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RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Horace — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:03:41 GMT

I'd like to see 'The Killer Whale' or expanded to "Cetaceans"

I'd also like to see 'Coelenterates' or 'Jellyfishes'.

Horace

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

HelenB — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:52:22 GMT

Owls would make a good book, although there has been a lot written on barn owls recently. The book by Derek Scott on long-eared owls is a good book too, although it is a few years old now.

Other titles I would like to see covered include corvids (crows, jays etc) and the ecology of post-industrial/brown field sites. An update to Peak District is also long overdue.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Jeff Martin — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:46:12 GMT

British Mammals and British Owls

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

PaulMead — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:43:28 GMT

how about monographs on the following

Richard Owen

Invasive species - Wels catfish

Rewilding species reintroduction

The Shannon

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

ChrisS — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:16:32 GMT

How about The Ashdown Forest?

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

In Vitrio — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:57:45 GMT

Couple of other thoughts:

-urban parks;
-an update on Britain's Structure And Scenery. Interesting reading it now to see the desperate explanations for the folding and changing of rock formations without using plate tectonics...

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Lee3764 — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:03:14 GMT

The "Isle Of Wight".

An obvious title & a whole volume could easily be filled with many aspects of this subject!

Collins/Alex..........What do you think??

Red Squirrells & Glanville Fritillary Butterfly are just two rare species found in profusion on this beautiful Isle. It's also world renowned for it's Fossils that are regularly found there!

Lee Slaughter.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

John Beal — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:50:23 GMT

Many interesting and worthwhile suggestions here. The odd one is already projected (as a result of this forum?) Whales and Dolphins, for example.

I'm still hoping for Graveyards and Orchards.

John B

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

S.W.Mott — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:53:32 GMT

I'd like to see an addition to the regional titles - we've had Lakeland, Northumberland and Isles of Scilly, - how about one on the [b]Yorkshire Dales[/b]?
Better still, how about one about the [b]natural history of limestone environments in Britain?[/b] This would allow the title to cover not only Carboniferous limestones, but also those of the Jurassic belt, for example, and the material would cover plants as well as fauna.

[b]Estuaries[/b] is a good idea - especially with the threat from barrages to provide energy. Such a title could not only cover the flora and fauna of estuaries, but examine the risks to these environments from energy developments.

As far as species titles go, what about one on [b]British Crows[/b]?

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Fritillary — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:16:14 GMT

Mayflies, Snails, Aphids, Thrips, Beetles, Micro Moths & British Crows....the possibilities are endless!!

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

djf1963 — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:30:00 GMT

Yorkshire Dales

Mink, Otters & Pine Martens

Sea Fish

British Buntings

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

DanSalter — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:30:53 GMT

I have a few suggestions....

Evolution.
Wastelands (brownfield?)
Museums (Natural History)

and as i suggested elsewhere...a separate mini series a bit like the monographs, on some of the important
scientists/naturalists (could be UK only?)

NN Darwin, NN Wallace, Lamark, White, Scott, Dawkins, Rothschild, there are many more...even Simon King to keep up to date?

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

michael5 — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:43:45 GMT

Alex..heres one that could be really interesting and as far as i know, no real published work previous ..."The Lamprey" ...micky

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

In Vitrio — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:48:30 GMT

Hi, first post.

One thing I'm not sure that has been covered on its own is wildlife in towns and cities. Might give those of us stuck in the industrial regions something to look for during weekdays? Plus it might attract a different sort of market?

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Stephen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:38:35 GMT

I would Like to suggest British Orchards as a possible new title - It would be able to cover a niche that has a unique angle and yet fit well into the series - as an extension from the Woodlands and Garden Natural History titles. The Title could present a multi species content and so be of interest to multiple Natural History groups-

I suspect a New Naturalist author - Professor Stefan Buczacki would possibly be able to direct the NN Committee to potential authors.

The History of British Orchards; Geography and Geology of...; Plants of....,; Pests Of...,;Types of... ; Conservation of ....; Famous Orchards etc would all make potentially fascinating chapters and contribute to an interesting publication.

Give it a go Collins - Please

Stephen

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

John Beal — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:06:18 GMT

Glad to know you're noting members' suggestions, Alex

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Collins — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:58:28 GMT

Thanks for ideas and suggestions, keep them coming as all will be considered.

Alex
Collins

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

RichardCrockett — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:26:18 GMT

Suggested titles/subjects

Two ideas;

1) Include astronomy as a valid division of natural history. Say "The Night Sky"

2) More conventionally - "Woodpeckers"?

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

John Beal — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:20:50 GMT

Thanks Hengus. And I support Lee's and several others' recommendations on a new book on Butterflies, which is long overdue. As is a book on Beetles. This would include an uptodate account of ladybirds and the recently arrived Harlequin. (Michael Majerus's masterpiece is fifteen years old.)

An overlooked potential title such as Environmental History has been pre-empted by T C Smout's recently published collection of essays "Exploring Environmental History" Edinburgh University Press 2009. Peter Marren, in his review in British Wildlife (Vol 21 No1 October 2009) gives it high praise. Perhaps Collins could prevail upon T C Smout to write a New Naturalist in due course?

John B

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Hengus — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:12:30 GMT

[quote][b]John Beal (10/01/2010)[/b][hr]Churchyards, both Urban and Rural, which provide vital habitats for butterflies, owls and much more.

John B[/quote]

Now, that's an intriguing suggestion. I like that.....

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

John Beal — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:30:19 GMT

Churchyards, both Urban and Rural, which provide vital habitats for butterflies, owls and much more.

John B

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Hengus — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:30:32 GMT

I too would like to echo the requests for British Owls. I'd also throw in a begging letter for a volume dedicated to one of my favourite animals, the Hare.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Lee3764 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:05:41 GMT

[quote][b]Lee3764 (27/12/2009)[/b][hr]Definately an update on no1 'Butterflies'. I think 65 years is more than long enough to wait for an updated version of this classic book. There are 13,000 odd members of Butterfly Conservation of which a fair proportion would probably purchase a copy as well as most of the N/N enthusiasts and some N/N forum members too? This should be a moneyspinner for Collins due to the big increase in popularity in interest in this group of insects during the last 20 years or so! Besides which, brilliant book that Butterflies is from 1945, quite a bit of it is out of date especially the distribution maps and so much has been learnt in recent decades of the demands and needs of certain fussy species of Britain's Butterflies. We also have 2 new species on the british list since the original volume was published in 1945; Bergers Clouded Yellow (1947) and Real's Wood White (2003)? as well as huge changes in most species' distribution and abundance.

What does anyone else think?

Collins; what do you think?

Lee Slaughter.[/quote]

Dear Alex,

What do you think about the above suggestion in my posting on 27th, December,2009? A completely new version of 'Butterflies' (originally N/N no:1)? There is so much new material that can be utilised in a new version of 'Butterflies'. The original version is still a brilliant book though!

Thanks.............Lee Slaughter.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Lee3764 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:12:00 GMT

Definately an update on no1 'Butterflies'. I think 65 years is more than long enough to wait for an updated version of this classic book. There are 13,000 odd members of Butterfly Conservation of which a fair proportion would probably purchase a copy as well as most of the N/N enthusiasts and some N/N forum members too? This should be a moneyspinner for Collins due to the big increase in popularity in interest in this group of insects during the last 20 years or so! Besides which, brilliant book that Butterflies is from 1945, quite a bit of it is out of date especially the distribution maps and so much has been learnt in recent decades of the demands and needs of certain fussy species of Britain's Butterflies. We also have 2 new species on the british list since the original volume was published in 1945; Bergers Clouded Yellow (1947) and Real's Wood White (2003)? as well as huge changes in most species' distribution and abundance.

What does anyone else think?

Collins; what do you think?

Lee Slaughter.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

GordonRidley — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:41:47 GMT

Some further suggestions:

[i]The Nudibranchs[/i] (sea slugs), [i]The Continental Shelf[/i] (probably overlaps with Shallow Seas), [i]British Natural History Publishing[/i], [i]Microscopic Life[/i], [i]The Hebridean Outliers[/i] (Rockall, St Kilda, North Rona, Sulasgeir, Flannan Isles, etc), [i]The Nekton[/i].

I'd better stop now rather than indulge in more flights of fancy!

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Willrow — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:29:36 GMT

Really do need up to date books on British Birds of Prey and Butterflies. As regards new titles; British Owls, Hoverflies, Diptera, British Crows, Brecon Beacons National Park, Beetles.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Bill — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:43:48 GMT

[quote][b]SimonRead (8/21/2009)[/b][hr] One of my suggestions there was Rats and Mice in Britain, which I'd still love to see. Hell, they could include shrews and voles in it [/quote]

I'd also like to see a title on the smaller mammals, in addiiton to:

Whales and Dolphins, Hoverflies, Parasitic Wasps, Beetles

Regards,

Bill

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

SimonRead — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:32:41 GMT

[quote][b]Falcon (8/17/2009)[/b][hr]A few ideas spring to mind, namely:-

The Chilterns, British Owls, Shield Bugs and an update of Spiders.[/quote]

Owls would be an excellent subject, and a popular one I'd bet.

There was a good thread on this question on the old forums. One of my suggestions there was Rats and Mice in Britain, which I'd still love to see. Hell, they could include shrews and voles in it for all I care!

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Rob2 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:49:48 GMT

What I'd like to see are a few more insect groups covered, if not in their entirety, then by functional group.

Hymenoptera (or by gall wasps, digger wasps, solitary bees etc), Diptera (or by hover-flies, crane-flies, mosquitoes & midges, soldier-flies etc) Coleoptera (or by water beetles, ground beetles, dung beetles, burying beetles, rove beetles, scarabs, long-horns etc).

I'd also like to see a few more plant groups covered. Orchids have been done, so why not do the labiate, rose & daisy families. Each of these groups have some facinating ecology and biochemistry that the general readers NNs are aimed at wouldn't know about.

Finally, I'd like to see an updated version of butterflies. To be honest Ford's version leaves me cold, and so much of the natural history of this group isn't covered in his book. Anything written by the Thomas boys (Chris and Jeremy) would, to my mind, be ideal!

Bobby

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Falcon — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:59:10 GMT

A few ideas spring to mind, namely:-

The Chilterns, British Owls, Shield Bugs and an update of Spiders.

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

ButterflyDisplay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:12:17 GMT

An updated version of the Orchid "bible"
"Wild Orchids of Britain"

The book in all editions is the 1950, with a preface to the second edition, and a preface to the preface for the limpback edition, giving an update on orchid developments. The distribution maps are much better from the second edition.

There have been many developments in the last 59 years, conservation work in the microprop unit at Kew, reclasification using DNA. Orchids grown at Kew returned to Nature Reserves. Mycorhizal fungi used for seeds etc

Martin

RE: What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Stephen — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:29:03 GMT

I know this was discussed a lot on the old forum but to get the list going

SOUTH DOWNS - as a northerner I know very little about this area and would love to read more now its become a national park

ESTUARIES - or will this overlap with the proposed shallow seas?

PEATLANDS & MERES especially concentrating on the great areas remaining in the British Isles & Ireland eg describing our best bogs(Thorne & Hatfield moors) and large areas of peatland such as Caithness and their context within a global set up

VIRUSES

What subjects would readers like to see covered next?

Alexg — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:05:07 GMT

Please suggest subjects for consideration by the New Naturalists editorial board.

Thanks

Alex
Collins