Wild City: Encounters With Urban Wildlife

'The mark of a good nature book is that it opens your eyes to what is there, but you missed, and then to the beautiful possibility of what might be. This is a very good book.' John Lewis-Stempel 'An enjoyable and timely reminder that we are never alone.' Tristan Gooley 'Florence Wilkinson is an engaging guide to the hidden - and not-so-hidden - delights of the real 'urban jungle', and what is being done to give them a helping hand.' Stephen Moss 'Think wildlife and an image of the countryside automatically comes to mind doesn't it? But our cities and towns are teeming with animals; not just foxes but badgers, bats and red squirrels too. I've learnt all about that from Wild City.' Martha Kearney 'A beautifully written reminder of the importance and benefits of protecting urban wildlife. I hope that in addition to campaigners and lovers of nature, politicians are reading this book because we need nature - and nature needs us more than ever. ' Alastair Campbell The badgers of Brighton's most exclusive postcode. The water voles of Glasgow. The Black Country bats who have found a haven in old industrial tunnels. The peregrine falcons nesting on the ledges of tower blocks. The mosquitoes found on the London Underground and nowhere else on earth. In Wild City Florence Wilkinson takes us on a fascinating journey into why we should engage with our fellow urban species. What we might see - if we only take the time to look - and how nature is adapting to human-engineered environments in unexpected and ingenious ways. As more and more of our planet is urbanised, we humans still feel that primal pull to connect with our wilder roots. This gorgeously lyrical book invites us to celebrate the natural world, while also offering a clear-eyed glimpse into the challenges faced by urban plants and animals as cities grow and sprawl. Wild City proposes a compelling manifesto for city wildlife, suggesting how we might take action to protect the often-overlooked residents who live alongside us. City-dwellers, it's time to meet your neighbours.