ORDER HOTLINE 0207 474 2474 NATURE


Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.


- Larry Wilde 70990 NATURE’S WAYS:


Lore, Legend, Fact and Fiction by Ruth Binney


In an absorbing miscellany of traditional wisdom, stories, signs and symbols of the natural world, here are intriguing tales of everything from mythical monsters and magical plants to domestic pets and humble weeds, as well as generations of advice, both sound


and dubious, from age-old country remedies to predicting the weather. The author does not hesitate to include among her practical advice some highly fanciful superstitions, tall stories and amusing anecdotes but she is also well aware that there are sound principles about which animals are dangerous and which could be domesticated, which plants have the power to heal and soothe and which ones can only harm and kill. Owls are thought by many people to be witches in disguise and, when an owl is seen flying around the house, the omens are bad and a family death is likely. Did you know that, if you are not kissed under the mistletoe, you will stay unmarried for a year? And did you realise why humans should not try to eat grass? You will find the answer and many more in this useful surprising and entertaining book. 255 pages. £9.99 NOW £5


71143 POETRY OF BIRDS edited by Simon Armitage and Tim Dee


Poet Simon Armitage has teamed up with bird expert Tim Dee to produce a magnificent anthology. Bird poetry is as old as poetry itself and Armitage believes that poets find in birds a reflection of their own restless, mercurial quality, a sense of “soaring otherness”. Birds’ talons and beaks represent a threat, but with their colours and costumes they are


like a huge cast of theatrical characters. Two particular bird poets stand out: John Clare was closer to nature than most other Romantic poets and showed a remarkable degree of close observation (“Five eggs pen-scribbled o’er with ink”), as well as expressing his religious and political convictions in verse. A hundred years later, Ted Hughes focused on nature writing when his contemporaries were preoccupied with urban themes. For Hughes, birds have a shamanistic quality, transporting us in imagination to another world. His famous poem “Thrushes” captures the birds’ predatoriness (“Nothing but bounce and stab”), comparing their relentless sense of purpose with Mozart’s as they ignore the “distracting devils” under the “black silent waters”. Chaucer’s “Parliament of Fowls” is a St. Valentine’s Day assemblage of every imaginable bird, while his contemporary Skelton describes the throng at the wake for Philip Sparrow. Yeats’s “Wild Swans at Coole”, “mysterious, beautiful” are enviable because “their hearts have not grown old”, while Seamus Heaney’s swans have “headstrong-looking heads”. Over 200 wonderful poems, some famous, others a revelation, organised by ornithological classification. 353pp. £25 NOW £8.50


71000 THE WILD LIFE: A


Year of Living on Wild Food by John Lewis-Stempel Do you feel the need to get back to your roots, both spiritually and practically, but also regret the fact that you are both too timorous and too lazy? With this sometimes mordantly funny, sometimes lyrical book, you can enjoy the experience vicariously, from the potato couch of your sofa. The author was walking round his 40 acre farm in


the shadow of the Black Mountains in Herefordshire one October morning when he suddenly thought that it might be wonderful to live on what Nature provides for free. So, for 12 months, he ate only food shot, caught or foraged from the fields, hedges, copses and brooks of his domain, using nothing from a shop and nothing raised from agriculture. Here we witness the season-by-season drama as he trains Edith, a reluctant gun dog, and conjures up new recipes. As the year progresses, he finds that he is closer to Nature and, as well as discovering just what is possible, he also unexpectedly uncovers the history of his 500-year-old farm, and the symmetries between his life and that of the farm’s peasant founders. A fascinating experiment. 293 pages with attractive line drawings and map. £16.99 NOW £6


70991 A YEAR IN THE WOODS: The Diary of a


Forest Ranger by Colin Elford


Few of us can ever experience what it is like to live in the woods for, even if we inhabit the country, our homes have ‘all mod cons’, transport is not far away, and our contact with wild creatures is kept to a minimum. Now, however, with this enchanting book, we are


given a chance at least to learn what it might be like to get in touch with nature in the raw. The author is a forest ranger on the Dorset/Wiltshire border. He spends his days alone except for the deer, the rabbits, the birds and the many other creatures who inhabit the woodland setting in which he spends his time. Here, he shares with his readers the excitement of burgeoning new life in spring, the drowsy warmth of summer, the blazing colours and rush to store provisions in the autumn and the bleakness of the winter chill. We accompany him as he goes about his work - stalking in the early-morning darkness, putting an injured buck out of its misery, watching stoats kill a hare for food, observing owls and sharing a way of life that, but for his writings, would remain closed to us. 167 pages with delightful line drawings.


£14.99 NOW £5


69769 WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS: BRITAIN by Simon Harrap and Nigel Redman Lindisfarne, North Teeside, Morecambe Bay, Hilbre and Red Rocks, Newborough Warren, Kenfig, Seaforth and Crosby Marina, Cotswold Water Parks, Ibrook Reservoir, Messingham Sand Quarries, Dungeness, Pagham Harbour, the New Forest to the Tamar Estuary and Lundy, illustrated with local maps, line art and some beautiful colour plates of the Bearded Tit, Dartford Warbler, Bittern and Water Pipit among many others, this is a tremendous compendium. Covers habitat, access, maps, the birds you will see and information about property managers and ferry operators if needed. With OS Land Ranger and OS Explorer map references, and a key to the maps, 440 sites. Colour artwork and wash drawings. 624pp in sturdy softback. £24 NOW £4


70849 REALLY RURAL: Peculiar Country Ways and


How to Embrace Them by Janey Wilks


A mixture of hilarious old wives’ tales and timeless country lore, this fascinating compendium of all things rural draws on old books, stories and sayings together with an amusing commentary from the author. Recipes and remedies


include Mumbled Rabbits and Taddago Pie, though the former is supposed to be served on Sippets which the author admits defeats her. The West Country method of curing hams from Granny’s Cookery Book should be within reach of anyone who needs to do a bit of large- scale catering, but a remedy for boils offers more of a challenge as a major ingredient is gunpowder. 247pp, sepia drawings. £9.99 NOW £3


69873 WORLD OF KEW by Caroline Fry


Takes us behind the scenes to show the extraordinary range of work carried out at Kew Gardens, at Wakehurst Place, home to the Millennium Seed Bank and by Kew staff overseas. Were you aware that Kew is not only a World Heritage Site but is also a globally important scientific and historical organisation, as well as being a world-famous centre for decorative landscape and building design, where the greatest gardeners and architects, from William Chambers to Capability Brown, have worked? From using forensic botany to help solve murders to micro-propagating plants facing extinction, this volume shows us aspects of Kew’s work that are largely hidden from view, introducing such topical and very relevant subjects as biodiversity, practical conservation and economic botany. 224 large pages, colour. £18.99 NOW £7.50


68762 WORLD OF WHALES, DOLPHINS, AND PORPOISES by Tony Martin


Here are fascinating facts on some 85 species including White and Grey whales, Beluga and Narwhal with its mythological, unicorn-style tusk, marine dolphins and porpoises and river dolphins. The fabulous colour photographs come from the world’s best wildlife photographers. Author Tony Martin presents the latest research and leads us on a journey of discovery about some of the sea’s finest creatures. 96 huge pages in paperback, colour photos throughout. $17.95 NOW £2.50


69707 ANTARCTICA by Yves Paccalet and Patrick de Wilde


You may not have expected to find geese in Antarctica, but here they are with their fluffy chicks exploring the long fronds of kelp. Enjoy the


symmetry of the cormorants’ nests in the Falklands, always two outstretched birds’ necks apart so that there are no fights over territory, and wonder at the size of the whales and sea lions. The plankton that multiplies at an incredible rate in the summer feeds vast banks of krill, that is tiny shrimps, and they attract squid, crab eater seals, fish and an amazing variety of birds of all different colours, habits and sizes. 144 pages 27cm square in scintillating colour with maps. £19.95 NOW £6.50


69076 LION COUNTRY by Chris Weston


The companion book to the ITV series of the same name, this is the gripping story of one of the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust’s ‘release prides’. With intimate photos of the lions, a knowledgeable text and contributions from the series’ presenter, the author explains the background to the ALERT programme and how it is linked to other conservation efforts across Africa. He details the history and mythology that turned lions into the ‘king of beasts’ and the complex social structure that makes them unique among cats. Finally, he shows how the ALERT lions are reared in preparation for their release and follows them on their great adventure into the wild. Photos of majestic lions, lionesses and their cuddly cubs, as well as the other beasts. 184 large pages in glorious colour. £19.95 NOW £5


69043 JUMBO by Paul Chambers The colourful tale of the greatest elephant ever known. Born in Africa in 1861 then captured and shipped to London Zoo, Jumbo was a superstar of the Victorian era. For three decades he enjoyed global renown and adoration. Thousands of people flocked to visit him every day and ride on his back. When, in 1882, he was sold to the Barnum & Bailey Circus in America, 100,000 children wrote to Queen Victoria begging her to intervene. But fame came at a price and Jumbo led a troubled private life that was far from idyllic. He also found himself at the centre of political battles, international rivalry and greed. 224pp in paperback, photos.


£7.99 NOW £1.75


69072 JAMES AND OTHER APES by James Mollison


On every single full page are other characterful faces of bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Each character has a biography giving his age and background, where he was confiscated, his condition, and where he was photographed, many of them at the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund. Meet these characters like Simon, Kudel, the very pretty Haidar with her long lashes or the scary very, very black Matoko and Koto. 50 marvellous new faces. Essay by Jane Goodall. 120pp.


£10.95 NOW £2


69089 WHALE WATCHER: A Global Guide to Watching Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Wild by Trevor Day


Here is the very latest research on the world’s whales and their smaller relatives, the dolphins and porpoises, as well as practical info and expert advice on how to identify each species. Detailed artwork provides an essential and comprehensive visual reference. Identification keys show, at a glance, the most recognisable features of each species, from its shape, size and colour to behaviour and diving patterns, range, conservation and population. Find out where to watch cetaceans live, when to go and how to get there. 160 large paperback pages, colour, list of useful addresses. £12.99 NOW £1.75


69147 KEEPING BEES: A Complete Practical Guide by Paul Peacock


Beekeeping is a wonderfully relaxing and rewarding pursuit. We learn about the ecology, biology, classification, nutrition and behaviour of bees, the history of beekeeping and, most importantly, equipment you will require and how to avoid - and deal with - stings. Next we look at all the different types of hive and hive siting, how hives work, how to set them up and colonise them, before moving on to bee health issues and checking that your queen is doing her job properly. How to collect, store and use your hive’s products and a selection of honey recipes. 144pp, colour photos. £10.99 NOW £3.75


69565 FLORILEGIUM IMPERIALE: Botanical Illustrations for Francis I of Austria by Walter Lack


Rightly known as the ‘Emperor of Flowers’, Francis I of Austria, Napoleon’s toughest opponent, spent huge sums of money over the decades on botany and horticulture. He had the Court Palace or Imperial Garden in Vienna laid out as well as the Public Garden, while the Botanical Garden at Schönbrunn, his summer residence, enjoyed its heyday during his reign. Still unknown even to scholars today, a selection of the botanical illustrations created for the Emperor by Mathias Schmutzer over a period of 30 years has now been assembled in ‘Florilegium Imperiale’ for the first time ever. In all, Schmutzer painted 1,314 naturalistic plant illustrations in watercolour or gouache which depict the contents of the famous imperial gardens and greenhouses of Vienna. Presented in a cloth binding and with protective cardboard wrapper, this Prestel publication is of the highest quality, stitched and sturdily bound and with magenta red satin bookmark, measuring 13" x 9" and 1½” deep. May even be detachable from the book for framing. Colour photos, maps and plans. Features 120 of the most outstanding watercolours painted with extraordinary precision. Collectable first edition, 2006. 336pp and weighing 6lb. £99 NOW £50


69588 TROUBLED WATERS: The Changing Fortunes of Whales and Dolphins


by Sarah Lazarus A beautifully produced book, published by the Natural History Museum. Whales and dolphins are enduringly popular, yet our relationship with them has been as exploitative as it has appreciative. Lazarus explains cetacean evolution before moving on to early whaling,


the explosion of whaling in the 18th and 19th centuries, then the developments in ships’ capacity and propulsion and harpoon technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which saw whaling move onto an industrial scale and a catastrophic decline in whale numbers. Modern whaling versus conservation movements and the effects of fishing and noise pollution, climate change and water quality follow, then she takes a long, hard look at dolphins in captivity, claims for the “intelligence” of cetaceans, the extinction of the great whales and what the future holds for the man-cetacean relationship. Colour plates. 210pp. £12.99 NOW £5


69575 WORLD OF KOI: Mini Encyclopedia by Keith Holmes, Tony Pitham and Nick Fletcher


Every step of lining the pond, fibre glassing the walls, maintaining a gravity-fed system, to buying and introducing the Koi themselves are covered. Then we look at healthcare, breeding, colour varieties and Sanke patterns (tricoloured) which are so closely linked with Kohaku. The black and white Shiro Bekko have fallen out of favour but they are equally beautiful as the Koromo or a stunning golden Doitsu Kin Matsuba. Prized exhibits, attention to their anatomy, nutritional needs, breeding and showing and many examples beautifully photographed in colour. Diagrams. 208pp in softback. $14.95 NOW £3


69583 SEABIRDS: A Natural History by Anthony Gaston


The ornithologist author has worked on the ecology of seabirds for the Canadian Wildlife Service for nearly 30 years. From albatrosses to whales, masked boobies to imperial shags, and auks to turkey vultures, here they are in all their glory, together with irresistible chicks, plus every possible type of info about them: adaptation and plumage, distribution into communities, feeding behaviour, migration, breeding and the consequences of coloniality. As a bonus, there is a thoughtful analysis and discussion of their population dynamics and life- history strategy. With anecdotes at the start of each chapter. 222 large pages illustrated in colour and b/w with remarkable photos, line drawings, paintings, graphs, diagrams, tables, maps. Water colours. £44 NOW £8


69752 THE BIRD: A Natural


History of Who Birds Are by Colin Tudge


...Where they came from, and how they live. Colin Tudge sets out to answer a million-dollar question: what it is like to be a bird? He goes into the science of taxonomy and the revolutionary effect DNA studies are having on classification. The central section looks at the details of a bird’s life including


feeding, migration, and reproduction. The author asks what goes on in the heads of birds and the book ends with a section on the relationships of humans and birds, with a serious plea for environmental damage limitation. 462pp, line drawings. $30 NOW £4


Natur 25e NEW AGE AND OCCULT


“I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon me!” - Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol


71003 COMPLETE


ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO TAI CHI: A Step-By-Step Approach to the Ancient


Chinese Movement by Angus Clark


Written by a recognised instructor of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain


who learned from Grandmaster Dr Chi Chiang Tao, this must be the most comprehensive guide to Tai Chi that we have ever come across. The art is often practised for health and longevity, and readers will have seen film on TV showing people of all ages in China who are convinced of its value. It has also come to be regarded as a popular and accessible way to cope with the pressures of modern living. This book provides a complete introduction to the discipline, outlining the seven qualities and the seven steps to progress, before dealing in detail with health and body awareness, and describing how the moves and postures act on the skeleton, muscles, circulation, digestion, sensory systems, breathing and energy centres. Guiding readers through the complete short form to the more complex moves, the volume explains how to use Tai Chi to achieve self-fulfilment. 287 soft back pages with colour photos and list of useful addresses. £12.99 NOW £6


71045 GHOST HUNTING: A


Survivor’s Guide by John Fraser


Some years ago your correspondent visited Sandwood Bay in northwest Scotland, arguably the most desolate and beautiful beach in the country - little did I know, but it is also one of the most haunted, with ten reported sightings of a ghostly sailor since 1953. This is one of the many cases examined in this extremely enjoyable and often


humorous insight into the understandably weird world of ghost hunting. Roman historian Pliny the Elder was the first to write about ghost hunting, over 2,000 years ago, and the hunt goes on. But despite investigators spending many hundreds of thousands of hours in cold, dark places, ghosts remain elusive and unproven. The book’s purpose is to explain the nature of and current state of play with our attempts to ascertain the existence and/or nature of paranormal activity. There is a detailed history of the three main paranormal societies, how to organise your own ghost hunt along with the equipment required and how to select the best spectre-infested locations. The case studies are particularly well dissembled and analysed, and the “avoiding pitfalls” section is extremely helpful, its central tenet being “believe nothing!” 191pp with b/w photos. £12.99 NOW £4.50


71320 MYSTERIOUS


SOMERSET AND BRISTOL by Daniel Codd


Are you intrigued by strange unexplained mysteries and supernatural phenomena? From Exmoor through the Brendon Hills, the Quantocks and the Cheddar Gorge to the Avon and Southern Bristol, every village from Minehead to Bath hides a perplexing mystery. What is behind the ghostly sobbing that plagues an


organic farm near North Petherton? Can it be that King Arthur’s ghost still patrols South Cadbury? What are the monstrous creatures that have occasionally been encountered in the Bristol Channel? Does a petrified witch really glare at tourists in the subterranean recesses of Wookey Hole? And what can we make of exploding meteorites over Yeovil, twin suns over Chard and, most recently, a staggering array of missiles, phantom aeroplanes and mysterious UFOs? The author’s research is not only compiled from archive sources but also includes many contemporary first-hand accounts. Mind- boggling! 192 paperback pages illustrated in b/w with index of place names. £12.99 NOW £4.50


70840 GHOSTS CAUGHT ON


FILM 2 by Jim Eaton Some ghosts illustrated here are genuine photos from which the imagination can reach its own conclusions: the famous alien trapped in a Dyson vacuum cleaner,


a girl’s face imprinted on a pair of jeans, figures of Jesus in the skies of Ohio, in a UK cathedral gleaming against the organ pipes or on a crucifix outside a church in Nebraska. Misty figures in doors and windows and on stairs are frequent unsettling features of family photograph albums. The collection is organised into different categories of manifestation, not forgetting a final intriguing section on spotting a fake. Each of over 100 examples comes with one or more photos, mostly in colour. 160pp. £12.99 NOW £4


70843 MONSTERS CAUGHT


ON FILM by Dr. Melvyn Willin Open-minded in its approach, this beautifully produced book discusses over 100 photos of monsters, aliens, and strange hybrids, with each double spread featuring one or more


photos accompanied by a history and assessment on the facing page. Explanations include feral dogs, coyotes, government cover-ups and occult rituals. The Yorkshire Alien, photographed on Ilkley Moor in 1987, was said to have descended from flying saucers, but the photographer’s wife revealed after their divorce that he had constructed it from chicken wire. As for the Surrey Puma, the Fen Tiger and the Helensburgh Beast, regular silly-season sightings may lead to scepticism, but it is claimed that zoologists are increasingly convinced. 141pp, colour and archive photos. £12.99 NOW £4


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