WOODLANDS. By William Condry. Collins Countryside Series.

1974 1st edition. 8vo (140 x 216mm). Pp176. B/w photograph plates, illustrations, maps, bibliography. Grey speckled boards, spine titled in gilt.

"William Condry, now Warden of the Ynyshir [nature] reserve in Wales, has explored woods and forests all over Britain, from birch and pine of northern Scotland to the beech of southern England, and from the alder carrs of Norfolk to the oakwoods of western Ireland. In this beautiful book he describes their differences, their growth, decay and constant change, and their wild life from ground level to the tops of trees." Allied to the Collins New Naturalist Series, the first editions of this series also have dust-wrapper designs by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. Bill Condry lived just down the road from us here at Coch-y-Bonddu. He was a first-rate writer and naturalist. Chapters include: Our woodland story; Oakwoods; The undergrowth of oakwoods; Insect life in oakwoods; Birds of oakwoods; Woodland mammals; Beechwoods; Birchwoods; Alderwoods; Ashwoods; Scots pinewoods; Conifer plantations; Other woodland trees.