Engelska

Ponds and pools are a common feature of our landscape - there are at least ten times as many ponds as lakes in the UK - and they are also important wildlife habitats. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of these freshwater habitats. The first chapter discusses what ponds, pools and puddles are, how they differ from rivers and lakes, their origin - natural or man-made, the different types of ponds and their abundance and distribution in Britain. A second chapter looks at ponds as ancient natural habitats that have existed for millennia on the earth's surface. Ancient pond communities, as preserved in inter- and post-glacial sediments, are compared with modern pond communities. This chapter also examines the physical and chemical environment of ponds, covering aspects such as size, shape and depth, hydrology, oxygen and temperature. Ponds, pools and puddles are as rich in species as rivers, and support rare and uncommon taxa including about half of Britain's "Red Data Book" wetland plant and animal species. The authors provide a comprehensive survey of the variety of plant and animal life for which ponds, pools and puddles are a habitat, with a chapter each on plants, invertebrates, amphibians and fish, birds and mammals. The book discusses the importance of ponds to each of these groups and the ways in which the organisms exploit ponds, describing their habitats and major variations in life cycles. The pond ecosystem and colonization and succession are discussed in two further chapters, before the final chapter, which is devoted to the subject of conservation and how best to protect and manage ponds and pond wildlife in Britain today. In spite of their evident importance, ponds have been largely ignored by freshwater biologists. This book makes a valuable contribution to raising awareness of these popular, yet frequently underrated freshwater habitats, giving them the attention they rightly deserve.

<b><i>The Art of Flower Therapy</i> is a comprehensive guide to working with the original 38 Bach flower remedies to support dynamic health and optimal well-being.</b><br/> <br/> Since the beginning of time, flowers and plants have been used as medicine.  Energy healing and holistic methods are growing in popularity as many people are feeling a need to explore different areas of health and wellness and moving away from traditional medicine.<br/> <br/> <i>The Art of Flower Therapy</i>  teaches us, step by step, how to<br/> -    gain greater self-awareness<br/> -    achieve emotional balance and harmony<br/> -    attain better health and well-being<br/> -    forge a deeper connection with nature<br/> -    live the life you desire<br/> -    integrate flower therapy into their day-to-day lives<br/> <br/> Readers will receive a clear understanding of the 38 Bach flower remedies and the seven emotional states. <i>The Art of Flower Therapy</i> outlines a simple process to balance emotions, which, in turn, leads to better health. Through the various methods outlined, you'll feel confident in your ability to choose single and combination remedies for yourself as well as for others.<br/> <br/> The book is also supported by sumptuous images to help explore the art of flower essence therapy. Harness the tremendous power of flowers to fully embrace the life you truly were meant to live. <i>The Art of Flower Therapy</i> is the perfect companion to <i>Listening to Flowers</i>.

We once met a dog that changed the world. His name was Brooklyn. It's hard to imagine that a spotted dog would become the inspiration for a worldwide fight; that the campaign would be successful, and that after a decade of suffering, he would come home to us. And yet it happened. In fact, the thirteen short years that Brooklyn spent on this earth would turn out to be one of the most consequential periods in history for greyhounds, and for the broader debate on non-human animal rights. The life of this one dog signalled not only the end of greyhound racing in the United States, but also the emergence of the first successful movement to outlaw an animal abuse industry that was powerful, culturally resonant, and economically significant. This history is based on the memories and reflections of Christine Dorchak and Carey Theil and describes twenty years of working together to help greyhounds. The two grew up more than a decade apart, on alternate coasts, one raised very traditionally and the other quite liberally, one an animal loving "Jersey Girl" turned lawyer, the other a poet and chess master turned political strategist. This Yin and Yang turned out to be a curious balance of opposites that is perhaps the reason that the organization survived and then succeeded against very great odds. BROOKLYN GOES HOME is the story of the rise and fall of commercial greyhound racing in the United States and an account of how one small non-profit emerged to make an impact. It is also a remembrance of three glorious years spent with a magical dog. Readers will find inspiration in this chronicle, and perhaps discover new paths to making positive change in the world.

In 2006, Bill Crain was a psychology professor and his wife, Ellen, was a paediatrician. They purchased a run-down farm in upstate New York, and two years later opened Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary. It is now home to over 170 animals rescued from slaughter. In ANIMAL STORIES, Bill writes about how he and Ellen decided to start the sanctuary and tells the stories of 25 animals and their many surprising behaviours. Read about Katie, a hen who cared for a little partridge; Cesar, a little goat who constantly gets into trouble; Reggie, a rooster who instilled fear in all the staff; Milo, a goat who suddenly charged the dominant Duncan to defend his mother; four rambunctious young turkeys who quietly listened to a reverent Girl Scout ceremony; Ducky, a turkey who, despite severe arthritis, walked from her barn to greet a Buddhist monk; Ethel, an elderly cow who assumes the responsibility of a matriarch; and many others. In addition to enjoying the stories, readers will learn a great deal about nonhuman animals.