Natur

"Darwin and the Art of Science will consist of excerpts from six of Darwin's books, chosen and introduced by James Costa. The excerpts will be arranged by plant (rather than according to which book they're from) in order to make the most of extraordinary images provided by the Oak Springs Garden Foundation library. As a group, they will provide unparalleled access to Darwin's fascinating observations and musings about the world of plants and how their distinctive features have evolved"--

The first comprehensive guide to the aquatic plants of the region Beneath the surface of bodies of freshwater--springs, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes--there is a world of plants of great variety and beauty, a realm that is often poorly known and understood. Correctly identified, these plants can tell us much about the character and condition of the habitats in which they live. A collaboration of Danish, German, and British field botanists specializing in freshwater plants, this guide presents all of the known aquatic plants of Northern and Central Europe, including Britain and Ireland, as well as many marginal and wetland species. This is the first comprehensive guide to the identification of the region's 410 species and hybrids of both native and non-native ferns and flowering plants that are dependent upon freshwater wetlands. Following the latest taxonomy, the book features 358 plates in pen and ink, more than 1,400 colour photographs, illustrated keys, distribution maps and detailed descriptions. The introduction gives an overview of evolution, anatomy and morphology, ecology, eco-physiology, research traditions and more, and the book also includes guidelines for working with aquatic plants.The first comprehensive guide to the region's aquatic plantsCovers all 410 known speciesFeatures 358 illustrated plates, more than 1,400 colour photographs, distribution maps, detailed descriptions and much more

Do two trees ever appear identical? No, but why? Every small difference is a clue.Each tree we meet is filled with signs that reveal secrets about the life of that tree and the landscape we stand in. The clues are easy to spot when you know what to look for, but remain invisible to most people.In How to Read a Tree, you'll discover the simple principles that explain the shapes and patterns you can see in trees and what they mean. And you'll learn rare skills that can be applied every time you pass a tree, whether you are in a town or a wilder spot.As the author of the international bestsellers The Walker's Guide and How to Read Water, Tristan Gooley knows how to uncover the phenomena worth looking for. He has been instructing people in the art of reading trees for two decades and this book includes signs that will not be found in any other book in the world.Once you have learned to see these things it is impossible to unsee them. We will never look at a tree the same way again.

A richly illustrated guide to edible mushrooms by one of Europe's leading fungi expertsIn this beautifully illustrated introductory guide, Jens Petersen shows how to successfully identify and forage for edible mushrooms, and then how to prepare them for the table to ensure a delicious culinary experience, even if you're a first-time forager.Accessible and user-friendly, the book opens with a substantial introduction to fungi-what to look for, where to find them and how to collect and cook them. Other topics include edible and poisonous fungi, conserving mushrooms and other uses of fungi. The book then covers the most common major groups, including morels, wood cauliflower, polypores, boletes, tooth fungi, chanterelles, horn of plenty, brittlegills, milkcaps, agarics, puffballs and jelly fungi. For many of these groups, notable subkinds are given their own treatment. With practice, the book will enable you to identify mushrooms such as yellow chanterelles, blueing boletes with orange tube mouths, green brittlegills and milkcaps with orange milk.Featuring more than 400 stunning colour photographs and more than forty black-and-white illustrations, this book will enhance the experience of every mushroom forager and wild-table chef.

We are in a climate emergency. Architects must be part of the radical change needed. This book guides architecture student to create truly sustainable designs. Demonstrating holistic design approaches through 10 key themes, it guides students through the different stages of the design process in five illustrated chapters. Reflecting the years of study, it provides step-changes towards eventual architecture practice. Unique features include key checklists, case studies, student examples and an extensive glossary.

A comprehensive guide to the calls of the 44 species of bat currently known to occur in Europe. Following on from the popular British Bat Calls by Jon Russ, this new book draws on the expertise of more than forty specialist authors to substantially update all sections, further expanding the volume to include sound analysis and species identification of all European bats.Aimed at volunteers and professional alike, topics include the basics of sound, echolocation in bats, an introduction to acoustic communication, equipment used and call analysis. For each species, detailed information is given on distribution, emergence, flight and foraging behaviour, habitat, echolocation calls - including parameters of common measurements - and social calls.Calls are described for both heterodyne and time expansion/full spectrum systems. A simple but complete echolocation guide to all species is provided for beginners, allowing them to analyse call sequences and arrive at the most likely species or group. The book also includes access to a downloadable library of over 450 calls presented as sonograms in the species sections.

Is it okay to use potting compost? Which plants are best for absorbing pollution? What's the alternative to carbon-packed fertilisers? How can I cut out single-use plastics?Aspects of gardening can actually be bad for the environment. But make a few changes and you can significantly reduce the carbon imprint of your outdoor space, and even use it to lessen the impact of your other activities.This green gardening e-book will make growing your own garden easy, enjoyable, and eco-friendly. It includes sections on:- How to grow plants that reduce your carbon footprint- Creating a garden that considers the local wildlife- Tips on setting up your garden, low-impact plants, and best fertilisers to use Turn your outdoor space into a low-impact, carbon-absorbing sink. This e-book is packed with ideas to grow a climate-friendly garden that will help protect the planet. Keen on starting your own garden but unsure about your environmental impact? This guide will give you practical advice on which soil to use, plants that are best for absorbing carbon dioxide, low-carbon fertilisers, and cutting out single-use plastic. What's more, this garden book is completely backed by scientific research! Share in the delight of eco-conscious gardening when you start using RHS How to Garden the Low Carbon Way as your guide. Explore the benefits of no-dig gardening, how to use fewer plants, using hedges instead of fences, how to grow shrubs that support wildlife, and more! Green Gardening: Low environmental impactThis RHS gardening book is a simple, step-by-step guide to learn about gardening or to reference as your garden grows. You'll quickly become acquainted with the benefits of growing a garden that positively contributes to the environment.

We need to break free from the capitalist economy. Degrowth gives us the tools to bend its bars.

Harrison Gardner is a man on a mission to help us rediscover the lost art of building our own while leaving a more harmonious mark on the environment. Build Your Own explores the principles of construction and outlines a multitude of practices and methods that enable you to build a home with the materials available to you.

Learn how to grow, store and cook a wide range of nutritious and tasty beans for eating fresh from the vine, or to dry for warming winter meals. Susan Young shares 10 years of experimentation with growing a range of varieties from around the world.

Two thirds of our planet is covered by oceans and seas. Over recent decades developments in ocean science have dramatically improved our understanding of the key role oceans play in the Earth System, and how vital they are for regulating global climate. Humans depend on the oceans for many resources, but at the same time their impacts on the marine systems around the world are of increasing concern. Introducing Oceanography has been written by two leading oceanographers to provide a succinct overview of the science of the study of the seas for students and for the interested adult wanting a topical guide to this enormous and complex subject. The initial chapters describe the oceans and the forces at work within them. The authors then discuss the effects of light, the chemistry of the seas and the food web before surveying biological oceanography in the main oceanic regions. The final chapter looks at the methodology of ocean study. Copiously illustrated, this book is intended for those whose interest in oceanography has been stimulated, perhaps by media coverage of declining resources or climate change and who want to know more. Technical terms are kept to a minimum and are explained in a glossary.

In twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.In The Dragonfly Will Be the Messiah, the celebrated pioneer of the 'do-nothing' farming method reflects on global ecological trauma and argues that we must radically transform our understanding of both nature and ourselves in order to have any chance of healing.Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

'Brilliant and fundamental, this is the necessary book about our prime global emergency' Ian McEwan The news is full of hotly debated and divergent claims about the impacts and risks of climate change. Lawrence Krauss, one of the world's most respected physicists and science popularizers, cuts through the confusion by succinctly presenting the underlying science of climate change.The Physics of Climate Change provides a clear, accurate and accessible perspective of climate science and the risks of global inaction. Krauss's narrative explores the history of how scientists progressed to our current understanding of the Earth's climate and its future. Its generous complement of informative diagrams and illustrations allows readers to assess which climate predictions are securely based on analysis of empirical data, and which are more speculative.The Physics of Climate Change is required reading for anyone interested in understanding humanity's role in the future of our planet.