Book #51 A Buzz in the Meadow

A Buzz in the Meadow by Dave Goulson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Buzz in the Meadow is a captivating look at our natural world through the eyes of Dave Goulson, who I know better as the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, that august body, of which I am a member. In 2003 DG bought a derelict farm in the heart of rural France, together with 33 acres of surrounding meadow. Over the course of a decade he created a place for his beloved bumblebees to thrive along with myriad insects of every kind. A significant part of the book contains his own research, alongside that of other scientists, into the threat posed by the use of neonicotinoids as pesticides and their devastating affect on bee populations around the world, something that the giant, multi-national manufacturer of agrochemicals, Bayer, widely disputes. Only to be expected as they resolutely defend a US$4 billion market. Well, neonicotinoid pesticides do cause harm to bees and I urge everyone to read this book. It is inspiring and should encourage everyone to cherish what we have. It illustrates what wonders we stand to lose if we do not change our ways. Biodiversity matters, in all shapes and forms and DG's farm, Chez Nauche, is an island where nature can thrive; places like this though are too few and far between. A Buzz in the Meadow provides a real insight to our natural world and a call to arms for nature-lovers everywhere.

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A Sting in the Tail

Comfrey and Smelly feet, Ketchup and Turkish Immigrants and Does Size Matter? are just three of the intriguing chapter titles in Dave Goulson's popular book about bumblebees: A Sting in the Tale.

The book, which was published in paperback this month following its successful debut in hardback last year, is both enormously informative and hugely entertaining.

Founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Goulson describes how he first became interested in bumblebees as a young boy growing up in Shropshire. Childhood experiments in taxidermy and insect collection led to a career as a professor of biology - a job that has allowed him to earn money while following his passion.

Full of fascinating facts about bumblebees, the book also has a serious message about the negative effects of intensive farming and the industrial breeding of bees as pollinators.

If you want to learn more about Bumblebees this is the book for you.