Books – Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

Author interview with Seán Ronayne: Nature Boy

An inspiring story of love, connection and the healing power of nature, author Seán Ronayne recounts his journey to record all the regularly occurring species of birds in Ireland. He also tells the stories of his adventures across the Sahara Desert, the jungles of Nepal, and the streets of Thailand, revealing the wonders of the natural world.

Seán Ronayne is an ornithologist and naturalist who was born in Cork, Ireland. He spent his childhood exploring the fields and woodlands around his hometown, before studying Zoology at University College Cork, followed by a Master’s in Marine Biology. He secured his first ornithology role in 2017, before relocating to Barcelona with his partner where he began recording local wildlife and birds in earnest. Upon their return to Ireland in 2020, Seán embarked on a project to record all of Ireland’s birds, some of which are on the cusp of extinction, and he now has only three species left to record.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Seán about Nature Boy, including what first sparked his interest in nature, which equipment he uses for sound recording and more.

In your book, you talk about how nature has been a constant source of comfort and curiosity for you. Do you remember when the natural world first began to resonate with you? Was there a key event which sparked your interest?

Yes! I have two standout moments, both of which are particularly special in different ways. I was a very active child, and I really mean that. I was always on the go, and if I couldn’t be on the go, I was wriggling, squirming, and crying – longing to be free. My father quickly learned that a foray into nature was the cure. He would take me to our local nature reserve and imitate the sounds of all the wildlife around us. I would belly laugh at his attempts and give him my best guess. It was a great game to me, but it was also an education in disguise – Dad was teaching me to listen to nature, and to get to know my neighbours by ear.

The other is my first memory of a bird. I was very young, around 2 years old off the top of my head, and the bird was pointed out to me by my Dad’s father – Pops. He loved birds too. I’ll never forget that first view of a magpie, with its regal pied plumage, draping long tail, and green and purple shimmying iridescence. Pops died not long after. I did not understand, but today, every time I see a magpie I see Pops, smile and thank him for the journey he sent me on.

Can you share with us what equipment you use for recording and what your decision process was for selecting it?

I am not a technical sound-recordist. I follow my ears, and my heart, and then I record the sounds that call to me with whatever tools I have at my disposal. I learned my skills through trial and error (mostly through error), but you know the phrase – even a broken-down clock is right twice a day! For isolating birds and getting a close intricate recording, I use a Dodotronic Hi-Sound parabolic reflector, paired with a second-hand Olympus LS-12 recorder – the Nokia 3210 of the sound recording world. To capture really intimate moments, or for longer, all weather deployments, I used a Song Meter Mini II. The sound is superb, and the device can be hidden easily, allowing birds to approach close and whisper into the mics unbeknownst to themselves. This provides intimate chitter-chatter I’d never otherwise get the opportunity to capture, and the Song Meter runs for weeks and can survive all manner of weather conditions! I guess these two pieces are my go-to tools.

Bioacoustics is one of the fastest-growing industries in the ecological sector. Are there any technological advances you’d like to see in this field?

I am really happy with where it’s at, to be honest! I can see that AI software to auto-identify birds is being worked on, but I don’t really care for that. I absolutely adore pouring through raw audio with a fine-tooth comb myself. In doing so, I enter that world, and I learn so much – a fast summary response kills the magic and learning for me. Perhaps others will disagree with me, but for my needs I am happy with where the technology is at, and the constant need for ‘progress’ in today’s world has a lot to answer for in terms of ecological, climate, and planetary degradation, after all.

While watching your documentary, I was very moved by your recording of the last known pair of Ring Ouzels in Ireland. Can you describe what it felt like to capture that moment, knowing you were recording a piece of history?

It was utterly devastating, and highly stressful. We’re talking about a bird that has been visiting our uplands each summer for hundreds, even thousands of years, wiped out in a heartbeat, with the majority of people not even knowing it existed at all. The stress came into the equation because I felt a strong desire, responsibility even, to capture its voice to show people the sonic beauty of what we are erasing, and what we need to stand up and fight for. With just one known pair remaining I was unsure if I had time to give this bird a voice, and if I didn’t capture it I’d have been doubly devastated – I’d have felt like I left it down, leaving it to die out in silence, unheard and forgotten. That did not happen though, at least.

Birdsong seems to have the ability to engage and move people in a way that perhaps other facets of nature don’t. Why do you think this is?

Well, I think it’s hard not to love it, isn’t it? Birdsong is nature’s melody! The dawn chorus is nature’s orchestra. It’s always there, it’s such a treat to listen to and it’s completely free. We have evolved in tandem with it. We hear birdsong, and everything is right with the world…we don’t hear birdsong, and something has gone terribly wrong. Right? A forest has been felled, a river has been covered, a bog has been drained, a city has enveloped, a motorway has drowned it out.

In your book, you talk about the importance you placed on your first bird ID guide as a child. Do you have any go-to books for bird identification?

This is easy – the Collins Bird Guide (the bible), and of course the legendary Sound Approach collection.

With your recent book, tour and documentary, you’ve made a real push to engage with the public and remind them of the natural world. What do you hope people take from your work?

I just hope that people realise how inexplicably beautiful, educational, nourishing, wondrous, and ever-giving nature is. But I also need them to know that it’s in freefall. Because of our own very actions. And inactions. My work is a call to arms, with hope and beauty being my primary weapons – with a brief but sharp slap of loss and despair. The latter is necessary, but it is my secondary weapon. Love and hope outgun loss and despair always.

You currently only have 3 species left to record to complete your mission to record every Irish bird. Do you have any plans for afterwards?

Of course. I will be on this journey for as long as I’m gifted time on this earth. Recording all of these birds was never intended to be a tick and run exercise. Every time I listen to a given species or individual I learn something new. I capture a new voice. The more I listen, the more I realise how little I know. And that’s gorgeous, isn’t it!? This is what I mean when I say that nature is ever-giving. And to answer you in more direct terms, I fully intend to write more, and to work on more film projects. I’ll also tour my talks, stories and sounds until people have had enough of me, which I hope never happens (haha)!

Nature Boy: A Memoir of Birdsong and Belonging by Seán Ronayne is published by Hachette Books Ireland in Trade Paperback and is available from nhbs here.

Book review: King Tyrant

***** Sets the standard for what good popular science can be

When Princeton University Press announced King Tyrant, I was beyond excited. Whether it is pterosaurs, palaeoart, or the Crystal Palace dinosaurs; whatever palaeontologist and palaeoartist Mark Witton writes on has been brilliant so far, and King Tyrant very much continues that tradition. Do not let the pretty pictures fool you; this is not a children’s book but a grounded, fact-based overview of the scientific consensus on all things Tyrannosaurus rex, combined with numerous informative diagrams and Witton’s gorgeous palaeoart. The execution of this book sets the standard for what good popular science can be and is a model that other authors and publishers can aspire to.

Even if you know nothing about dinosaurs, T. rex is the one name you will recognise, such is the fame of this extinct animal. Surely, books about it are a dime a dozen? In a recent interview on the Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs podcast, Witton pointed out that, surprisingly, this is not the case. Hone’s book covered the family at large, but, aside from two technical books in recent decades, the last popular treatment was Horner & Lessem’s book in 1993. That might just as well be prehistory, given how much research has advanced and how many more fossils have been found since then. This is a clear case of Witton writing the book that he wanted to read.

Given how frequently the name T. rex crops up, you might even get a bit annoyed: not you again! All the more reason to read this book. Witton is acutely aware that a veritable subculture has grown up around this one species that “sits, sometimes uncomfortably, on the boundary between science and sensationalism” (p. 1). These popular depictions, often carrying with them an air of scientific authority, bleed into people’s consciousness, creating something less of a dinosaur and more of a chimaera, with traits both exaggerated and fictional. One of Witton’s most important goals with King Tyrant is to “deconstruct hype and controversy” (p. 41). The first chapter daringly combines a précis of the first century of research with an examination of the sociological side. How did this particular species become palaeontology’s rock star? It is a fascinating history that starts at the American Museum of Natural History who promoted it to attract large crowds. It was “proverbial lightning in a bottle” (p. 278), with an influential legacy that lasts to this day in movies, documentaries, and merchandise. And yet, popular depictions “have nothing on what science tells us about the reality of Tyrannosaurus rex” (p. 279).

The bulk of the book thus explores what the science actually shows. The remaining six chapters flow logically into each other: the definition and taxonomy of the species; internal and external anatomy; physiology, growth, sensory biology, locomotion, etc. (i.e., what all this anatomy might have been capable of); ecology and behaviour; and extinction. Indeed, the writing is one of the two highlights of this book. Witton strikes that fine balance between going into quite some technical detail and yet keeping it entertaining. The result is a well-grounded and accessible summary of the scientific consensus on numerous topics.

T. rex, more than any other species, attracts a lot of fringe ideas from inside and outside of academia, and Witton leaves no rock unturned. On the one hand, there are the minority views and “non-troversies” (thanks Witton, I am stealing that brilliant term) that get far too much airtime, such as the existence (or not) of a dwarf species, “Nanotyrannus“, or the scavenging hypothesis, the notion that T. rex was a scavenger rather than a hunter. Needless to say, neither idea curries much favour among professionals. On the other hand, actual scientific debates are often ignored by the press. Opinions are divided on whether dinosaurs were already on their way out before the asteroid impact or were still in their prime. Witton provides the best overview of this topic that I have read so far.

In The Future of Dinosaurs, Hone pointed out the frequent disparity between what people *think* we know, and what we actually know – and plenty of examples of this feature here. Some confident depictions are almost completely fictitious. The trope of the roaring T. rex leads to the question of whether dinosaurs as a group vocalised at all! This is not “overzealous scientific conservatism” (p. 159); we have found, all told, one whole fossilised voice box. The ensuing discussion on the evolution of vocalisation in birds, dinosaurs, and other reptiles shows the complexities and competing scenarios. The opposite also holds: there are topics where the general public does not realise just how much palaeontologists know, such as the anatomy of T. rex‘s face or its remarkable growth pattern with age.

The other highlight of this book is the illustrations, both the artwork and the diagrams. Witton is an accomplished palaeoartist who cares deeply about the scientific accuracy of his artwork. We thus get modern depictions of dinosaurs with fleshy lips and bulky muscles. Each of these paintings is worthy of a frame, and it is hard to pick favourites. The book’s cover, showing T. rex rumbling a closed-mouth vocalisation (a behaviour seen in modern birds and reptiles), is, in my opinion, one of the best pieces he has ever made. The azhdarchid pterosaur stalking a juvenile T. rex on page 250 is also instantly memorable. Even when the subjects are cliché, such as T. rex near erupting volcanoes or the K–Pg impactor streaking across the sky, Witton’s depictions are visually arresting. Labelled photomontages show T. rex‘s “raw osteological charisma” (p. 4), and include detailed close-ups that help you form a mental picture of what all those anatomical bits look like. Equally important are the numerous informative diagrams littered throughout the book. Witton has gone to the painstaking effort of redrawing every one of them, in the process modifying and adapting them as necessary. Instead of a mishmash of styles, ages, production values, and extraneous details, the illustrations are presented in a single unified style. It will have been a huge amount of work for something that most authors and editors would probably consider nominal gains, but it shows his attention to detail, and I, for one, rate this very highly.

King Tyrant is an instant classic: I do not even care that much for T. rex per se, but the book’s brilliant execution immediately lands it a spot in my top 5 for 2025. A compulsory buy for dinosaur enthusiasts, this book is also a valuable overview for professional palaeontologists and an inspirational example of what excellent science communication looks like.

Book review: Alexander von Humboldt

***** A factual and nuanced picture, and a critical interrogation of previous portrayals

I read and compared this book to Andrea Wulf’s widely-read The Invention of Nature. Historian Andreas W. Daum shows that good things come in small packages and delivers a factual, nuanced, and admirably concise biography. Straight off the bat, you can tell that this will be a different book. At 208 pages and 13 × 21 cm, it is swallowed by Wulf’s book. Though both authors are German, as a historian actively researching Humboldt’s biography, Daum is just that bit more qualified. Originally published in German, Daum was actively involved in the book’s English translation, revising and expanding it in the process.

A more detailed comparison follows at the end as I first want to judge this book on its merits. Daum discusses Humboldt’s life in six chapters, giving equal attention to periods that were less glamorous than his American and Russian expeditions. A short interlude reflects on his scientific approach, while the book ends with a chronology, a very useful narrative guide to sources and further reading, endnotes, and a selected bibliography. Daum has a clear mission statement: to examine Humboldt’s life “through a refined biographical lens [that] avoids both mystification and vilification [and] to suggest a more nuanced interpretation, portraying a multifaceted Humboldt” (p. 3). Two aspects stood out to me.

First, throughout, Daum pushes back on previous portrayals of Humboldt. Wulf’s and Meinhardt’s book are characterised as “popular, heroic accounts” (p. 162) that portray Humboldt as “a singular intellect way ahead of his time” (p. 2). He adds a clear barb at Wulf’s address by writing that Humboldt did not invent nature. He equally objects to postcolonial criticism that casts Humboldt as a gentleman colonizer. Though a necessary corrective, it needs to be combined with a fair assessment of his progressive sides. Portrayals of Humboldt as a second Columbus are similarly scorned as simplistic colonial tropes that are simply not true: “Humboldt was not venturing into unknown territory. Nowhere was he the ‘first'” (p. 55). Daum furthermore distinguishes between Humboldtian science and Humboldt’s science. Humboldt’s call for systematic collection of geomagnetic and climatological data by networks of observatories, later pursued by both Russia and the UK, has been called an example of *Humboldtian* science by historian Susan Faye Cannon. Daum counters that this is a later, idealized archetype that “jettisoned his emphasis on the aesthetic” (p. 124). *Humboldt’s* science, in contrast, was far more tentative, trying to balance empirical science with one’s subjective experience of nature. He did not have it all figured out before or after his American expedition. To suggest otherwise is “a retrospective projection” (p. 52) that does not do him justice. Finally, though Humboldt is venerated in South America and he welcomed declarations of independence, he played no role in them, nor should be labelled the “father of Latin American independence” (p. 109).

Alexander von Humboldt, by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Second is Daum’s nuanced picture of Humboldt. Take, for example, his political stance, or lack thereof. Though remembered for his liberal values and criticism of colonialism and slavery, he feared bloody violence, such as seen during the French Revolution and favoured more gradual reforms. When Prussia took the fight to Napoleon and occupied Paris in 1814, his brother Wilhelm supported the German cause while Alexander refused to, “souring relations between the two” (p. 105). Humboldt helped prevent the Paris Museum of Natural History from being looted and drew criticism back in Germany when lobbying for stolen German artworks to stay in Paris. He supported and found patronage for French and German scientists alike and, by refusing to pick sides, easily moved in different social circles. When he later returned to Berlin with its increasingly conservative political climate that curbed freedom of expression, he swam against the tide by offering free public lectures that became incredibly popular.

Daum gives a similarly nuanced picture of Humboldt’s way of working. Hearing of his grand plans for the American expedition, his brother was already concerned he would overreach. Indeed, he habitually bit off more than he could chew, always had multiple manuscripts on the go, and left a legacy of unfinished projects. Kosmos, the magnum opus he laboured on for the last two decades of his life, was not necessarily a resounding success, despite the high sales. Some contemporaries considered it challenging or requiring too much prior knowledge. Ironically, the proliferation of simplified versions and explainers meant that Humboldt succeeded, sort of, in popularizing science, though it “had taken on a momentum that the author could no longer control” (p. 142). Daum characterizes it as synopsis of material rather than a coherent synthesis, which buttresses his conclusion that Humboldt is remembered not for coming up with “a clearly defined theory that fundamentally changed scientific and social thinking”, but for leaving us with “myriad complex thoughts and incentives for further research” (p. 151).

Alexander von Humboldt, by Smithsonian Magazine.

Given the number of people who will have read Wulf’s The Invention of Nature, a comparison is in order. My one-liner is that Daum’s book is less fluff, more facts. The book’s brevity is partially achieved by omitting all the biographical material on other people that Wulf included and partially by mentioning rather than describing events in lively detail. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to Humboldt’s expeditions. Now, before you conclude that Daum’s book contains less material than Wulf’s, let me stop you there. For all its brevity, there are numerous details here not mentioned by Wulf. Beyond factoids, there are the above-mentioned aspects, attention for his lesser-known works, a more informed opinion on his sexuality, and many other things besides. In a mere 153 pages, Daum concisely offers a full yet nuanced picture of Humboldt’s life and work.

If you have already read The Invention of Nature, should you read this biography? Next to being a quick read, hopefully by now you are convinced Daum’s book is worth your time by offering a different perspective and much new information. I found reading them together an instructive and rewarding exercise. If you insist on me recommending just one book, answer me this: do you read history books to be informed or to be entertained? In the former case, choose Daum for a more scholarly take; in the latter, choose Wulf for an entertaining book that indulges in digressions. I hasten to add that I am talking shades of grey here: Daum prioritising the facts does not mean his book is boring, just as Wulf prioritising storytelling does not mean her book is inaccurate.

Author interview with Jon Stokes: Trees of Britain and Ireland

This comprehensive guide to tree identification features over 3,000 photos and illustrations of more than 300 native and common non-native species. It includes detailed keys, distribution maps and seasonal charts, alongside ecological insights, habitat information and conservation advice on each species, making it an invaluable resource for those interested in British and Irish tree species.

Jon Stokes is one of Britain’s leading tree conservationists and has been studying the world of trees for over thirty years. He is the Director of Trees, Science and Research at a UK based charity The Tree Council, which aims to bring everyone together for the love of trees, and has authored or co-author ten books focusing on trees.

We recently spoke to Jon about Trees of Britain and Ireland, where he told us how he decided which species to include in this book, what his hopes are for the future conservation of our native trees and more.

How did you first become interested in tree biology and ecology, and why did you decide to write the latest WILDGuides identification book?

I have always been fascinated by trees. I love their huge size, their great age and their amazing ability to live for centuries in one spot, coping with everything the world throws at them. To truly understand trees, however, I believe it is vital to understand the other species that depend on them. Oaks, for example, support more than 2,000 other species.

When the opportunity arose to write the WILDGuides tree book, it felt like an amazing opportunity to produce something new – a book that not only allowed the identification of all our diverse and varied native trees and shrubs, but one which also described the ecology of the trees and some of the species which live within them.

What was the greatest challenge you faced when writing this guide, and did you have any specific issues in relation to seasonality?

One of the many challenges in producing this book was our desire to photograph flowers, leaves, fruit and winter twigs – to show how to identify trees all year round. This obviously meant returning to each species a number of times, in all seasons, in all weathers, across the length and breadth of the country. We also wanted to show trees in their natural environments – all of which just made the project a little more complex! Despite the challenges, it was a joyful journey of discovery which took me from the top of Ben Lawers in Scotland; to sea level in Cornwall and Ireland; from sand dunes to heathland; from dense woodland to ancient wood pasture, and occasionally to some very scary cliff edges, looking for Whitebeams.

Trees of Britain and Ireland provides a comprehensive overview of the interdependent relationships between trees and a variety of plant, animal, fungal, and lichen species. Why did you think it was so important to highlight these relationships, and how did you decide which additional species to include?

The web of life that surrounds our trees is truly astonishing, from tiny wasps to bats, from fungi to Ospreys – they all live in and on trees. Selecting the range of species to illustrate was difficult and, of course, there was also a bit of personal preference in the final choices! In some cases, the selection process was very difficult. To my surprise, the biodiversity of some species, like Wild Cherry, doesn’t appear to be well studied – something I hadn’t realised until working on this book.

It was evident throughout the book that this is a clear, easily digestible guide suitable for readers of all abilities. How important do you think nature accessibility and education is for future generations?

I have had the pleasure of spending my working life engaging people with nature. From guided walks, to lectures and talks, I love showing people new aspects of the world around us. Life is fascinating and every day is a school day. For example: Why are leaves green? How do trees grow? Why is that tree, that shape? These are the questions that enthral me daily. I guess this is a long-winded way of saying that I believe learning about nature is vital to all of us, all the time, and at any age. I hope this book sparks an interest in learning more about my beloved trees. I hope it sparks a desire to go out and explore other aspects of our beautiful islands and the wealth of wildlife we have here.

What patterns did you notice whilst researching conservation status in the UK, and what are your hopes for the future conservation and protection of our native trees and plants?

This is a really interesting question. I now realise that, before researching this book, I hadn’t really thought about the conservation status of many of our trees and shrubs. Yet, Britain and Ireland actually have many rare and globally endangered species growing exclusively here, like many of the endemic Whitebeams and the Wild Cotoneaster. Our knowledge of our rare trees is sometimes scant. In the last twelve months, new information has emerged about our elm trees, suggesting there may be new and rare elm species hiding in plain sight.

So, what are my hopes for the future of these rare species? Well, if nothing else, the development of the book allowed me to clearly articulate the importance of these rare trees in my work. More importantly, I hope a better understanding of the importance of these rare trees will allow better protection to be developed for these globally rare species growing in these islands.

What’s taking up your time at the moment? Are you working on any other books or projects that we can hear about?

In terms of projects, there is one current Tree Council project that is very important to me. This project draws on work undertaken twenty years ago when, with my fellow authors and photographers, we had the privilege of writing a number of books on our ‘Heritage Trees’ – trees that are as important to the nation as some of our great stately homes and castles. From 2000-year-old yews, to astonishing old broadleaved trees like the Bowthorpe Oak, we featured a range of these iconic trees to show the amazing living heritage we have in Britain and Ireland. Now 20 years on, we are revisiting the trees to see how they have fared over the last two decades and the results of this will be published later in the summer. It’s already clear that while some of the trees have thrived over this time, others have not done so well. Our aim is for this project to lead to the development of new guidance on how to better protect our most important trees, to ensure that we can marvel at these ‘Green Monuments’ and hear their stories for many decades to come.

Trees of Britain and Ireland is available from our online bookstore.

Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook: Author Interview

The third edition of the Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook is based on the most recent research and practical experience available on the ecology of Hazel Dormice. It provides information on best practices for conservation, whilst a separate publication, the Hazel Dormouse Mitigation Handbook, offers further information for those involved in development projects across the UK that may affect Hazel Dormouse populations.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to authors Simone Bullion, Rob Wolton and Ian White about the most recent volume, including the latest updates, how they became interested in Dormouse conservation and more.

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

Simone Bullion:

It was 25 years ago, when I had newly started a job with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, that two events acted as a catalyst for my great interest in dormice. Firstly, I was approached by my friend, Pat Morris, to support the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme by helping to increase the number of people with dormouse licences. At the same time, there was a release of captive-bred dormice into a Suffolk woodland close to where I was living, giving me the opportunity to study them first hand. A series of funded projects followed, which helped increase our knowledge of their distribution across the county – this then initiated conservation action to restore vital linkages by planting kilometres of hedgerows. However, through time, the more I found out about dormice, the more it seemed they hadn’t read the book. Habitats that I felt quite certain would support dormice often resulted in several attempts to confirm their presence. Clearly, there were better places to nest than in the boxes and tubes I was offering them, so that led to my interest in footprint tunnels as an alternative detection method. There is still much to learn about dormice, but working with such an interesting and charismatic species has been a privilege.

Rob Wolton:

My fascination with dormice, and indeed with hedges themselves, really started when I noticed strange round nests in the hedges on our farm in Devon. As a keen birdwatcher, I could not place them. Until, one day about 30 years ago, a dormouse popped out! My first. That was the prompt that made me start to look seriously at hedges and at their wildlife, a passion that remains with me to this day. Each autumn I must admit to becoming more than a little fixated with trying to spot dormouse nests in our hedges as I walk around the farm, checking the stock or walking the dog. For several years my wife Paula took care of one, a three-legged female, no longer fit for captive breeding at Paignton Zoo. Dora, as we named her, was a huge draw, a natural lead in to talk about the farm’s wildlife and how we were encouraging it. There are few such endearing and engaging mammals.

Ian White:

I had always had an interest in conservation, but after university I worked in the retail sector. I then embarked on a new career path in my 40’s, thinking that I would become a wildlife ranger. During a training course I was asked to put together a presentation on a British mammal – I chose shrews, and so started an interest in small mammals. I was fascinated by the fact that many were considered common, but based on what? It appeared that very little was known about this group compared with larger mammals. My initial interest in dormice was somewhat biased in that, due to their conservation status, they were the only small mammal that anybody was likely to pay me for. Now after over twenty years working with dormice, I think that they are a fabulous ambassador for many other species, and they still fascinate me now as much as they did when I first saw one.

The Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook marks the third edition of this vital text; what can we expect from this updated volume?

Much research has been undertaken on various aspects of dormouse ecology since the release of the second Dormouse Conservation Handbook in 2006. As a result of several PhD theses and other studies, much more is known about their habitat requirements, hibernation ecology, population biology and genetics. New survey techniques are also included to aid with detection of this sometimes very elusive species.

Unlike previous editions which integrated conservation, mitigation and the effects of development within one title, the third edition presents this information into two distinct handbooks. Why was it necessary to separate this information into two guides?

Landowners, land managers and the voluntary sector continue to have a significant interest in dormouse ecology and habitat management. Separately, there is a professional interest in this protected species in the context of land use planning. Specialist knowledge has also increased, in terms of understanding best practice approaches to minimise the impacts on dormice from development. Consequently, it was decided to separate these areas of interest into two books. It is envisaged that the Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook will be useful to anyone with an interest in dormice, as it covers their ecology, survey techniques and habitat management. The Hazel Dormouse Mitigation Handbook will be essential as an additional and complementary reference to support the work of professional ecologists and others involved in planning.

Hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) by Frank Vassen, via flickr.

Since the 1996 publication of the first Dormouse Conservation Handbook, how have Dormouse populations and their conservation status changed?

Sadly, Hazel Dormice have continued to decline. The ‘State of Britain’s Dormice 2023’ reported a 70% decline of dormice in monitored populations since 2000. If the observed annual rate of decline of 5.7% were to continue unabated, then dormouse counts would be expected to have fallen by more than 90% by 2034. It is also believed that there has been a loss of the species from 20 English counties over the past 100 years. Consequently, they are currently considered a vulnerable species and in danger of further localised extinction in Britain.

Which factors pose the greatest threats to dormice in the present day, and what conservation strategies are being employed in an attempt to mitigate their effects?

Whilst dormice are can live in a wide range of woody habitats, they thrive in the mid-stages of successional regrowth of woodland after coppicing, in networks of sensitively managed hedges and in scrub. However, woodland management has declined during the last 100 years; only half of our hedgerows are in favourable condition and scrub is much maligned. Dormice are also particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. To be effective, dormouse conservation therefore requires landscape-scale thinking to deliver the necessary increases and improvements in their habitat, and to restore connectivity. This will also help remaining dormouse populations become more resilient to localised changes, as well as the negative impacts of unfavourable weather and climate change.

However, there are parts of their former range where natural recolonisation of dormice is extremely unlikely. The dormouse reintroduction programme, administered by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, focuses on consolidating the current range of dormice, working to restore dormice at landscape level to create robust metapopulations.

Muscardinus avellanarius by xulescu_g, via flickr.

Dormouse research relies heavily on the work of volunteer dormouse monitors, demonstrating the essential role of volunteers in conservation. What does this volunteer role entail, how does it support conservation, and how can the public get involved?

The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) has been running for over 25 years and is a powerful tool in monitoring population trends. As it relies on volunteers, it also provides an opportunity for people to interact with wildlife and see a dormouse close up – something that rarely happens in the wild. As dormice are a highly protected species, checking boxes for their presence must be undertaken by a trained licence holder. This training can take several years to complete, and numbers of trainees are often limited by the sites available, so sometimes there can be a waiting list to start. However, non-licence holders can also assist with putting up boxes, helping record the data and undertaking winter repairs to the boxes when they are unoccupied.

Other ways people can also get involved is to volunteer with one of your local conservation charities to help manage habitats to benefit dormice.

What do you hope the reader can learn from the Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook?

Dormice act as umbrella species for our native wildlife. Their habitats are home to a broad range of other species and retention of their populations is a strong indicator of habitat integrity at a landscape scale. Put simply, if we get it right for dormice, we get it right for many other species as well. We therefore hope that this handbook will help to aid the recovery of this important species.

Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook is available from our bookstore here.

Author interview with Flemming Ulf-Hansen: Exmoor

This lavishly illustrated and comprehensive book marks the 150th volume in the renowned New Naturalist series, and details the wildlife, landscapes and natural history of Exmoor to reveal its incredible biodiversity. As someone actively involved with the environment of the South-West, the author provides the reader with a scholarly yet accessible volume on this abundant area.

Flemming Ulf-Hansen is an ecologist with nearly 37 years of experience working in wildlife conservation, primarily across Exmoor and Salisbury Plain. He is the founding chair of the Exmoor Mires Project and specializes in ecological restoration, with a host of expertise in grassland, woodland, and heathland management, as well as invasive species control. He joined the Nature Conservancy Council in 1988 and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2010 to study habitat restoration.

We recently spoke to Flemming about Exmoor, where he explains why a book on this area was needed, how rewilding may benefit this vital landscape, what he’s currently working on and more.

Volume 27 of the New Naturalist series, the first to explore Dartmoor, was published over 70 years ago. Why do you feel that a title on Exmoor was important to produce?

Exmoor’s wildlife has been neglected in published work for over 40 years, with perhaps the exception of the battles over heathland ploughing. Since the 1953 Dartmoor title, we have had a second volume in 2009, by Ian Mercer. Exmoor is one of the three moorlands in southern England, the other being Bodmin Moor – and one that spans the upland-lowland boundary. But it has a special ingredient – the coast! Exmoor’s somewhat remote location on the north coast of Somerset and Devon means that its wildlife has had less attention. With only Minehead, Dulverton or Combe Martin close by, there is no great supply of recorders in major towns or cities. An additional goal has been to highlight unpublished or grey literature, ensuring that this valuable information is accessible and not overlooked.

Exmoor National Park supports a wide range of habitats: blanket bogs, dry heath, scrub and peatland to name just a few. Why is this landscape so vital and what is its ecological value in the UK?

The elements of a moorland landscape you highlighted were the main reason for the designation of the National Park. Its position as an upland massif on the western seaboard gives it a distinctiveness with a disposition of low- and higher-altitude communities, perhaps unique to southwest England. The western heaths can locally dominate the landscape, and the vibrant purple and yellow colours of flowering heathers and Western Gorse are a treat in early autumn which harbour Stonechat and Dartford Warbler. Well-developed mosaics and transitions between moorland and woodland are a feature and provide structure, shelter and rich foraging habitat for wildlife, including a home for some special species, like the Heath Fritillary butterfly.

The woods should also be highlighted. Their position on the west coast of the British Isles brings moisture and a mild climate associated with the Gulf Stream. For many fungi, bryophytes and ferns these are ideal conditions, and Exmoor’s lichens reach international importance. Large sheets of western mosses and liverworts carpeting rocky ground among abundant ferns are Exmoor’s equivalent of lowland Britain’s much-vaunted Bluebell woods. They have been recently identified as temperate rainforest, placing them in a wider context.

Porlock bay by Marilyn Peddle, via flickr.

Exmoor is not typically known for its coastline – did the limited accessibility of this environment pose challenges in researching and writing Chapter 8?

It should be better known, as it is one of its high points! But yes, the steepness of the cliffs, including England’s highest at Great Hangman, combined with few rivers cutting down to the sea to allow safe access, has deterred much survey work. It has meant that, for example, cliffs are surveyed from a boat with binoculars. Spotting whitebeams is just about possible, but identifying rare or endemic members of the group is not. It was an ambition of mine – yet to be realised – to try and age cliff-edge Yews which were noted as far back as 1874 by the Midlands botanist Edwin Lees, at Combe Martin. The climbers who pioneered the Exmoor Traverse knew some of the locations well, the largest of which is probably at Wringapeak. They may well hold some surprises and form a reservoir of ancient trees and remnants of unspoilt natural woodland.

In the marine environment there is no doubt that severe tides have limited exploration. I have had to rely on old data or records from very scattered locations. There is just one place where the seashore or seabed can be reached, Glenthorne, in the 12 km stretch of remote coast between Gore Point and The Foreland on the Devon side.

Chapter 10 highlights the increasing popularity of ‘rewilding’ approaches, a prime example being the Knepp Estate in West Sussex. How do you think this method might benefit Exmoor, and what recommendations might you have for a rewilding approach?

Parts of Exmoor are of course deliciously wild, they are just not easy to see –the steep slopes and cliffs for instance. Of course, rewilding has in effect been happening on parts of Exmoor anyway, just not by design – I am thinking about originally open, marginal land transitioning to secondary woodland over the last 50–100 years.

To restore more wildlife to Exmoor, we will need to embrace fundamental ecosystem processes across larger areas of wilder, semi-natural habitats with more wetland and forest. The range of approaches is great, and we should not be too purist. In some areas active intervention may be needed, such as by introduction of beavers or other herbivores. In other areas we can adopt ‘agricultural rewilding’, which aims to restore ecosystem functions using lower-intensity human interventions, such as the management and harvest of livestock.

Exmoor by Eric de Redelijkheid, via flickr.

The Exmoor Nature Recovery Vision is an ambitious vision for a thriving, diverse landscape on Exmoor. What are the first steps to achieving this vision in your eyes, and how realistic do you think this vision is?

We can’t continue to spend time tinkering with the status quo. We need a step change and swift action. This won’t be possible with cuts in budgets of statutory bodies and the National Park Authority. For example, cuts in Natural England staff dealing with protected sites have been drastic and persistent. Projects relying on input of time have withered on the vine of neglect. Short-termism caused by short cycles of funding projects doesn’t help to achieve change in land management, which is a long-term game. Implementation is the key now, which requires partnership, appropriate tools and funding, and steadfast determination.

The vision is achievable but only with significant change in land away from the protected sites. These areas may not be perfect, but at least there are mechanisms in place to help. Exmoor’s farmed and enclosed land amounts to about 65% of the park, and much is agriculturally ‘improved’ land that has little wildlife interest. These areas could form a source of land for recovery, if the incentives and mechanisms are in place.

What are you working on next? Do you have any more writing projects lined up?

I have retired after nearly 37 years of working for the government’s wildlife body. I am going to tackle some tasks at home, as well as enjoy experiencing more nature by travelling a bit, before settling on another project.

Exmoor is available from our online bookstore here.

Author interview with Tony Juniper: Just Earth

In this radical, eye-opening book, environmentalist Tony Juniper CBE explores the interconnectedness of the environmental crisis and inequality, and argues that ecological progress cannot be achieved without addressing these disparities. Collating a range of interviews with global experts, and drawing upon 40 years of research and campaigning, he provides long-overdue answers as to how we can achieve real, lasting change.

Tony Juniper portrait. — Tony Juniper portrait © Jason Bye

Tony Juniper CBE is an environmental advocate who has been active in defending nature for nearly 40 years, through leading major organisations, managing global campaigns, and holding high-level government advisory roles. He is a celebrated author, known for numerous award-winning titles, and was awarded a CBE in 2017 as recognition for his contributions to conservation.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Tony about his book, where he told us about the most challenging aspects of writing Just Earth, the importance of technology in creating a sustainable future and more.

Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to write this book?

I am a long-serving environmental advocate. I have led and advised campaigns and campaigning organisations, worked as a professional ornithologist, worked with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, written some books and I now lead Natural England – the UK government’s nature agency in England.

What message are you hoping to convey with Just Earth, and what do you hope the reader may learn from its message?

Just Earth set outs why and how various kinds of social inequalities are massive environmental issues. This is seen in how the poorest and voiceless get hit first and hardest by environmental damage, including exposure to toxic pollution, lack of access to good quality green spaces and the effects of climate change. Those most affected are the groups who are least responsible for causing such damage in the first place. The injustices linked with this limit the agreement of strong global accords and blocks action in countries around the world – new environmental laws and policies are held back because of the plight of the poor, who during cost of living crises are held up as the reason not to increase costs through moves to sustainable farming and clean energy, for example. Inequality also destroys the trust needed to foster the common endeavour that is so vital for fixing complex global issues. I set out something on what might be done, but it is a big set of challenges that we are facing, and the book seeks to inform the reader about the breadth and depth of what is at hand.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing Just Earth?

It is a complex story that the book seeks to tell. Getting the facts and data woven into a readable and balanced narrative was hard work – I am pleased with the result though, and hope readers will find it interesting and informative.?

Hills of Ingleton Waterfalls by Robin Mulligan, via flickr.

Green growth explores the possibility of decoupling the expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) with environmental damage. How important do you think technology will be in a green growth scenario, and do you think technological innovation can truly pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future?

Technology is a vital component of what is needed, but we’ve had a lot of that for decades and not used it at the scale needed. Just Earth sets out why it is important to look beyond solar panels, AI, batteries and all the rest, and looks into the social and political context in which these technologies are deployed. The idea of green growth has been around for years but there are too few examples of it working in practice. One challenging aspect that runs counter to our consumerist culture is the need to use less stuff. We are already causing massive environmental damage with a minority of the world population living like Europeans, and we simply don’t have enough planet to keep growing as we have during past decades – even if it is a bit greener here and there.

Greyfield Woods by Stewart Black, via flickr.

Chapter 11 sets out a ten-point agenda for a just transition to a secure future. If any, which of these do you believe should be the primary focus in beginning this transition, and how long do you think it will take to achieve?

I think the biggest single thing, which links to the idea of green growth, is to change what we are measuring as growth. At present, gross domestic product (GDP) dominates but fails to take account of the environmental damage and inequalities that go with it. Coming up with more comprehensive measures of growth, that also include metrics linked with social wellbeing, ecological footprint, happiness, health and social cohesion would lead to different outcomes. There are ways of doing this, and in the book, I touch on the idea of a Genuine Progress Indicator, which measures far more than simply how much economic activity is taking place.?

What gives you hope for the future of our planet??

We are in revolutionary times and at a moment when the old ideas of the 20th century are facing serious tests. Environmental goals are being diluted and weakened by some governments and companies and democracies showing signs of stresses and strains that have profound implications. My hope is that during the turbulent times that we are in new ideas will begin to take hold. I propose a new frame of reference to go beyond capitalism or socialism and to instead embrace the idea of Thrivalism, a world view that would aim to create the conditions for ten billion people to thrive and enjoy long and happy lives on a living planet. At this point we need to think big.

What’s next for you? Are you writing any other books we can hear about?

I have various projects in mind, and more will be shared on those in due course. For now, promoting the ideas in Just Earth will I expect take up quite a lot of time, alongside all the other things I do.

Just Earth is available to order from our bookstore here.

Author interview with Merlin Hanbury-Tenison: Our Oaken Bones

Haunted by war and loss, Merlin and his wife Lizzie leave the bustle of London and relocate to his childhood farm in Cornwall, only to find new battles awaiting them; crippling debt, a fragmented ancient rainforest, and Merlin’s father struck down by COVID-19. Drawn into the rainforest’s depths, they discover a desperate fight for survival, aiming to save this magical habitat while trying to heal from their own battles.

Merlin Hanbury-Tenison is a Cornish conservationist and veteran who founded The Thousand Year Trust, Britain’s rainforest charity. The charity’s mission is to catalyse the movement to triple Britain’s rainforest cover to one million acres in the next thirty years. His work has been featured in National Geographic, the Guardian and on the BBC. Merlin lives in a rainforest in Cornwall with his wife Lizzie, an entrepreneur and business leader, and their two young daughters.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Merlin about his first book, including how he came to write it, how important he thinks species reintroductions are in Britain, which challenges he’s faced and more.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and what inspired you to write Our Oaken Bones?

I was born and brought up on Bodmin Moor on a small upland hill farm with a slice of stunning and rare ancient Atlantic temperate rainforest at its heart. I left to join the army when I was 19 and served on three tours of Afghanistan. After returning, I began to suffer from complex PTSD and found the rainforest to be the best place to escape to and heal. At the same time my wife, Lizzie, was also suffering psychologically having gone through two traumatic miscarriages and my father had almost died from very severe Covid. All of us found the rainforest to be the best place possible to heal, restore and recover. I was inspired to write Our Oaken Bones as I want everyone to have access to the kind of healing that we experienced, and for all of us to use that knowledge to heal the rainforests of Britain in return. We used to be a rainforest island with 20% of our landmass covered by this beautiful habitat but almost 99% of it has been cut down and destroyed. I hope that Our Oaken Bones might act as a catalyst to ensure that this is the bottom of the bell curve and that we don’t destroy any more of this vital habitat. With every year that passes I hope that we will see more rainforests being restored and planted across our western uplands.

Merlin as a child high in the rainforest canopy, exploring with his father. — Merlin and his father in the rainforest as a child.

This book blends elements of biography, natural history, and scientific discussions to combine your personal journey with biodiversity and the pioneering research being undertaken at Cabilla. What motivated you to adopt this multi-faceted approach to writing?

We are all a part of nature, not apart from it – I am passionate about helping people to realise and remember this. It’s easy to say but much harder to feel. I thought that writing a book about trees would appeal to a small audience who are already interested in that subject. Writing a book about the people who live in, and are working to save these rainforests, felt like a subject that would be more engaging and would capture people’s interest. Rainforests are stunning, vital and rare. All I hope for is that people who didn’t even know that we have rainforests in the UK will read this book and finish it in love with the habitat and passionate about saving them. These are our most romantic and folkloric spaces, but many people are unaware of them or their decline. I hope that by weaving personal, historic and scientific narratives together we can shine a light on this important subject.

In Chapter 6, you detail your successful journey reintroducing beavers to Cabilla in 2020. How important do you think reintroducing native species to the UK will be in restoring our natural world, and are you hoping to introduce any other species to Cabilla?

I believe this is a vital area. We live on an island – if important native species are removed and new, non-native species are introduced the results can be catastrophic. This is well understood on islands like Australia and New Zealand, but in the UK, we seem to have a bit of a societal blind spot about it. Returning beavers to the Cabilla Valley has created the most wonderful explosion in biodiversity and habitat abundance. The change was near immediate and very evident. I believe that we can create similar improvements in the British countryside with the slow and careful return of other species, like Pine Martens and wild cats. This should never be rushed, and the most important focus area is ensuring that everyone in a catchment or a release area is on side and positive about the changes. This is all part of the effort to return to a more equilibrious state of British flora and fauna where species that evolved here are interacting in a more natural way together. It’ll be a very long process, multi-generational, but I’m positive that as long as we all remain optimistic we can restore much of what we’ve damaged and lost over the previous centuries.

There is often friction between conservationists and farmers in relation to the effects of livestock on landscapes, but I really enjoyed hearing about your work with farmers to create a blueprint for new farming methods focusing on ecological and economic benefits. How important do you think the shift from working against farmers, to working with them, in conserving our shared landscape will be?

This will all be impossible without the farming community. About 70% of the UK is farmland so we will never be able to combat climate change, restore biodiversity or bring back our rainforests if we don’t work closely and compassionately with farmers. This should never have been an issue historically and I believe it comes from a place of misunderstanding and poor communication. Conservationists and farmers should be the closest of collaborators and colleagues. We are all striving for the same goal; a Britain which provides food for all those who live in it, has an improving and resilient countryside and is full of some of the most stunning natural habitats on earth. Farmers are the key to making this happen and we can help them by ensuring that Government is providing them with the support and guidance to farm in a way that meets all these goals.

The Cabilla Cornwall Retreat offers a unique space for wellness groups, veterans, key workers and individuals to experience the wonders of nature. What are the key benefits of connecting with nature for well-being, and how does this align with the broader goals of the Thousand Year Project?

There is some simply stunning research underway which demonstrates how spending time in native rainforest environments can be beneficial for human psychological and physical health. I am a living example of this, as are many of my family. We have brought a large number of people into the Cabilla Valley as part of the retreat business here and the impacts have always been heart-warming and invigorating. We always do this work with a focus on the habitat first to ensure that we aren’t bringing people into the rainforest at the detriment of the habitat. This is very important. We are currently living through a mental health pandemic and an obesity crisis. There are many reasons for both of these issues and there are also many cures and methods to help alleviate them. The natural world, and rainforests in particular, are a key weapon in this fight. I would never claim that they might replace clinical or pharmacological healing, but we must begin to view all the options side by side and not in isolation. I have seen such marvellous healing impacts in the valley here and I believe that everyone in the UK, especially those who live in urban areas, should be encouraged and assisted in accessing nature as part of their general health and wellbeing.

Have you faced any significant challenges over the past few years that you can share with us?

So many! This would be another book in itself. Running a small business has been an adventure but I won’t pretend that it hasn’t been extremely difficult. The state of our economy and the environment for small business owners is pretty dreadful in the UK right now. When you add that Cabilla is a hospitality business set up during the Covid lockdowns and have then had to survive through all the financial conniptions that our country has been going through, it has resulted in many sleepless nights. Setting up a charity is also a very challenging undertaking and the ability to fundraise at the moment in the UK is particularly difficult. It took me over a year to convince the Charity Commission that we even have rainforests in the UK and that’s before we even entered into the treacle-like bureaucracy of the charity sector. Running a farm is also very challenging at the moment as we have departed the EU, therefore the subsidy systems are changing which has created a number of very difficult financial implications that we’re still trying to work through. This is all before I even come to the difficulty of reintroducing beavers and then keeping them in their government mandated enclosure – but there’s a whole chapter on that in the book, and I don’t want to spoil the fun here!

What do you hope other landowners can learn from the pioneering and vital work you’re doing?

My hope is that the Thousand Year Project that we have started in the Cabilla Valley will act as a blueprint for other interested farmers and landowners on the uplands who are looking to evolve and transition their farming techniques to one that works with nature rather than against it. We are a small farm and below the average farm size across the UK, so this isn’t some unachievable large-scale project that the average farmer wouldn’t be able to do. Everything that we have done here has been designed to not only repair biodiversity and the habitat but also to create a more resilient farming business model under the new subsidy and farm payments system. My hope is that others will take some of what we’ve done here and implement it on their own farms. This is how we will one day come to see rainforests across the uplands and once again view them as a bedrock of our cultural landscape.

Finally, what are your hopes for the future of Cabilla?

I would love to find a way to bring the valley into some form of public ownership so that the work that has begun here will be guaranteed and continue long after I have gone. The whole point of the Thousand Year Project was to create a multi-generational effort. This should be how all land strategy is viewed and conceived. I want my own children to feel free to do whatever they choose to with their lives in the knowledge that the rainforest restoration that we have begun at Cabilla will outlast all of us. I hope that this will become a national project that truly continues until our rainforests have returned across much of our uplands.

Our Oaken Bones is available from our online bookstore.

Author Interview with Dan Bagur: Pine Marten

Offering new insights into how they grow, learn and live, Pine Marten delves deep into the secretive behaviour of one of our rarest and most elusive mammals. Packed with stunning candid images and a library of behaviours and vocalisations, this groundbreaking book provides insight into Pine Marten social interactions, courtship, mating, nesting and kit rearing, feeding and diet, as well as their relationships with other wildlife.

Having spent several years watching and filming Pine Martens in the forests of Austria, Bavaria and Ireland, Dan Bagur has developed an in-depth understanding of their habits and behaviour. He has written or contributed to over 26 books on nature, and his wildlife photography, artwork and articles are published all over the world.

We had the opportunity to speak to Dan about Pine Marten, including his inspiration for the book, his hopes for the future of Pine Martens in the UK and more.

Can you start by sharing how you first came to work with Pine Martens, and what was the journey that led to the publication of this book?

Before answering, I was pleased when my publisher told me that you wanted to interview me. I’m a lifelong admirer of the NHBS. I used to get your catalogues delivered as a teenager back in the early 90s when you were still a mail-order book catalogue – I’ve bought and enjoyed many books from you over the years.

Back to your question. Yes. As a nature lover, I’ve always wanted a house surrounded by wildlife. When I moved to Ireland, it finally became a reality. The first time I viewed the house, I found a Pine Marten scat in the garden! It’s a dream for someone like me to be surrounded by these endangered mammals and I’ve been watching their behaviour ever since. Being so elusive, they represent a significant challenge to the wildlife photographer/filmmaker, it occurred to me that Pine Martens would be one of the toughest land mammals to study in the wild – observing them is so rewarding precisely because it’s so difficult. You must earn every new insight.

Direct observation is the best way to learn; the animals themselves are the primary source after all. It starts with interest but quickly becomes, well, the word that comes to mind whenever I think about exactly how to define it is joy. Joy can be very addictive. It’s hard to let go of that feeling. Being plugged directly into the Pine Martens and their daily lives is exciting.

Pine marten at night — Pine Marten at night. ©Dan Bagur 2025

A long field study enables you to get a much clearer picture of what’s really happening: you get to confirm and reconfirm your initial assumptions, connect to individuals and see their interactions and behaviour over an extended timescale. I’ve been observing wild Pine Martens for over five years now – I’ve spent many thousands of hours following, watching and photographing them. I’ve encountered many individuals and seen them climbing, courting, growling, chattering, hunting, feeding, fleeing, fighting and rearing their young. Every month I learned something new and understood them a little better. It’s a great help too that Pine Martens fit nicely around a full-time job – most of the action takes place at dawn and dusk, or during the night. I got drawn into their world. I often wonder what they’re doing while I’m not with them.

As Pine Marten populations slowly begin recovering, interest in them is growing and I thought that my observations could be of interest to other naturalists. Conservation relies heavily on public sentiment and if people don’t know about Pine Martens, they will be less likely to help them. Introducing this animal to others was something I felt I could do. Hopefully, after reading this book, the reader might offer Pine Martens their much needed support. I put the focus of the book on Pine Marten behaviour. It’s aimed at amateur naturalists or anyone who is interested in learning more about these incredible animals, and contains lots of new information and photographs that will be interesting to those who already know Pine Martens well.

What was the most surprising or exciting thing you learned in the process of writing Pine Marten?

I think it’s exciting that you can still go out into the woods and make new discoveries about British mammals. Although I studied biology at university, and have always worked in conservation related roles, I don’t work with Pine Martens professionally. That’s part of the magic of direct observation – anyone can do it. There are still many new discoveries out there just waiting to be made, all that’s required is consistency and patience.

I think the most surprising things are how vocal Pine Martens can be and how exciting each sighting still is – even after many years watching them. When they show up it’s always an ‘oh wow!’ moment. I still freeze with awe when I see one.

The most fascinating thing is their intelligence. Watching them solve problems and consider their next move, getting to know many individuals and seeing how unique each animal is – their personality and behaviour are highly individual. Often, I could tell who had visited simply by the signs they had left behind. They’re exceptionally charismatic animals. As I explain in the book, they’re also deeply connected with our historic wilderness landscapes, icons from our lost ancient wildwood.

This book has an impressive selection of imagery displaying a range of behaviours, interactions and life stages. How long did these images take to compile and what are some of your most effective strategies for spotting these elusive creatures?

Thanks. Yes, capturing Pine Marten behaviour isn’t easy. For every photo there were many failed attempts, you have to be comfortable in failure with Pine Martens. Over time, patience brings results and consistency is the key. The situation is made especially testing as it’s often at night and it can be very cold. You have to be willing to spend many thousands of hours sitting quietly in the woods and waiting for the occasional glimpse! For this reason, you have to really want to do it. You need to be passionate about understanding them.

I’ve taken over 10,000 photographs of Pine Martens over the last five years. Each year I understood a bit more about when and where I might see some new behaviour. Because they’re so elusive, learning to track them is essential. It’s vital that you wait as close to the right place as possible. It’s a waiting game – many quiet hours watching the forest, followed by a few seconds of heart racing panic as they emerge from the undergrowth and then quickly disappear again. Over time, it’s possible to build up a behavioural picture from many of these fleeting encounters. The harder something is, the greater that feeling of accomplishment.

Aside from sitting and watching, I also use trail cameras and camera traps to enable me to capture as much behaviour as possible. As you say, I’ve included over 200 photographs in the book because I felt that it was important to show the reader the behaviour that was being described. No number of words beats seeing behaviour in a photograph (or series of photographs as is often the case in this book). Young Pine Marten. ©Dan Bagur 2025

Can you tell us more about your new discoveries in Pine Marten behaviour and biology?

I didn’t set out to discover anything new. Initially, I didn’t plan to write a book. I just wanted to watch them and understand as much as possible – I was curious about how they lived their lives and what they got up to. As previously mentioned, I’ve spent over five years sitting quietly and observing wild Pine Marten behaviour. It took many months before I even knew where to wait for them. I love being alone in nature, so even the downtime in the forest has its own magic. My efforts were rewarded much later when I realised that some of my findings were new discoveries, including a new understanding of the function of the famous Pine Marten wiggle, retromingency in Pine Martens, the true cause of the scat curl and the use of the marten maze. I don’t want to give too much away, but they are all described (along with many other aspects of Pine Marten behaviour) in this new book.

Chapter 5 has an extensive library of field recordings. Why did you feel this was important to include and can you tell us about the process of gathering these?

It’s important to record what you’re seeing while watching wild animals, if you don’t then you can’t share your findings with others. Over the last few years, I’ve built up a large collection of film footage, photographs and sound recordings. Few people have ever seen a wild Pine Marten, let alone heard one. Their calls are an important part of what makes them what they are. Pine Martens (like many other Mustelids) make a surprisingly diverse range of calls – they grunt, growl, purr and scream. I felt it was important to include these. They are quickly and easily accessed by scanning QR codes using your phone. I wanted the reader to get as close as possible to Pine Martens via this book.

I realised that the recordings I had built up were unique – the Pine Marten sound library in this book is the most comprehensive yet published. My recordings have been included in the British Library sound collection and have been published in the ground-breaking book Sound Identification of Terrestrial Mammals of Britain & Ireland by Pearce, Middleton, and Newson.

What does the future look like for Pine Martens in the UK? And how can we work to secure a brighter future for this species?

In short, hopeful but worrying! Sadly, much of this is our own doing. Urban sprawl and habitat loss are an obvious problem, climate change, biodiversity decline and a persecution driven genetic bottleneck add to these issues – among others. Apathy is also a big concern. We still prefer the comfort of fool’s paradise over the often-harsh difficulties of reality. We need to get our heads out of the sand – and fast! Reality will inevitably have consequences we are no longer able to hide from – not just for Pine Martens. As Tew et al stated in a 2024 paper on the future of UK woodland biodiversity, a ‘major cultural shift’ is urgently required.

Although it’s important to face our problems and act, it’s also important to remain positive. There is real cause for hope – important work is being done to help Pine Martens. A few of those making a huge difference are Johnny Birks, Jenny MacPherson, Stuart Edmunds and John Martin, but there are many others. When great people come together fantastic things can be accomplished. The UK and Ireland have plans to increase their much-depleted forest cover over the coming years, and Pine Martens are slowly coming back. There are ways we can all contribute by donating or volunteering. Even small acts, like rewilding our own gardens, can collectively have an impact. Writing in 1992, the acclaimed science writer Edward O Wilson stated that ‘The next century will, I believe, be the era of restoration in ecology’. I hope that he’s right – wouldn’t that be a fantastic thing to witness after the global habitat and biodiversity decline of recent years.

Finally, what’s next for you? Will there be more books in your future?

Yes, I hope so! I had a column on rock pool life in the local newspaper while I was at university and I’ve been writing in one form or another ever since. I’m always working on the next project. Writing forces you to read everything and really understand your subject deeply, and that brings its own reward.

I would like to do something with Puffins in the future. I’m inspired to continue spending time out in nature and see what else is waiting to be discovered. Whatever comes next, I will always be grateful for this time with the Pine Martens – so many wonderful memories and experiences. The Pine Martens will remain with me for the rest of my life. Once you get to know a family of Pine Martens there’s no going back. They’re incredible animals and we’re extremely lucky to have them living alongside us.

Pine Marten is available from the NHBS website here.

Author interview with Susan Young: Night Vision and Daylight Camera Systems for Wildlife

This comprehensive guide describes how wildlife can be monitored and recorded in a non-intrusive way using well-developed and reliable technology. Detailing key techniques for capturing high-quality footage of a range of species, from nocturnal mammals to elusive birds, this practical resource is ideal for both professional ecologists and amateur naturalists alike who are seeking to enhance their understanding of the natural world.

Susan Young is a photographer and writer based in South Devon, who has a wealth of experience in wildlife photography. She has authored several books, including CCTV for Wildlife Monitoring and Wildlife Photography Fieldcraft, and is currently carrying out research with Natural England, the Woodland Trust and Mammal Society on the use of remote cameras for wildlife monitoring.

We recently spoke to Susan about her latest book, where she explained how she first started working with visual systems, how ecological and wildlife-watching camera systems differentiate, and more.

Firstly, could you share a little bit about yourself and your background working with visual systems?

My background is in physics and engineering, but I have had a keen interest in wildlife from a very early age. Since moving to Devon some years ago, I developed my interest in photography and wrote several books on various technical topics. I used trail cameras before they became ‘famous’ and finding some aspects frustrating, moved to bird box cameras – I then became interested in using security cameras with separate recorders as they had more useful features.

In 2015/2016 I started as a volunteer with Natural England and the Woodland Trust where I was encouraged to develop my ideas for portable CCTV systems, which led to the discovery of three calls of Barbastelle Bats not previously recognised. Further work with dormice, otters, deer, small mammals and birds showed just how well the systems performed, being much richer in features than trail cameras and much less expensive than thermal systems.

Your previous book, CCTV for Wildlife Monitoring was published in 2016. What inspired you to revisit the topic for a second book, and what advancements or changes does your latest title encompass?

My book in 2016 was more of an introduction to CCTV technology, which was just taking off and becoming more readily available. Since then, the technology has advanced dramatically, with HD cameras giving very high-quality images, and recorders becoming available with solid state drives making them very portable.

There are many other features not found in other visual systems – in particular, security recorders have inbuilt video analysis which can be controlled by the user, greatly reducing the amount of video data to analyse. My book has detailed step-by-step instructions for all aspects of the night vision camera systems with the aim of flattening the learning curve.

Night Vision systems are commonly associated with ecological research and wildlife watching, how do the camera systems you describe differentiate from them?

The systems I describe have a raft of features, as described above, making analysis much easier. They can also be left outside unattended and are particularly useful for remote areas. They are also relatively low cost and portable.

Why did you feel that it was important to include a section on public engagement and education in this book?

Public engagement is important for raising awareness of the plight of our wildlife, as well as for attracting funding. High-quality videos from security camera systems, particularly of protected or rarely seen species, have proven successful. My book gives step-by-step instructions to encourage the use of this technology without the need for costly specialists.

Regarding schools, introducing children to technology at an early age makes use of the systems less daunting in later life.

Have you come across any emerging or under-utilised applications for this technology that you believe hold potential?

Many of the applications I have developed using my camera systems are new and I believe hold great potential. Because the systems can be set up and left for long periods, it means little or no disturbance to wildlife – for example monitoring breeding birds of prey in remote habitats, observing dormice behaviour in dormouse boxes, or surveying bats in hazardous environments.

Have you encountered any particularly memorable or exciting wildlife captures? Can you share any highlights from your experience?

On the conservation front, discovering new Barbastelle calls was very exciting, as was viewing previously unseen dormouse behaviour. On the naturalist level, filming four young Fallow Deer running round and round my rural garden in play was very heart-warming.

Finally, what’s next for you?

I am planning some research using my systems for small mammals which are often under-recorded. I am also producing educational material for the Mammal Society.

Night Vision and Daylight Camera Systems for Wildlife is available here.