Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain

(Hardback)

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Description

Meet the rare, obscure and utterly British species found nowhere else on earth.

Around 70,000 species call Britain home, but how many of them can be found here and only here Join conservationist James Harding-Morris as he uncovers the stories of our endemic wildlife the plants, animals and fungi that are unique to these islands.

Determined to give these irreplaceable species their moment in the spotlight, James goes in search of them across the length and breadth of Britain, from wild and rugged Orkney, the only known location for the Orkney vole, down to suburban Plymouth where the horrid ground-weaver spider faces global extinction at the hands of developers. He seeks out alien fungi on the roadsides of Norfolk, explores Devons depths in the hunt for ghostly cave shrimps, and traces the tribulations of interrupted brome, a grass that has gone extinct not once, but twice.

Along the way, James meets the experts devoted to the study and survival of these vanishingly rare creatures and plants, individuals working tirelessly and often single-handedly to save them from the brink of global extinction. Because many of these species are at risk of disappearing forever, before most of us have even realised they exist.

A tapestry of wonder and weirdness, tragedies and triumphs, Endemic celebrates what makes our natural history so special and calls on us all to cherish and protect it.

Reviews

A celebration of the underdogs of British flora and fauna, Endemic is an intelligent, thought-provoking and inspiring book that deserves to prompt a rethink of our national conservation priorities. * James Lowen, author of Much Ado About Mothing *
Not only authoritative and entertaining, Endemic is also extremely important: we must thank James Harding-Morris for tackling this neglected subject and revealing an aspect of Britain's significance few would have expected. * Laurence Rose, author of The Long Spring *

Author Bio

James Harding-Morris is a passionate nature enthusiast with a lifelong love for exploring the natural world. Professionally, he specialises in communications and engagement within the conservation sector. His work on the Back from the Brink project has inspired many to care about some of England's rarest and most obscure species. Currently, James is on a mission to ensure that everyone in Britain and Ireland has the opportunity to fall in love with plants through his work with the BSBI.