Upcoming Titles in the New Naturalist Library

As we steadily approach the publication of New Naturalist volume 115 in September of this year, we thought we would take this opportunity to let you know about some of the new titles to come within the next few years. These include such diverse titles as Plant Pests and Marches to Plant Galls and Brecon Beacons.

With the 114th volume of Professor Timothy Roper’s Badger only just published, September 2010 sees the publication of John Kington’s Climate and Weather, a timely analysis of climatic variations and weather patterns over the past 2000 years. This brings us into the new year, with David Alford’s Plant Pests available from January 2011. Alford reviews pests on a plant-by-plant basis, with particular reference to insects and mites. Although emphasis is placed mainly on arable and horticultural field crops, pests of protected crops (both edible and non-edible) will also be included.

Future regional volumes include Marches by Andrew Allot, in which he presents the first large-scale survey of this unique part of the country that stretches along the bordering counties between England and Wales – Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. Allot offers a complete natural history of the area whilst also exploring man’s impact on the region, the changing wildlife, the impact of agriculture and the scars of past and present industrial activity. Meanwhile, Jonathan Mullard brings us a natural history of one of Wales’s most spectacular upland areas, Brecon Beacons. An astonishing variety of habitats can be found in this hugely popular National Park, from the exposed open moors to the gravel strewn beds of the river Usk. This variety supports thousands of species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Finally, with Plant Galls, Margaret Redfern delivers a much-needed new study on the growths on plants that are formed of plant tissue but that are caused by other organisms. Little is known about the mechanisms that cause gall formation as well as the life cycles of the organisms that initiate gall growth. However, the insect cycles and gall structures are amazing examples of the complexity of nature.

Many more potential projects continue to be discussed and prepared in the biannual New Naturalist Editorial Board meetings, as we continue to explore and examine the many-sidedness of British natural history along with its many unusual and original developments.