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“A beautifully designed book celebrating the great outdoors” Country Living

Packed with wildlife facts, foraging recipes and crafts, country folklore and beautiful artwork – uncover nature’s secrets month by month.Hardback / 9781408181348 £20 £16

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∤ 131 ∤

Aug

ust

Blackberry and raspberry vinegar

Blackberries must be the most versatile of food than can be picked for free and they make

wonderful jellies, jams and puddings, but here is a slightly different use for them that

makes an unusual salad dressing or – and this may sound strange – a sweet but slightly

sharp sauce that can simply be poured on ice cream or anything else you fancy.

You will need:

500 g blackberries, washed

600–700 ml white wine vinegar

Sugar (quantity depends on how much

juice you end up with)

Pick your blackberries, wash them well and put them in a shallow dish.

Cover with the white wine vinegar and leave to steep, stirring occasionally, for between 3

and 5 days – the longer the better. Strain the blackberries through a jelly bag overnight.

Measure the juice into a saucepan and for every 500 ml add 300 g sugar.

Bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

Boil for 2 minutes then allow to cool a little before pouring into sterilised bottles. it will

keep for several months.

Exactly the same can be made with wild raspberries – these little jewels of fruit are smaller

than the commercially grown ones and take a lot of picking but are just as flavourful.

Dilute with hot water to make a drink to relieve sore throats and flu symptoms.

Common Lime

TYPE Tilia europa is a naturally occurring hybrid between the

Large-leaved Lime and the Small-leaved Lime and more common than

both. Large deciduous tree common in towns that is tolerant to many

conditions and soil types, also known as Linden.

SizE 20–40 m

BARK Pale greyish-brown with irregular ridges. Twigs

often shoot from burrs at the base of the trunk. The inner

bark, known as ‘bass’, was once used in the making of

mats and ropes

FOLiAGE Bright green leaves with paler undersides.

FLOWERS AnD SEEDS Flowers are arranged in

groups on a long stalk with a green leaf-like bract attached

above. The round furry fruits are dispersed with the

bract, which floats them away

from the tree.

USES Makes good fuel and is also used by

woodturners, in particular to make musical

instruments. One more unusual use was for

the sticks used by Morris dancers. Tea can

be made by infusing the flowers in boiling

water and this supposedly gives relief from

coughs, colds and headaches.

RECiPE

∤ 86 ∤

∤ 87 ∤

Dragonflies on Yellow iris

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Southern Hawker (f) (Aeshna cyanea)

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea)

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)

A compelling look at the species most at risk of disappearing from our world - and what it means to us to lose them.

Contributions from 100 conservation groups around the world.Hardback / 9781408186305 £20 £16

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Mike Dilger takes you on an amazing journey through the secret world of wildlife in Britain’s towns and cities. The ultimate urban safari!Paperback / 9781408173909 / £12.99 £10.39

“A beautifully illustrated coffee-table book” The Spectator

The sight of thousands upon thousands of birds migrating is one of nature’s greatest wildlife spectacles. This look at 30 of the locations where the planet’s most dramatic bird migration can be witnessed is illustrated with stunning photography.Hardback / 9781408171172 £25 £20

Discover signs of wildlife with popular nature presenter Nick Baker

Interpret the signs that animals leave behind - a footprint, a bent blade of grass, a soil disturbance or a chewed nut or leaf.

Paperback / 9781408151501 / £14.99 £11.99

Nick Baker @bugboybaker on twitter

Go wiLDLife huNTiNG!

“A quirky wildlife treasure trove” BBC wildlife

A ‘nature detective’ book with a difference - learn when, where and how to look for different plants and animals and score points for each species that you see.Paperback / 9781408180372 £10.99 £8.79

“An excellent introduction. This is an inspirational call to action, which has made me get out and start rockpooling again!” BBC wildlife

Become an intrepid shore explorer and discover all the weird and wonderful wildlife there.Paperback / 9781408178362 / £12.99 £10.39

Foreword by

Chris Packham

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www.bloomsbury.com/naturalhistory

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“A charming new book by Marianne Taylor, that charts her two-year quest to see all 40 British dragons and damsels. She got within three – thwarted by last year’s wettest summer on record. Along the way she met badgers, foxes, hares, ospreys and butterflies galore and showed that this densely populated island still has plenty of magical wild places.The stars are the dragons and their bizarre lifestyle.” The Daily expressHardback / 9781408164860 / £16.99 £13.59

“The degree of detail is astonishing, and it’s no wonder that harrap’s contemporaries are enthusing about this book too, citing it as a must-have reference for amateurs and experts alike” english GardenPaperback / 9781408113608 / £16.99 £13.59

NoN-fiCTioN NATure reADS:

“A satisfying mix of page-turning action and thoughtful speculation” BBC wildlife£18.99 £15.19

“if Nick hornby loved nature, he might write a book like this.” Martin harper, rSPB Director of Conservation£9.99 £7.99

“once in a while, a book innocently intrigues the head and beguiles the heart. This is one of them ... warm-hearted, witty and rigorous” The Times£12.99 £10.39

“Beautifully illustrated books...include a spotter’s guide at the back, perfect for encouraging children to find out more about creatures and plants and where they might be found” family interest

35 common creatures to colour in for beginner naturalists. Paperback / 9781408192504 / 9781408192498 £4.99 each £3.99 each

“Superb” Daily expressHardback / 9781408123669 / £35 £28

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To order contact Macmillan Distribution:Tel: 01256 302699 Email: direct@macmillan.co.uk

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Puffins are among the most instantly recognisable, iconic and well loved of birds. For many they are a highlight of the UK’s summer coastline and their colourful appearance, comedy antics and approachability just add to their popularity. This is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s favourite birds.Hardback / 9781408186671 / £20 £16

Caught on camera prior to their demise, this book reveals the surprisingly rich photographic record of now-extinct animals. Features photographs dating from around 1870 to as recently as 2004, the year that saw the demise of the Hawaiian Po’ouli.Hardback / 9781408172155 £25 £20

A spectacular celebration of the penguin family – stunning photography by award-winner Tui de Roy alongside accounts of all 18 species and the latest research into many of their more unusual adaptations, such as their deep-diving abilities.Hardback / 9781408152126 £35 £28

Wildlife_insert_4.0.indd 4 26/09/2013 08:46