#602: Hitting the library

We now have the proposed subject content for the GCSE Natural History and you have some time to respond to the consultation to give your opinions. Please do... it's cheaper than buying books.

Don't forget to head off to your local library. It's vital to support it so that it doesn't go the way of many others and disappear. My main library is the Millennium Library at the Forum in Norwich.

However, this closed in April 2026 for a £1.3 million refurbishment and complete re-organisation. It reopens in mid-July 2026. I look forward to seeing what has been done there. There was a very large Natural History section in the library stretching for quite a while.

In the meantime, I headed for the library at Wells-next-the-Sea, which is a small one, and operates as as unmanned library for much of the week. I found these two books which look like being very interesting amd appropriate for the collation of materials and ideas and images that will have to take place fairly quickly once content is approved and we move onto draft specifications....

If they prove to be vital to have a physical copy of, there will perhaps be a budget provided for the development of the new specification and a library of books can be built up - some for teachers to refer to, and some for students to be inspired by.

Image: Alan Parkinson

#445: National History Reading List #23: 'Oak and Ash and Thorn'

Another book that would be good to add to the developing reading list of books for those who are developing curriculum resources for the new GCSE Natural History.

It is a book about the ancient woodlands, as well as the more recent forests of Britain. 

It is written by Peter Fiennes, and focusses on some of the species that have been around for the longest. It would sit nicely with some of the other tree related books I have mentioned before on the blog.

There are plenty of possible locations for field visits here too - and I hope that young people explore woodlands as part of their teaching.

The image shows a useful chapter on the importance of trees in cities. Regular readers will know of the the vital part that trees play in ensuring lower temperatures, and the link with the London National Park City campaign.

#393: Congratulations to Samantha Harvey

In post #372, I added a mention for Samantha Harvey's book 'Orbital' and added it to the GCSE Natural History booklist.

On Tuesday this week, the book was announced as the winner of the 2024 Booker Prize!

Well done to Samantha. I was hoping that the book would win. I hope that it leads to lots more people experiencing this excellent book.

I am planning a new unit based on the book which I shall be teaching to Year 6 students in January 2025. More to come on this as the project develops.

#292: 'Wild Service'

I bought this book today, as the reviews suggest it is going to be particular useful for thinking around the themes in the GCSE Natural History. It was purchased from the most excellent Kett's Books in Wymondham.

Here's Patrick Barkham talking about the book in a piece in 'The Guardian'.

I shall post a fuller review and add it to the GCSE Natural History library when I've had the chance to look closer... what other books have you bought recently to upskill yourself in Natural History-related themes?

A radical British politics rooted in nature is spreading – and the establishment doesn’t like it | John Harris https://t.co/DHUDHpD7bM

— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) April 21, 2024

#281: Natural History Reading List #17: 'Irreplaceable'

'Irreplaceable' is a book by Julian Hoffman.

It is subtitled 'The Fight to Save our Wild Places' and focusses on a number of locations which are threatened with being lost.

 It has a useful section on ancient woodlands which outlines very clearly what that term means, and the distinction between that and the wildwood.

Each section is relevant to particular types of ecosystems, and the book explores the nature of the threats they face, and the efforts being made to protect them. By the time I read through it, there were lots of post it notes for potentially useful sections.

A very good book as an introduction to the idea of wilderness, and the relationship between humans and nature.

He touches on the plastic threat when he visits the beach in the chapter entitled 'A world within water'.

He describes the discovery of the plastic nurdles which make up a part of any handful of beach sand in most of the world.

"For all its unquestionable usefulness for the human race, a convenience that's turned out to be irressistible to us, plastic places an unearthly burden on the rest of the living world."

My copy was loaned from Norwich Library service.

#249: 'Hedgelands' - coming April

This sounds like it is going to be an excellent addition to a growing library of recommendations. It is a new book by Christopher Hart.

As I've been creating this blog, I have come across numerous references to the value of hedgerows, particularly old ones with a large variety of species. They act as habitats, windbreaks, borders and management tools, as well as reducing wind speeds.

In this joyous journey around the wild edges of Britain, Christopher Hart takes us through the life, ecology and history of the humble British hedge, showing us how this much-loved (but somewhat overlooked) feature is inextricably woven into our language, history and culture.

Hedges – or hedgerows – have long been an integral part of the British landscape; a bastion of privacy for our gardens, a protective presence on winding country lanes and a vital hiding place for birds and beasts on farmland.

This man-made marvel is finally getting its time in the sun. Recognised as an environmental hero and a powerful climate ally, hedgerow is now considered the greatest edge habitat on earth, offering thorny scrub, mature woodland, grassland and even wetland. It plays a critical role in carbon sequestration and provides essential protection against the elements.

Hedgelands highlights the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedges; the abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the striking nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the little harvest mouse; and the free pickings that the hedgerow offers, making it an essential – and delicious – element of any countryside ramble.

Hedgelands will tell you everything you never thought you needed to know about this wild, diverse and rich habitat – and you might even look at your humble hedge in a whole new way.

#236: Urban Plants: an ID guide

Most ID guides for plants are about rural locations, and to help identify things like wildflowers and salt marsh plants. They are for taking on nature rambles in woodlands or rural locations.

Pelagic Publishing is preparing to publish a guide in July 2024 which will help identify weeds growing through the pavements, or other urban locations. To be fair, for many schools, these plants are more likely the ones to be found in the immediate area, particularly urban schools which may not have a park or significant open space that is easily accessible.

This is another example where the context of a school may well determine the possibility of offering GCSE Natural History. There are several important factors here.

Description:

Have you ever wondered exactly what those ‘weeds’ are growing along the kerb or between the cracks in the pavement? Not the pampered plants of parks, front gardens and herbaceous borders, but simply those that exist everywhere and nowhere in particular: the true survivors, the botanical opportunists. In this handy guide, we introduce the most commonplace flowers, shrubs, grasses, mosses and ferns that are to be found on the street, and show the main characteristics by which you can recognise them. 

Soon you’ll be more alert than ever to the rebellious species of tarmac, wall and gutter as they defy weedkiller, climate change and dog wee.

So you can identify the plants you discover in your town as readily as possible, the species are arranged according to their growth form. The book starts with the largest group – herbaceous plants – followed by a few woody plants, grasses, mosses and ferns.

Out in July 2024. I think I will be getting a copy of this book for our library of field guides.

#230: 'Geographical' Magazine

When the draft specification (finally) emerges, there will be a need to resource it for the teachers who are going to teach it. This will need to be done with some urgency.

One option that should be considered by those who have back issues of relevant journals is to revisit those to identify suitable articles. 

One such journal is the RGS-IBG's 'Geographical' magazine. 

I've had a departmental subscription for many years.

In many issues there is an article which is linked to some of the likely themes in the new specification, and as they are written for a general audience, this is going to be of value to both staff and students. A limited amount of content is also on the website.

You can also arrange for a subscription to print or digital. The digital option includes access to an archive of past issues. This would be a particularly valuable way to build up a library of suitable articles.

#201: Spotify Audiobooks

A cross posting from my GeoLibrary blog which has just reached its 600th post.

I have a Spotify Premium subscription, and have had for quite a few years now.

They have recently added thousands of audiobooks to the subscription, which is great news...

Many of these are of interest to Geographers and an equal number almost also connect with the themes which are likely to emerge in the GCSE Natural History.

Here's a sample that I just located from a few quick searches.

They include Brian Groom's Northerners, which I'm reading at the moment. 

This is likely to reduce my book purchasing and will also be an issue for Audible.

I'm really looking forward to listening to the Tristan Gooley book: 'How to read a Tree'. This will be of particular value for the section on woodlands and trees. I have a feeling that trees are going to be an important feature of the work that is completed by students, and as a destination for fieldwork.

There is a range of books from David Attenborough and George Monbiot.

I have also blogged elsewhere about how fantastic this book by Robin Wall Kimmerer is. Gathering Moss is excellent!

I shall aim to make a list of books for reference.

#138: Dorling Kindersley's book of all things Natural History

This is a weighty and impressive looking tome from Dorling Kindersley, who always do such a good job of these types of book.

It looks like an essential part of a Natural History library.

Description from the publisher:

A beautiful guide to Earth's wildlife and natural history, including its rocks, minerals, animals, plants, fungi, microorganisms and more!

Already featuring galleries of more than 5,000 species, The Natural History Book has since been updated to include dynamic discoveries such as the olinguito (the "kitty bear" of the Andean cloud forest), and a new species of deep-sea Bolosoma glass sponge photographed by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, alongside a reorganization of the groups of living things to reflect the latest scientific understanding.

- A full-colour gallery of over 5,000 species
- Over 500 rocks, minerals and fossils featured throughout
- Includes glossary of important natural history terms
- Specially-commissioned photographs showcase wildlife in close-up detail

This treasure-trove of natural history is accompanied with easy-to-read, accessible information and beautifully-striking imagery, making it a riveting reference guide to pass down for generations to come. The only book to offer a complete visual survey of all kingdoms of life, this nature book for adults is the perfect addition to every family bookshelf, as well as an ideal gift for the nature, animal and plant lover in your life! Gardeners, hikers, and visitors to wildlife park and natural history museums alike would also love this niche nature book, which also doubles up as the perfect coffee table book.

Split into 6 core chapters, covering Living Earth, Minerals, Rocks and Fossils, Microscopic Life, Plants, Fungi, and Animals - there truly is something for everyone to explore, love and learn. From granites to grape vines, from microbes to mammals, The Natural History Book is the ultimate celebration of the diversity of the natural world.

#67: Noticing Nature

This Twitter account is rather good and is well worth following. It is apparently the work of four women who are also putting together a book due out in September called 'Nature's Calendar'.

It shares ideas from a range of people and places, and would be a useful companion perhaps to Richard Mabey's 'Flora Britannica'. (see earlier blogpost on this book)

It is based on a Japanese concept of there being a whole range of seasons, each of which lasts just a few days at times.

The 72 Japanese micro-seasons are outlined here on this website.

The book comes out in September.

I would imagine that climate change is going to mess up these fine grained annual rhythms sadly...

#64: Natural History Reading List #4: Flora Britannica

This is a very sizeable book, which was published in 1996, after five years of effort.

You will find copies in second-hand book shops if you are fortunate. Used copies are also available online.

This is an essential addition to any departmental library for those teaching the new specification because of its focus.

It is a remarkable piece of work by Richard Mabey, supported by Common Ground (see blogpost about this organisation).

It covers the natural and naturalised plants of England, Scotland and Wales. 

It is a cultural book rather than a purely botanical ID guide. It looks at the role of wild plants in social life, arts, custom and landscape. These are all areas which are going to be in the draft specification I would imagine, and so this could be said to be one of the key sources for information and details on a range of areas for the new specification.

Also check out his rather smaller book: 'A Good Parcel of English Soil' on his childhood in what is now called Metroland and how nature reclaimed areas which people had left alone.

There are sections on a whole range of plants and trees, including vernacular names and specific locations. 

Weeds are included, as well as plants close to the sea, fruit and familiar plants, plants on common land, and plants in watery locations.

If one of the purposes of the new specification is for young people to know more about the plants they see in hedgerows and gardens on the way to school, this is going to be valuable.

If we take one example of a plant: the stinging nettle. We can learn a lot from the entry in the book for this plant.

This is apparently a plant that many young people can't identify.

Growing up in the 1960s and 70s in Yorkshire, with woods and common on the doorstep we were very familiar with this plant. It tends to grow close to human settlement and prefers woodland glades or river banks. It likes soils rich in phosphate, which tend to be those where domesticated animals have grazed and manured, or through burning, dumping of refuse or in graveyards. Straight away reading this we can see some human-nature relationships e.g. they are found in ruined crofts in Scotland despite the occupants leaving hundreds of years ago, and also on the sites of Romano-British villages.

The nettle family is called Urticaceae.

Its vernacular names including Devil's plaything, Hokey-pokey and Jinny nettle.

It causes a rash if touched (urticaria) and has given its name to a whole range of places including Nettlecombe in Dorset, for example, home to a Field Studies Council centre.

This gave me an idea straight away of using the gazetteer in Digimap for Schools to find which plants/trees/animals have the most places named after them, or which include the plant/tree/animal in their name.

They are a source / ingredient for food and ale, and were used as a subsistence food during the Irish Potato Famine, and the Second World War.

There are nettle eating competitions (don't try that at school) and some use the stings to ward off inflammation, and also restore circulation. They are also used to make fibres, and military clothing has previously been made from the thread. They can also be used to make a dye.

Image: Book cover - Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license

Nettle: https://www.pngall.com/nettle-png/download/111768

#19: Natural History Reading List #1 - Sustainability Education - A Classroom Guide

The plan is to feature books on the blog that may end up in a reading list for departmental library of Natural History books for those departments offering the new specification.

These may be current books which may be purchased new, or classics which can perhaps be obtained second hand, or at reduced price. 

There will be some cross-references here to my GeoLibrary blog.

I would imagine that the final draft specification will also include a suggested list of additional reading, which won't be confined to books of course.

Thanks very much to Stephen Scoffham and Steve Rawlinson for giving me a copy of their book in April last year at the GA Conference 2022, and for the generous inscription they wrote inside it too.

There are many contributions in the book from familiar names and plenty to encourage teachers to consider their practice and how it connects with encouraging students to look after the planet and encouraging teachers to look at their lessons through the lens of sustainability. There are overlaps with some aspects of the suggested specification consultation, which will inform the final product that emerges.

As the title suggests this is definitely aimed at informing classroom practice.

It's a book to explore when considering where to strengthen the sustainability element of your school curriculum in whatever phase you work.

There are some familiar names contributing chapters to the book including:

Sharon Witt and Helen Clarke on our Watery Planet; 

Elena Lengthorn on Weather and Climate; 

Paula Owens on Special Places and 

Ben Ballin on our Unequal World.

My copy was a first edition, published by Bloomsbury.

Paperback, 278pp

ISBN: 978-1-350-26207-2