local groups, bird groups, wildlife groups, hamshire,gilbert white,aigas,nature books,

Wetland Centres: 9 centres in the UK, one of the best places to start birdwatching and recognising birds, suitable for all, experts to novice and ages from baby Robert to Great Grandma Agie. Started by Sir Peter Scott at Slimbridge, we have Arundel as our closest. www.wwt.org.uk/

Southampton & District Bird Group
Chairman Maggi Short
Membership Secretary Vic Short (No relation) 01794 511843
Indoor meetings held second Friday evening monthly during winter at Hounsdown Community Hall, Hounsdown, Totton. Program of well known speakers etc.
Outdoor walks the last sunday of each month throughout the year and second friday evening each month from May till August.

Travel Company:www.rollingearthtravel.com/

Aigas Scottish Field Centre: www.aigas.co.uk/

Also:

www.heatherlea.co.uk/

www.speysidewildlife.co.uk/

Everything to do with astronomy: www.astronomyforbeginners.com/

Clanfield Observatory:www.hantsastro.org.uk/

Chichester Planetarium: www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt/

WALKS & TALKS

Discover your local groups from the internet, library, or newspapers. Every area of Britain will have guided walks.

There is a free booklet, issued by Hampshire County Council twice a year, called ‘Guided Walks’ and should be available at all libraries (if not ring 01962 870500) detailing hundreds of country walks, town walks, events.

Most of the organisations detailed above will issue a booklet of guided walks.

MAGAZINES

BIRDWATCHING: Monthly BIRDWATCH: Monthly

THE SKY AT NIGHT: Monthly

BIRDS ILLUSTRATED: Quarterly

BBC WILDLIFE: Monthly

BOOKS

This is simply a personal list of recommended books, everyone will have a different selection (except I have good taste). All of these are easy reads, (or as simple as the subject permits) with either beautiful illustrations or flowing prose. There are thousands of reference books to choose from.Any biography of Charles Darwin, and the exciting trip on the Beagle, could not be written in a boring fashion. The stories of our great explorers, such as Alfred Russel Wallace, plant hunters such as Joseph Banks, (the formative originator of Kew) on his voyage with James Cook; perhaps it’s better to go to a bookshop and browse. Far better, to curl up with a good book or magazine, than reading on a computer screen.

Collins Bird Guide: 4 artists and writers, produced this book of every European bird, the bible of serious birdwatchers. For beginners or those content enough to just study their gardens, buy a simpler book of British birds, any with large colour prints.

The Wildlife Of Hayling Island: Pete Durnell and John Walters - Hayling Island Bookshop. Describes the geology, tells you where to go, when, what you will see. Hayling Island Bookshop, 34 Mengeham Road (02392 466620)

A Short History of Nearly Everything: Bill Bryson. Research is continuing to discover a subject where this bestselling authoris unable to be entertaining whilst Informative. This tour-de-force of a book describes the science of the natural world.

Britain’s Butterflies: David Tomlinson and Rob Still. Simple layout tells and shows you everything you need to know about identification, lifestyle, habitat and when and where to find all of the species.

Any book by the late artist Gordon Beningfield. Captures the character of Britsih landscape, flora and fauna better than any photogragh.

Wildings The secret Garden of Eillen Soper: Duff Hart-Davis. Superbly illustrated book , tells the story of eccentric sisters.

Field Guide to the Animals of Britain: Readers Digest

Wild Flowers of Britain & Ireland: Marjorie Blamey, Richard Fitter, Alastair Fitter

‘Guide to the Butterflies of Britiain’ This laminated field guide, shows all butterflies, drawn to life size. Can be purchased from Butterfly ConservationFinding Birds in Britain: Lee G R Evans

Nature Reserves Guide: – The Wildlife Trusts. The top 200 sites – all with maps

Wildlife & Wild Places – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust: Full colour book with maps of 42 sites. Available from most counties.

RSPB Nature Reserves: Edited by Nicholas Hammond

Best Birdwatching Sites in the Scottish Highlands: Gordon Hamlett

The Dragonflies of Hampshire: Various authors

Creating A Wild Flower Garden: Anthony Huxley

Creating a butterfly Garden: E.J.M. Warren

Astronomy The Definitive Guide: Robert Burnham, Alan Dyer, Jeff Kanipe

Any of 70 books by Patrick Moore.

King Solomon’s Ring: Lorenz (Classic Book on animal behaviour)

The Natural History of Selbourne: Gilbert White (Classic- First published 1789)

Song of the Rolling Earth: John Lister-Kaye - Story of the Highlands and the first Scottish field centre

Come Down to the Wood: Judith Bromley – A year in a woodland

Chichester Harbour – A History: John Reger

ianjulian@supanet.com

Ian Julian
9 Roundhouse Court
2 St Andrews Road
Hayling Island
PO11 9JS

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