It's not all seagulls in Sussex! Find out about warblers and waders, raptors, seabirds and summer visitors in this fascinating guide to the county's ornithological species.
This site guide covers the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey, including sites in southwest Greater London. From the heaths of Surrey to the chalky grassland of the North and South Downs, the great forests of the Weald and the headlands, shingle beaches and river valleys of England's south coast, these three counties are a bird-rich part of the country, with perhaps the most diverse range of habitats in the country, and all within easy distance of London, the southwest part of which contains birding sites such as Barnes wetland centre. This new book by Matthew Phelps and Ed Stubbs is the definitive guide to the birding highlights of the region. It contains a comprehensive review of all the major sites, and many lesser-known ones, with maps, notes on access, and information on target species and when to visit. Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex is indispensable for any birder heading to this bird-rich region, or anyone in London who wants to head south to enjoy some of the best birding England can offer.
Most of us have walked at least a section of the South Downs Way, or followed a rural a bit of the South Downs or followed one of the many rural walks that Sussex can boast, but what about the county's fourth wall-the sea? If you want to feel the salt on your cheek, take in a bit of bird-watching, some beach-combing, a pinch of history, a sprinkling of local gossip and just enough geology and geography not to numb your brain, then come with local expert David Arscott on a walk along the Sussex coast.Starting from the sands at Camber and sticking as close to the water's edge as possible, the route shows how environmental changes, human interference, events, disasters and the power of the sea have affected the county's coastline, leaving harbours stranded high and dry and villages drowned off shore. You don't have to do it all in one go (it's a long walk ) as it's broken up into easy sections, but whichever part you tackle, A Tour along the Sussex Coast makes an ideal hand-held companion to take along with you.
'20 Sussex Gardens' will guide you to some of the best and most varied gardens that are regularly open to the public. They cover a wide geographical, historical and stylistic spread and, where appropriate, are carefully set within their architectural context.
A novel based on the true story of a remarkable woman, her lifelong relationship with birds and the joy she drew from it Len Howard was forty years old when she decided to leave her London life and loves behind, retire to the English countryside and devote the rest of her days to her one true passion: birds. Moving to a small cottage in Sussex, she wrote two bestselling books, astonishing the world with her observations on the tits, robins, sparrows and other birds that lived nearby, flew freely in and out of her windows, and would even perch on her shoulder as she typed. This moving novel imagines the story of this remarkable woman's decision to defy society's expectations, and the joy she drew from her extraordinary relationship with the natural world.
Silas and Ethel Woodlock retire to spend their twilight years by the sea, only to find themselves traumatised by herring gulls. London journalist Stephen Osmer writes a provocative essay about two people called Nicholas Royle, one a novelist, the other a literary critic. Whether Royle, the literary critic, is having an affair with the beautiful Lily Lynch, and has stolen and published Silas Woodlock's short story, 'Gulls', becomes a race to the death for at least one of the authors. Playfully commenting on the main story are 17 'Hides': primarily about birds, ornithology and films (including Hitchcock's), these short texts give us a different view of the messy business of being human, the fragility of the physical world we inhabit and the nature of writing itself. Witty as well as erudite and delightful in its wordplay, An English Guide to Birdwatching explores the fertile hinterland between fact and fiction. In its focus on birds, climate change, the banking crisis, social justice and human migration, it is intensely relevant to wider political concerns; in its mischief and post-modern (or 'post-fiction') sensibility, it celebrates the transformative possibilities of language and the mutability of the novel itself.
This comprehensive book is the first field guide to the birds of The Gambia and Senegal, an area of West Africa popular with birders for its many tropical African birds. The guide provides full accounts of over 660 bird species and depicts nearly all of these in 48 beautiful color plates. "A first-rate book that is a fine contribution to bird literature. For the birder who has everything, this makes a great gift.”--Roy John, Canadian Field-Naturalist "A beautiful, succinct and very useful guide to the region's bird life."--Clay E. Corbin, Quarterly Review of Biology
Alex Horne is not a birdwatcher. But his dad is, so with the prospect of fatherhood looming on his own horizon, Alex decided there was no better time to really get to know both his father and his father's favourite hobby. So he challenged his dad to a Big Year: from 1 January to 31 December they would each try to spot as many birds as possible; the one who spied the most species would be the victor. Along the way Alex would find out what makes his dad tick, pick up a bit of fatherly wisdom and perhaps even 'get into' birdwatching himself. Join Alex as he journeys from Barnes to Bahrain in this charming tale of obsession, manliness, fathers and sons, and the highly amusing twists and turns of a year-long bird race.
This new, thoroughly updated third edition of Sussex (Slow Travel), Bradt’s much-praised guide, features the South Downs, High Weald and coast, and offers a greater, more personal selection of places to explore than any other guide. Author Tim Locke and updater Emma Gregg, both expert residents, take a leisurely, detailed approach that teases out Sussex’s special qualities. The result is highly personal and honest, encouraging you to slow down and gain a deep understanding of what makes this stunning region tick and why it deserves repeat visits. Sussex may be less than 50 km from the fringes of London (and easily accessed from the capital), and only minutes from Gatwick’s international airport, but is a very different world thanks to its irresistible blend of history, archaeology, seaside towns, thatched villages, centuries-old buildings, world-class gardens, literary connections and quintessentially English scenery. Sussex offers much scope for ‘Slow travel’ with or without a car, including ten meticulously described walks, pottering around on bikes, steam trains, volunteer-run buses, or on small boats (including a solar-powered craft in Chichester harbour). The writing team directs expert eyes on places and experiences that deserve savouring to the full – the very best (if sometimes delightfully obscure) sights. Their choices take in the heights of the South Downs, encounter the primeval landscapes of the High Weald and pick out the best of Sussex’s long coastline. Their selection includes easily-to-miss gems, from a full-size replica of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in an obscure modern church to a unique Hastings factory providing cloth flowers for movies and theatres. New or expanded coverage in this edition includes the Tolkein-like ancient yew forest of Kingley Vale, stoolball (a Sussex-special alternative to cricket), Sussex viniculture (particularly champagnes), Roman baths and mosaics, the world-class gardens of Leonardslee, the painstakingly restored saloon in Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, the WWII Wings Museum, renovations on East Brighton beach, and Knepp’s groundbreaking rewilding project. From beaches to castles, cathedrals to modern art, restored mansions to vernacular architecture, Bradt’s Sussex (Slow Travel) is the essential guide for discovering this popular region.