A Book on the Natural History of England
England: A Natural History is the ultimate guide to our countryside and native wildlife. England is a series of distinctive habitats that unite to create a landscape that is unique, for its rich diversity of flora and fauna.
In his book, the author explores each habitat in turn, taking us from coast to moor, from downs to field, from the park to the village – to create a vivid living portrait of our natural history:
If out walking in nature, always follow the Countryside Code to protect all creatures (many woodland flowers like bluebells are not safe near flower-nosey pets).
- Clear waters & dragonflies
- Bluebells, badgers & stag beetles
- Wild thyme & granite cliffs
- Rock pools & sandy beaches
- Red deer standing at ancient trees
- The wayside flowers of the lane
- Hedgehogs & hares
- Snow on the high peak
Each landscape (be it calm green or wild moor, plunging cliff or flatland fen) has shaped our idea of ourselves, and a sense of what it is to be in England.
To stand alone in a field in England and listen to the morning chorus of the birds, is to remember why life is precious. John Lewis-Stempel
About the Author
John Lewis-Stempel has been called ‘Britain’s finest living nature writer’. Born in Herefordshire (where his family has lived for over 700 years), he is not afraid to call out ideas which he thinks are problematic.
Although rewilding in theory is good, he says just ‘leaving nature alone’ could lead to more problems, due to predatory species, which could destroy other creatures.
