Invasive Aliens: The Plants and Animals From Over There That Are Over Here

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‘The story of “invasive species” is really the story of human history, and Eatherley tells it with great verve … Fascinating’ Daily Telegraph A unique history of plant and animal i nvaders of the British isles spanning thousands of years of arrivals and escapes, as well as defences mounted and a look to the future. As Brits we pride ourselves as stoic defenders, boasting a record of resistance dating back to 1066.Yet, even a cursory examination of the natural world reveals that while interlopers of the human variety may have been kept at bay, our islands have been invaded, conquered and settled by an endless succession of animals, plants, fungi and other alien lifeforms that apparently belong elsewhere. Indeed it’s often hard to work out what actually is native, and what is foreign.From early settlement of our islands, through the Roman and mediaeval period, to the age of exploration and globalisation, today’s complement of alien species tells a story about our past.In Invasive Aliens, Eatherley takes us on a journey from the ships that brought these species to our shores, to the parks and recreation areas where they now thrive. It's a top-notch exploration of the business of invasive species, from rabbits and guinea pigs to mice and hamsters.For fans of Benedict Macdonald (Cornerstones), Ross Barnett (The Missing Lynx), Derek Gow (Birds, Beasts and Bedlam), Andy Swash (Hummingbirds), and John Lewis-Stempel (England). Show more