UK Nature Blog

RSPB's Wildlife of Britain book

Happy new year from UKNB! I'm personally looking forward to spring arriving and the burst of greenery and life that brings, but in the meantime I got a great Christmas present in the form of the RSPB's "Wildlife of Britain" book, quite accurately subtitled "The Definitive Visual Guide".

Published by Dorling Kindersley, this is a weighty hardback tome of over 500 pages. Most of those pages are smothered with photographs of wildlife, and that's what really stands out about this book. The sheer number and quality of photographs makes it indispensable as an identification guide or for joyous browsing. As well as the endless pages on individual species (covering mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, plants, trees and fungi) there are sections on six major habitat types of the UK, though I wasn't so fussed about those bits.

It doesn't cover every last exotic species to be found, and the amount of text for each individual species is relatively limited, but if I was allowed just one UK wildlife identification book then this might well be it for the sheer coverage and all-round quality.

If you've got Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy it from Amazon (amongst others): 

Free RSPB Wildlife on your Doorstep booklet

If you live in a town or city and want to find out a bit more about the wildlife that shares that area with you then request a copy of the free RSPB's Wildlife on your Doorstep booklet via their website. 

This wonderful booklet covers birds, plants and animals that you should be able to find as you go about your day to day life. It contains loads of great photographs as well as many colour illustrations showing you where to look to find what may not be immediately obvious. There are specific features on street and waterfront wildlife as well as hints and tips as to what you may find on a trip to your local park.

Overall it's great to see something concentrating on urban wildlife rather than making some city dwellers think that nature can only be found if you head to the countryside. Certainly our experience of what you can see in an urban back garden shows that there's plenty there if you look properly.