While Flocks Last by Charlie Elder  Bantam Press 2009  ISBN 978-0-552-15754-4  £7.99

This book is described as 'an armchair birdwatcher goes in search of Britain's most endangered species', which does tell you what the book is about, but doesn't tell you how funny it is.  I really liked this book and it made me laugh all the way through, both at the events that took place, but also at the now well-known character of a 'twitcher' even though Charlie is an 'arm-chair' variety...normally. 

If you are interested in the conservation of our most endangered birds, but also like to mix a serious message with a more light hearted read, this is highly recommended.

The Gardens of Japan by Helena Attlee with photos by Alex Ramsey  Frances Lincoln 2010  ISBN 978-0-7112-2971-6  £16.99

Not a wildlife gardening book by any means but one that may inspire you look at and photograph your own garden in a different way.  The book consists of a series of stunning photographs of twenty eight gardens around Japan showcasing sculpture, trees, mosses, ponds and bridges - elements that create the extraordinary Japanese style.  In spite of the formality of the gardens they do in fact reflect nature and the stunning photographs depict these beautiful gardens to perfection.

Make it Wild - 101 Things to do Outdoors by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield  Frances Lincoln 2010   ISBN 978-0-7112-2885-6  £16.99

I love Fiona and Jo's books and this latest one has loads more exciting things for children to do outside.  Exploring the countryside whilst being creative with natural materials found all around us, is not only fun but gives children respect and understanding for the natural world which lasts well into adulthood.

This book has some fantastic ideas for making kites, pots (with clay dug from the soil) toy boats and rafts and using natural dies and making jewellery amongst other topics.  In all a great book for anyone who likes to play outside including mums, dads and grandparents!

Gardening for Bumblebees by Dave Goulson  produced by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, School of Biological and Environment Sciences, University of Sterling, FK9 4LA

This booklet is available from this website  It contains excellent information about how to attract bumblebees to your garden by growing the flowers they feed on (both wildflowers and garden flowers), providing nest sites for them and creating a wildflower meadow in your garden.  The information about their preferred flowers plus excellent pictures and details about the decline of bumblebees in our countryside all helps us to better understand their requirements and hopefully help them in our own gardens.  Highly recommended.

Orchids of Britain and Ireland - a Field and Site Guide by Anne and Simon Harrap  A & C Black 2009 ISBN 978-14081-0571-9 £24.99

If you have ever seen a military orchid, a monkey orchid or even a damp meadow dotted with common spotted orchids, and felt an absolute thrill - this book should be in your collection.  Orchids are amongst the most wonderful and exotic plants in our native flora and many people seek them out.  I still remember exactly where and when I saw my first lizard orchid and the railway embankment where the scent of a butterfly orchid led me to its precise location.  If you have any interest in these plants this book a must have.  The second edition of this wonderful volume has stunning photos of every orchid in the UK and Ireland, close ups of individual flowers to aid identification, details of habitat, flowering period, conservation and for the more botanically minded, hybrids and subspecies.  This isn't just a field guide - it is a complete volume on these most of glorious plants. Highly recommended.

The Wisdom of Birds - an Illustrated History of Ornithology by Tim Birkhead  Bloomsbury Publishing plc 2008 £25  ISBN 978 0 7475 9256 3

This is an extraordinary book.  If you are one of the many people interested in birds and birdwatching and want to find out more about these extraordinary creatures, this book will take you on a journey to discover how we know what we know about them.  Tim Birkhead is Professor of Behavioural Ecology at Sheffield University, but don't let that put you off.  This book, in spite of its author's impressive and perhaps daunting scientific credentials, is truely readable.  Professor Birkhead is a natural communicator and has written a book packed with information that comprises a history of ornithological scientific research, folklore and myth all adding up to a mine of information about how this knowledge was obtained.  With chapters on instinct, migration, breeding, song and the role of the field scientist, there is much to read, understand and learn.  With beautiful illustrations from centuries past (I especially like the half reptile, half cockerel painting from 1600!) this is a book brimming over with fascinating knowledge.Highly recommended.

British Butterflies and Moths - A photographic guide by Chris Manley. A C & Black 2008  £24.99 Softback ISBN 978-07136-86364  

A new book on moths and butterflies is always an exciting prospect, especially when it contains beautiful, quality images.  This book contains stunning photographs of 850 macromoths, 74 butterflies and 500 micromoths, plus many wonderful pictures of caterpillars, eggs and pupae.  The author (a sculptor by profession as well as a photographer) says that the book 'aims to convey the beauty and fascination of moths to a new audience' and he most certainly succeeds admirably.  The information on each species is sparse, but there are many other books providing that kind of detail.  This book aims to provide sufficient information to identify almost any macromoth or butterfly recorded in Britain.  In fact the information is more than sufficient, giving details of size, distribution. habitat and flight period, plus larval food plant.  There is also a short section explaining the rather confusing classification of butterflies and moths, their distinguishing features, anatomy and life cycles.  This book must have been a labour of love and will be spending very little time on my bookshelf as it will be in constant use - if not for identification purpose, then simply for the joy of the images of these wonderful insects. Highly recommended.

All About Garden Wildlife by David Chandler.  New Holland Publishers UK Ltd 2008  £4.99  ISBN 978 1 84773 052 7

New Holland have produced a series of four excellent books on garden wildlife for children, packed with information and excellent illustrations, all in an easy to read and understand format.   The pages are attractively laid out with sections on where and when to see the creatures illustrated.  The text is very readable and designed to introduce the fascinating world of natural history for 8 to 12 year olds.  I especially liked the ‘Did you know’ sections with just the sort of facts children love (this beetle can bite – the bite can hurt and might even bleed!).  My own interest in natural history blossomed as soon as I could read and these books will certainly open up the world of wildlife to today’s children.  All about Bugs, Butterflies and Birds are also available.  Recommended.

RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife by Peter Holden and Geoffrey Abbott    Christopher Helm 2008  ISBN 978 0 7138 8860 3  £9.99

There has been a spate of guides to garden wildlife in the last few months and this could be one to add to your Christmas list.  Illustrated throughout with high quality glossy photographs, there are sections on everything from birds and mammals to dragonflies and moths.  A small selection of the plants you are likely to come across in your garden is also included, but this is very confusing and unnecessary.  There is also some information on how to create a wildlife garden, its management and a guide to monthly wildlife highlights.  By and large the addition information in this book is extremely limited but the identification section is colourful and attractive.  If you are a beginner to gardening for wildlife and need a handy book to identify a bird, butterfly or other creepy crawly this could be the book to get you started. Highly recommended.

Gardening for Birdwatchers by Mike Toms and Ian And Barley Wilson  British Trust for Ornithology 2008   ISBN 978-1-906204-30-3    £ 9.99

Buy a book from the British Trust for Ornithology and you know you will be getting something excellent.  Written by experts but always wonderfully readable, all BTO books are packed with great photos, good, accurate and interesting information, and this book is no exception.  In spite of the title this isn’t just about the birds in your garden.  It includes information on attracting all sorts of wildlife from bumblebees to moths.  Several planting plans are included with lists of wildlife friendly plants, plus information on creating ponds and meadows.  However, as you would expect, birds are featured heavily with details about how to attract more species to your garden by providing natural berries and seeds, nest sites and roosting places plus there are sections on how and why birds use our gardens, An excellent book for any one interested in the birds or any of the wildlife in their garden.  Highly recommended.