Birds of Britain and Europe and Butterflies of Britain and Europe
(Philips, £9.99) reviewed by Daniel Butler
Available from Tree News Book Shop with Free P + P
Philips has published two new guides to British wildlife. These join an already crowded market, but our fauna is constantly on the move – not least because of climate change – and these updated guides contain the latest information on distribution and populations. This is particularly important with these two groups because, unlike most mammals and all reptiles, birds and butterflies are highly mobile. If conditions are right elsewhere, seas and mountains are no obstacles.
Unlike many other guides, these also have sections on specific habitats. Butterflies, for example, has a fascinating section on woodland. Some 42 of our 56 resident species depend on forests, copses and hedgerows. Within this, the richest microhabitats are glades and rides where half the woodland butterflies are found.
The world of nature guides may be crowded, but there should still be room on the shelf – or better still in the pocket - for these handy guides.