A less green and pleasant land : our threatened wildlife / Norman Maclean, University of Southampton.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

List of wood engraving illustrations -- Foreword / by Chris Packham -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction. 1. Living with change ; 2. A short dose of Earth history ; 3. Climate change ; 4. Down on the farm and into the woods ; 5. Plant and animal introductions (and some recent arrivals) ; 6. Our overcrowded isles : human population and aspiration ; 7. Fresh water : quality and availability ; 8. Hunting, shooting and fishing : the enigma of field sports and wildlife ; 9. Wildlife conservation at home and overseas -- So how is our wildlife faring? : The details. 10. Mammals ; 11. Birds ; 12. Amphibians and reptiles ; 13. Freshwater fish ; 14. Butterflies and moths ; 15. Other insects ; 16. Other invertebrates ; 17. Trees, shrubs and flowering plants ; 18. Fungi ; 19. Life in the open sea ; 20. Where sea meets land ; 21. Top wildlife sites in Britain and Ireland ; 22. What does the future hold? -- Glossary and abbreviations -- Notes -- Index.

Disentangling the facts from the hype, this 'Domesday book' of the British and Irish countryside offers a definitive and up-to-date survey of the state of our wildlife today. Norman Maclean, editor of the bestselling Silent Summer, examines the latest findings of Britain and Ireland's top wildlife experts and interprets them for a wider audience. Each chapter provides reliable estimates of animal populations, showing which species are thriving and which are in decline. The book also considers the effects of climate change on our wildlife and how human population growth is influencing its development. Beautifully illustrated with colour plates and wood engravings throughout, this accessible and timely study reveals just how rapidly our countryside and its wildlife are changing, why we should be concerned, and what we can do about it.