A new Wildlife book of the Jurassic Coast by Bryan Edwards, has just been published by the Jurassic Coast Trust. The book was launched by the wildlife broadcaster and photographer Chris Packham at Lulworth Castle early this month (July 2008).
The book aims to make the link between the ever changing geology and coastal processes (erosion) acting on the rocks, and how these give rise to a wealth of amazing habitats for wildlife.
The book focuses on the small and often hairy plants and animals that sliver, crawl, hop, flap and skip along the cliff faces and shingle beaches.
More than half of the Jurassic Coast is a Special Area of Conservation being Vegetated Sea Cliffs – a European Union Habitat Directive designation. Dynamic and ever changing cliffs are rare in Europe and our coast contains a wealth of landslides and cliff falls that provide the opportunity for colonising plants and animals to flourish.
Other habitats include limestone grassland, chalk downland, heathland and shingle beaches. The book dives under the water to the marine environment of estuaries and reefs, all fashioned from the rocks in one form or other.
The book describes each of these habitats in turn and then explores the coast locality by locality and lavishly illustrates with both photographs and Ordnance Survey Maps. The author, Bryan Edwards works for the Dorset Environmental Records office and is an authority on mosses, lichens and liverworts.
Coastal Publishing have worked their magic once again and produced a book that is not only a ‘good flip’ but an interesting and informative read that suggests ways for people to explore the wealth of wildlife along the Jurassic Coast.
The book, priced £4.95, is available from bookshops, Tourist Information Centres and Visitor Centres along the Jurassic Coast, as well as the Jurassic Coast Trust’s online shop.
