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This page lists books written by, books that include a contribution by, and books about, Derek Ratcliffe.

The books in this section are ordered by publication date with the most recent at the top.

Nature's Conscience: The Life and Legacy of Derek Ratcliffe

Editor: Des Thompson, Hilary Birks, John Birks

Langford Press

2015

"Derek Ratcliffe was arguably the most outstanding field biologist and conservationist of the 20th century. This book explores the breadth, quality and legacy of Derek’s work and has many personal reminiscences. The 30 contributors provide fascinating insights to a remarkable person, and events and issues which have shaped wild nature as we see it today. Beautifully illustrated, this is a deeply inspiring book. It will appeal to a wide readership, curious about what makes someone so special and united by an eagerness to see wildlife flourish."

Galloway And The Borders

Derek Ratcliffe

Harper Collins

2007

"This book is an in-depth study of the natural developments and history of Galloway and surrounding areas. Often overlooked due to the reputation of natural habitat in other parts of the country, the author here conveys the diversity and magnificence of nature in the south of Scotland. Galloway and the borders is an extremely varied region, from saltmarshes and shingle beaches to rocky islands and seabird stations. The wide range of hills, displaying a wealth of rich colours, give the area its dominant character. The varied selection of flora and fauna only add to the diversity."

Lapland: A Natural History

Derek Ratcliffe

2005

"Looks at the flora and fauna of Lapland, that area of northern Europe and northwestern Russia which lies within the Arctic circle. It examines the ecosystems and species by habitat type, with one chapter dealing with freshwater habitats, another with open tundra and so on. Conservation issues affecting it today are also discussed."

Return of the Peregrine: A North American Saga of Tenacity and Teamwork

Editors: Tom J. Cade and William Burnham

2003

"The Peregrine Falcon restoration is the largest and most comprehensive endeavor to restore wild populations of an endangered species ever accomplished. The magnitude of the program and level of cooperation achieved are unique in nature conservation. Why and how this effort was achieved is documented in this book and serves as an example of what can be accomplished when people are willing to work cooperatively.

Authored by 69 people with long-term involvement, and most of the individuals key to the success, the story is presented chronologically, topically, and geographically. Tom Cade begins with a prologue on the life history traits of the Peregrine Falcon in relation to recovery as only someone with over fifty years of experience can write. In the following 21 chapters and 57 sidebars the story unfolds in each author's own words.

Although the focus is in North America, including Greenland, the story extends to Europe with two renowned British scientists contributing chapters. Derek Ratcliffe tells his story of discovering DDT as the cause for Peregrine Falcon decline, followed later in the book by Ian Newton documenting the contribution of the restoration program to the understanding of the Peregrine and summarizing what is known about the species."

Lakeland

Derek Ratcliffe

Collins

2002

"Cumbria, or the habitat of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands, is the Lakeland area treated by author Derek Ratcliffe in this latest volume in the "New Naturalist" series. The region of the Lake District has modest hills compared to the great mountain ranges of continental Europe. Yet they remain for many naturalists the best and most alluring part of Lakeland, with the most glamorous fauna, and a flora fascinating in the story of the past that it tells. This title aims to tell the story of the whole region from the perspective of its natural history, and from the personal viewpoint of the author. There is an emphasis on the northern half of the region where the author grew up, but this counterbalances the previous "New Naturalist: Lake District", whose authors were better acquainted with the southern half. Through the 12 chapters in the book, Derek Ratcliffe describes the Lakeland climate and geology, key naturalist figures and societies, the nature of the estuaries, coastline and lowlands, the limestone foothills, Lake dales and fells, the Pennines and the Borders. He considers the conservation problems and measures taken, and includes information on organisations such as the National Park Authority, National Trust and non-governmental organisations and on protected areas of various kinds, before assessing the future environmental prospects for the region."

The Breeding Birds of Cumbria: A Tetrad Atlas 1997-2001

Editor: Malcolm Stott, John Callion, Ian Kinley, Colin Raven and Jeremy Roberts

Cumbria Bird Club

2002

"Each of the 152 breeding species has a two-page spread including: 700+ word account with historical perspective, range, trends, and population estimate; tetrad maps of both distribution and abundance; 10km square maps showing change in distribution over the last 30 years; an original line-art vignette; and information boxes with survey statistics and conservation status. Past, occasional, and potential breeders, and resident feral species not fully established, are covered in a separate section. An illustrated introductory section gives an account of the county's landforms, climate and habitats. Appendices provide a gazetteer, statistics and references."

British Plant Communities, Volume 5, Maritime Communities and Vegetation of Open Habitats

Editor: J. S. Rodwell

Cambridge University Press

2000

"British Plant Communities is the first systematic and comprehensive account of the vegetation types of this country. It covers all natural, semi-natural and major artificial habitats in Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland), representing the fruits of fifteen years of research by leading plant ecologists. The book breaks new ground in wedding the rigorous interest in the classification of plant communities that has characterized Continental phytosociology with the deep concern traditional in Great Britain to understand how vegetation works. The published volumes have been greeted with universal acclaim, and the series has become firmly established as a framework for a wide variety of teaching, research and management activities in ecology, conservation and land-use planning."

Contents of Volume 5:

• Preamble
• Part I. Salt-Marsh Communities: Introduction to salt-marsh communities
• Key to salt-marsh communities
• Community descriptions
• Part II. Sand-Dune Communities: Introduction to sand-dune communities
• Key to sand-dune communities
• Community descriptions
• Part III. Maritime Cliff Communities: Introduction to maritime cliff communities
• Key to maritime cliff communities
• Community descriptions
• Part IV. Vegetation of Open Habitats: Introduction to vegetation of open habitats
• Key to vegetation of open habitats
• Community descriptions
• Phytosociological conspectus of British plant communities
• Index of synonyms
• Index of species
• Bibliography

In Search of Nature

Derek Ratcliffe

2000

"Autobiography of the distinguished naturalist and conservationist, tracing his life from an early fascination with birds, butterflies, moths and dragonflies to vegetation surveys in Scotland in the early days of the Nature Conservancy, and his championing of the Peregrine Falcon and the battle against organochlorine pesticides."

The Raven: A Natural History in Britain and Ireland

Derek Ratcliffe

Poyser / Princeton University Press

1997

"This book presents a thorough summary of the current state of knowledge regarding the Raven's natural history, describing its present distribution, habitat requirements, calls, feeding habits, social behavior, and population centers. An emphasis is placed on the long association of the bird with humans, and useful comparisons of the Northern Hemisphere species are made. Includes colour illustrations and maps."

The Peregrine Sketchbook

C.F. Tunnicliffe

Afterword: Derek Ratcliffe

Excellent Press

1996

26 colour sketches of Peregrines made by in Anglesey, plus black and white sketches and extracts from Tunnicliffe's journal written whilst sketching the birds in Anglesey in 1948. The book has an introduction by Robert Gillmor and an afterword on the Anglesey Peregrines by Derek Ratcliffe.

Bird Life of Mountain And Upland

Derek Ratcliffe

Cambridge University Press

1991

"This book describes the bird life of the various upland regions of the British Isles and presents the various species from an ecological standpoint. The book relates the bird distribution and abundance to the various environmental influences of climate, topography, geology, soil type and human land use. The book initially sets the scene by describing and examining the changes and bird fauna following the major climatic shift since the end of the Ice Age. The uplands are grouped into several main types - sheep-walks, grouse moors, deer forests, flows (peat bogs), maritime hills and high tops and the distinctive bird assemblages are described together with details of the natural history of the more important species. The book will appeal to the informed layman and to the keen bird-watcher who wants to learn more about the life of upland birds and the ways in which they are adapted to their environments."

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Flow Country: The Peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland

R. A. Lindsay, D. J. Charman, F. Everingham, R. M. O'Reilly, M. A. Palmer, T. A. Rowell and D. A. Stroud

Editor: D. A. Ratcliffe and P. H. Oswald

1988

"The present report deals in detail with the peatlands - their development, structure, relations to environment, vegetation and flora. It is prefaced by an account of peatlands in general and blanket bog in particular, to provide a context for assessment of the scientific and nature conservation value of the Caithness and Sutherland examples. The main part of the report gives the results of the NCC's Peatlands Survey in characterising the field of ecological variation in these blanket bogs as the basis for a conservation strategy and programme. The impact of afforestation, as the main threat to the continued existence of these blanket bogs, is discussed briefly. The nature conservation requirements are then defined, in terms of peatland areas requiring protection. In addition, the NCC has conducted surveys of lochs and of rivers in Caithness and Sutherland as separate studies. Although the river survey is incomplete, enough information has been gained to make parallel assessments and recommendations for conservation of these freshwater habitats. This analysis is presented in a separate section. For completeness, a summary of the bird surveys and recommendations is also given, and there is a final composite statement of the total nature conservation requirement, in terms of protected areas, when all three sets of interests are combined."

Birds, bogs and forestry: The peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland

D. A. Stroud, T.M. Reed, M.W. Pienkowski and R. A. Lindsay

Editor: D. A. Ratcliffe and P. H. Oswald

1987

"Birds, bogs and forestry presented the initial results of surveys undertaken by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) in the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland."

Nature Conservation in Great Britain: Summary of objectives and strategy

Editor: D. A. Ratcliffe et al

1984

16 page report.

Conservation of Mountain and Moorland

A. Lance and Derek A. Ratcliffe

1983

12 page booklet.

Enjoying Ornithology

Editor: Ronald Hickling

Poyser

1983

"This year 1983,the British Trust for Ornithology celebrates its first fifty years and this volume records much of the history of birdwatching and ornithology since the early 1930s. This book is not a history of the BTO, but many of the trust's achievements helped fashion the development and direction of ornithology over the decades, and major aspects of the Trust's work rightly have detailed treatment. The book ranges widely, it looks at the changing bird as well as the changing birdwatcher and records the work of related conservation bodies, it considers the future and the past and includes an extensive section of useful facts and figures, whilst never loosing sight of the central theme which is the book's title." From the inside jacket.

The Peregrine Falcon

Derek A. Ratcliffe

Poyser

1980 (2nd edition 1993)

"The first edition of The Peregrine Falcon was widely recognized as a classic of its kind, documenting not only the species' biology but the sad story of its decline due to the impact of pesticides. This extensively revised and enlarged second edition takes full account of important new developments in the story of this bird during the years since the first publication.

Contents: The Peregrine and Man; The Peregrine's Country; Population Trends; Distribution and Numbers; Food and Feeding Habits; Nesting Habitat; The Breeding Cycle; Movements and Migration; Breeding Density and Territory; Population Regulation and Dynamics; Ecological Relationships with Other Birds; The Pesticide Story; Other Enemies; Appearance, Form, And Geographical Variation; Conservation."

A Nature Conservation Review

Derek A. Ratcliffe

Cambridge University Press

1977

Reprint: 2011

"Analyses and describes the range of variation in the wild flora and fauna of Britain and identifies important sites that exemplify this rich heritage. These key sites were chosen to represent all the main types of natural and semi-natural vegetation with their characteristic communities of plants and animals. The range of habitats, communities and species is classified under major formations, and in Volume 1, these are subdivided and described. In Volume 2, the 735 chosen sites are described. They include areas in both public and private ownership as well as nature reserves. Location and size are given, with an account of other specific features. The internationally applicable criteria for evaluating and selecting key sites are also fully discussed. Cambridge University Press published the Review on behalf of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Natural Environment Research Council."

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Highland Flora

Derek Ratcliffe

1977

The Cairngorms: Their Natural History and Scenery

Desmond Nethersole-Thompson and Adam Watson

Preface: V. C. Wynne-Edwards

Collins

1974

A comprehensive and authoritative account of the human and natural history of the Cairngorms.

Plant Communities of the Scottish Highlands

Donald McVean and Derek A. Ratcliffe

HMSO

1962

A study of Scottish mountain, moorland and forest vegetation.