An Unnatural History of Britain
A Journey In Search of Our Non-Native Species
Published on 25. September 2025
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-80399-838-1 (ISBN)
Description
'It wasn't just cats on the prowl. There were other animals that seemed too exotic or dangerous to go unnoticed and some were not simply surviving but thriving. Mammals such as the wild boar, once driven to extinction but now reestablished following escapes and illegal releases; a colony of yellow-tailed scorpions that have scuttled since Victorian times; wallabies, as far away from their native range as they could possibly get, bouncing around dale and moor ... How exciting would it be to go and try to see some of them for myself?'
Many are unaware that scorpions, Aesculapian snakes, eagle owls, wallabies and many more unusual non-native species are living and breeding in the British Isles - but here they are.
In An Unnatural History of Britain nature writer Kevin Parr travels the length and breadth of the country seeking out these rare creatures and exploring the myths and folklore that have emerged around them along the way.
Many are unaware that scorpions, Aesculapian snakes, eagle owls, wallabies and many more unusual non-native species are living and breeding in the British Isles - but here they are.
In An Unnatural History of Britain nature writer Kevin Parr travels the length and breadth of the country seeking out these rare creatures and exploring the myths and folklore that have emerged around them along the way.
Reviews / Votes
'With his naturalist's eye and his natural curiosity, Kevin Parr sets out on a quest for our most elusive and exotic wildlife.' -- Chris Yates, author of <i>Nightwalk</i> 'Kevin Parr's Unnatural History is a masterpiece. A wholly original wildlife investigation, every page of this book sings with Parr's wit, wisdom, and innate sense of curiosity. Running alongside this riveting adventure is a vital message about the urgent need for us all to turn our attention towards nature, no matter what its origin.' -- Will Mallard, author of <i>The Old Man and the Sand Eel</i> 'A compelling series of quests for strange creatures in our ever-surprising countryside in the company of a warm and knowledgeable companion.' -- Fergus Collins, host of the BBC <i>Countryfile</i> magazine podcastMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Illustrations
10 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 145 mm
Width: 224 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
404 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80399-838-1 (9781803998381)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2025
The History Press Ltd
€18.49
Available for download
Person
KEVIN PARR is a writer, fisherman and naturalist. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Rivers Run (2016), which was longlisted for the inaugural Richard Jefferies Prize for Nature Writing. He is a monthly columnist for BBC Countryfile Magazine and the angling correspondent for The Idlermagazine and has written for the Daily Telegraph and Independent. Kevin lives in West Dorset with his wife and a colony of grass snakes a few strides from his garden gate.