Simon & Schuster, £8.99

The paperback for this book was a triumph of hope over realistic chances of success ... I had been promised a few words for the cover by Dr Brian May (yes, that one, the astrophysicist, badger-loving, rock star). He is very kind and generous and, I have heard, says yes to far too many things, so I did wonder whether I was going to be disappointed. I need not have worried - he did more than write a few words, he wrote a 1000 word essay that is now the Foreword for the paperback ... and because I am a generous spirit, here it is.

The reviews have been wonderful and they make me realise how much I need to hear nice things - putting so much of oneself on show does make you feel vulnerable! So thank you to all who reviewed me so blush-makingly!

Daily Mail: "That's typical of Hugh Warwick s lovely, easy, humorous style. His book works on so many levels: as a portrait of British eccentricity, as an informal, highly selective guide to our native fauna, and quietly but angrily, as a polemic on the destruction of habitat and on the terrible mess we have made of our countryside."
The Independent: "This entertaining book is really an extended study of the concept of biophilia. The love of nature lies at the heart of things. As Stephen Jay Gould warned: "We will not fight to save what we do not love." The message is that you do not acquire it by watching Attenborough on the telly (all right as far as it goes) but by going out and getting your wellies wet."

There are still a few copies of the hardback kicking around - it is such a beautiful book that it will make an ideal gift. If you cannot track one down, do email me, we might be able to come to some arrangement with me posting out a signed copy ...

Going to your local bookshop is much more fun and will help to keep them alive but, if you cannot wait or get out, try Amazon.

Reviews

Daily Mail - 'It's all glorious fun, packed with astounding snippets of information that might previously have passed you by....His book works on so many levels: as a portrait of British eccentricity, as an informal, highly selective guide to our native fauna, and, quietly but angrily, as a polemic on the destruction of habitat and on the terrible mess we have made of our countryside. "I preach hedgehog," he writes, not entirely seriously, but there's more to him than that, on the evidence of this book: a lot more.'