Synopsis:

‘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.

Review:

Did you know that we have scorpions in the British Isles? I certainly didn’t!
In this book, Kevin Parr goes in search of some of the non-native species that call our little island home. Some I knew about and have seen before, such as wallabies and wild boar, but others were a total surprise to me.

Much in the same vein as ‘Endemic’ or ‘To Have and To Hold’, we follow the author as he journeys around the country to find different species, a format that I have discovered I thoroughly enjoy.
I found it amusing that Parr spent his childhood convinced that the British countryside was crawling with big cats (something I also was led to believe at one point!). This fascination is what led him to the quest that outlines this book – the search for the exotic on home turf.

Parr writes with a lot of heart and curiosity, making a brilliant companion for this journey. I love the sense of adventure in the pages. It just goes to show that you don’t have to go far to feel that thrill of discovery! I could see the landscapes that were described, and feel the anticipation and excitement of finding the thing we are searching for.

I also appreciated the thought and care that Parr showed on his travels. He takes time to understand what he looking for, and to listen to local people in the places he visits. Nature is respected, not just something to check off a list.

Overall an engaging, fun and thoughtful read, and one I highly recommend. Extra mention to the illustrator, Sue Parr, for the beautiful depictions of the species!

Thank you so much to @flint_books for sending this copy my way!