Field Guide to Coastal Wildflowers of Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe

by Paul Sterry, Andrew Cleave

Overview

A richly illustrated guide to the wildflowers and other flora of coastal Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe

The rugged and beautiful coastal regions of Britain and Ireland are among the crowning glories of these islands. Few visitors can fail to marvel at the stunning sight of Cornwall’s clifftops resplendent with flowering Thrift, or be struck by the resilience of plants that thrive on the inhospitable shingle beaches of Dungeness on the coast of Kent. This field guide covers more than 600 species of wildflowers and other coastal flora found in Britain and Ireland, and coastal mainland Northwest Europe. Detailed species accounts describe wildflowers, grasses, sedges and rushes that occur on the coast or in abundance within sight of the sea. Stunningly illustrated throughout, this comprehensive, user-friendly guide also covers trees and shrubs, a range of other groups from mosses and seaweeds, and more broadly, the natural history of coastal habitats.

• Covers more than 600 species of flowering plants
• Features over 1,500 spectacular colour photos
• Describes other groups such as ferns, mosses, liverworts, lichens, fungi and seaweeds
• Provides up-to-date colour distribution maps for Britain and Ireland

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691218151
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	05/24/2022
Series:	Wild Nature Press , #30
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	752,722
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul Sterry is a bestselling wildlife author and photographer whose many books include field guides to the birds, flowers, trees, fungi and insects of Europe and North America. Andrew Cleave is a highly regarded educator and environmentalist whose many books include A Naturalist’s Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe and Curious Creatures.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 6

Photographic credits 6

Introduction 7

About this book 7

Safety first 8

Respecting natural habitats and a coastal code of conduct 9

Glossary 10

Habitat overviews 16

Sandy beaches and dunes 16

Shingle 20

Estuaries and saltmarshes 24

Cliffs 26

Machair 30

Maritime heath 32

Manmade 34

Conservation 36

Species accounts - trees and shrubs 40

Species accounts - wildflowers 54

The Isles of Scilly - a botanical hotspot 324

Arctic and Alpine flora meet the coast 328

Species accounts - non-flowering plants 330

Further reading 343

Useful addresses 343

Index 344

Editorial Reviews

"The perfect introduction to an array of Britain’s most fascinating, and in some cases, unusual flora."—-Josh Jones, Birdwatch

"Absolutely indispensable."—-Alyson Hitch, Bay Magazine

"Excellent!"—-Bo Beolens, Fat Birder

"This book delivers far more than its title promises . . . . This book was written by two people with dirty knees who have given the time needed to become experts in our native wildflowers and page after page bear this out with excellent photography and clear, concise and precise descriptions."—-Paddy Tobin, Irish Garden Plant Society

"Full of beautiful pictures and illustrations, making it easy to identify coastal wildflowers. . . . A well thought out user-friendly guide."—-Alison Alderton, Towpath Talk

"An attractive, enticing and informative book."—-Ro Scott, Highland Naturalist

From the Publisher

"Anyone who lives or holidays by the coast will love this new botanical guide . . . . [The authors are] on a mission to record and safeguard all the beautiful species found along our shores."

Coast Magazine