, Red-billed Chough and White-clawed Crayfish to name a few.

Part of the national captive breeding programme, the wildcats at Wildwood are involved in the creation of a genetically viable captive population. Our wildcat breeding programme has been hugely successful and in 2020 we announced our collaborative work to restore the European Wildcat to Britain.
As a keystone species, the conservation of White-clawed Crayfish is important for several reasons. The only native crayfish species found in the UK, these crustaceans play a key role in the food chain and are an important indicator species for freshwater health. White-clawed Crayfish are threatened by invasive Signal Crayfish, so our work to support the breeding of these animals through establishing a Devon crayfish hatchery is important in ensuring their survival.
For over 200 years the Red-billed Chough has been missing from Kent, so we have partnered with Kent Wildlife Trust to reintroduce these birds to the cliffs of Dover. The project has now reached its second year of reintroductions, and there are now 19 birds established in the area.

We are always looking for more projects to get involved with so please do get in touch if you think we can help!