ONE OF 2015'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR IN THE TIMES AND THE MAIL ON SUNDAY.A hard-hitting, passionate and well-researched book about the conflict between driven grouse shooting and nature conservation in Britain, with a foreword by Chris Packham.Driven grouse shooting, where flocks of Red Grouse are chased by lines of beaters so that they fly over lines of 'guns' that shoot the fast-flying birds, is a peculiarly British fieldspor...

Are you worried about signs of dementia in yourself or a loved one? How can you tell what is abnormal cognitive decline and what is a typical feature of getting older? What steps can you take to keep your brain in shape for longer?The good news is that there is a lot of detailed and rigorous scientific research to answer these questions. The bad news is that there is so much of this that it is a daunting and bewildering process to ...

The story of Passenger Pigeon, and what we can learn from its demise 100 years ago.September 1st, 2014 marked the centenary of one of the best-documented extinctions in history – the demise of the Passenger Pigeon. From being the commonest bird on the planet 50 years earlier, the species became extinct on that fateful day, with the death in Cincinnati Zoo of Martha – the last of her kind.This book tells the tale of the Passenger Pigeon, and of Martha, and o...

We share the Earth with more than 10,000 species of birds and we have always been enchanted by them. Here, over 60 birds, organized thematically into eight sections, cover all aspects of our relationship with birds. Songbirds celebrates the greatest bird virtuosi, such as the Nightingale, while Birds of Prey include majestic hunters such as the Harpy Eagle, which catches prey as large as monkeys and sloths. Feathered Travellers describes astounding journeys made by birds even some tiny Hum...

Devoted to birds and wildlife since childhood, Mark’s early scientific research at Oxford, Aberdeen and the RSPB provided a solid background for his management, ambassadorial, and political lobbying activities which were to follow – and his larger than life, yet quietly humane personality has provided the final tools in his own, unique, nature conservationists’ toolbox. In this book, Mark mixes a great many stories from his professional life at the RSPB with personal anecdotes and passiona...

In this book, an ornithologist and a forester have combined their skills to try and tease out the real facts behind the various arguments on forestry.The conflict between forestry and nature conservation has become a major environmental issue in Britain in the 1980s. The planting of large tracts of land with exotic conifers and the resulting disturbance of existing plant and animal communities has polarized the debate, each camp believing that it has the most ratio...

How and why did our most acclaimed birdwatchers take up birding? What were their early experiences of nature? How have their professional birding careers developed? What motivates them and drives their passion for wildlife? How many birds have they seen?Mark Avery and Keith Betton, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community to answer these and many other questions about the lives of famous birdwatchers. They take you behind the sce...

How and why did our most acclaimed birdwatchers take up birding? What were their early experiences of nature? How have their professional birding careers developed? What motivates them and drives their passion for wildlife? How many birds have they seen? Keith Betton and Mark Avery, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community to answer these and many other questions about the lives of famous birdwatchers.Following on from the succes...

In this informed, incisive and passionate commentary on the state of nature and conservation, Mark Avery reflects on our relationship with the wildlife around us. From the cats that pass through his garden to the chronic decline of farmland wildlife, from the Pasqueflowers he visits every spring to the proportion of national income devoted to saving nature – everything is connected, and everything is considered.This book analyses what is wrong with certain ways we do wildlife conse...

Devoted to birds and wildlife since childhood, Mark’s early scientific research at Oxford, Aberdeen and the RSPB provided a solid background for his management, ambassadorial, and political lobbying activities which were to follow – and his larger than life, yet quietly humane personality has provided the final tools in his own, unique, nature conservationists’ toolbox.In this book, Mark mixes a great many stories from his professional life at the RSPB with personal anecdotes and p...

Wales, a land of rolling hills, ancient castles, and enduring myths, holds a unique and deeply significant place in the history of the British Isles. While the familiar tales of dragons, heroic kings, and legendary battles captivate the imagination, there exists a far richer, more intricate narrative waiting to be explored—one filled with stories of resilience, creativity, and a steadfast cultural pride that has endured through centuries. Echoes of the Dragon's Land invites readers on an e...

Today in America, half of the people won't or don't read that much. Begin creatively transforming the lives of this generation by using first-century methods of teaching—storytelling, drama, and dialog. The "TruthSticks" strategy is a revolutionary approach using the DNA of the first century disciplemaking that willUse Bible Storying to effectively make disciples at all levelsUnite families by using fun methods to disciple childrenRevitalize small groups