Books published by Merlin Unwin Books

This powerful and beautifully-written account is the memoir of Patricia Nolan who lived in a tiny community in Cumbria and it captures the end of an era in the 1950s.'When the first organ-transplant was taking place, when computers were starting to revolutionise our lives and television was arriving in the sitting-rooms of Britain, in my house we were still dipping buckets into a stream to make a cup of tea and going to bed by candlelight,' she writes.The tale covers three years of the author's life, made particularly vivid by a traumatic event which opens the book, but which goes on to depict a poor but close rural community with its village school, its annual country show, its Christmas celebrations and its local characters - all set against the dramatic back-drop of Scafell and the surrounding hills and moors on which she and her friends ran free.

A resource for identifying and understanding the flora, fauna and eco-systems of the Pennines, with photographs and insights set to be of interest to ramblers, birdwatchers and day-trippers.

A photographic celebration of the Pennines from south to north, with text throughout on making the most of a trip to the famously bucolic region.

From the tiniest streams to the open coast, anglers are discovering the thrill of lure fishing with ultra-light tackle. From blennies and rockfish to weavers, wrasse and a host of freshwater species from ruffe to barbel. They are all now providing anglers with rod-bending fun with lightweight lures. Lightweight Lure Fishing gives you the lowdown on all the best lures, tackle and techniques you'll need to explore this exciting new branch of angling. Packed with beautiful photographs of fish and anglers and brimming with original ideas and tips, you'll find this book leads you to catch new species in ways that you never imagined. Acclaimed author and predator angler Dominic Garnett and lure fishing fanatic Andy Mytton present a comprehensive guide to the current scene. BBC wildlife photographer and filmmaker Jack Perks adds some amazing underwater images of some of the featured species. - From jigging to dropshotting, from weedless lures to jika rigs - all the key styles and techniques clearly explained - Over 200 stunning photos and diagrams, including rare underwater action photography - Includes a handy, spotter's guide to a huge range of fish species, along with tips, recommended lures, seasons and locations - Covers fresh and saltwater fishing

Ovington's Bank is a forgotten masterpiece from peerless story-teller Stanley Weyman who was once as popular as Dickens, Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson.Ovington's Bank was written at the height of Weyman's powers, and is considered the finest of his 24 novels.Set in 1825, the novel's themes are as relevant today as then. The tale follows a run on a private bank: in the fall-out, the protagonists are challenged to examine their motives, their morals and their values as the surprising plot unfolds.This is a tale of tension between traditional values and modern opportunities; between ambition and love; self-denial and passion. In this fast-moving story, the unforgettable characters feature in a breathtaking stagecoach dash to London, a violent mugging, a cunning theft, a desperate bid to keep up appearances and the tenderest of love scenes.This elegantly designed Merlin Unwin Books edition is a fine jacketed hardback with navy endpapers, swell-rules and is set in caslon typeface.Jim Lawley's essay provides the most complete existing biography of Stanley Weyman (1855-1928), including Weyman's own unabridged account of his dramatic arrest and imprisonment on suspicion of spying in France in 1885.

The next five years will see a massive national drive on the part of the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency to get everyone out there fishing, from inner cities to remote villages, from local ponds and upland steams to beaches.This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, and those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further. It outlines what you need to know to experience the joy of getting out there, alone or with family and friends, and enjoying a day or an afternoon fishing - and catching, whether it's mackerel, pike or trout.The book is endorsed by the Angling Trustand their Get Fishing campaign. It has everything a beginner would need to know about the basics: species, tackle, bait, tactics and watercraft.

Roger Evans, Britain's favourite dairy farmer, is back with his popular diary telling his fans about his farm, his dogs, his daily ups and downs and his views on everything from the characters in his local pub to the price of milk. This new volume is as witty and entertaining as ever.Roger Evans writes a popular farming column in the Western Daily Press every Saturday and well as being a regular contributor to The Diary Farmer,Cow Management and Veterinary Times.He's a past winner of the Dairy Ambassador of the Year Cream Awards and his books have sold over 30,000 copies.

International multi-millionaire trader Hansi Hartzog has bought Dunmorse Hall, jewel in the crown of the Starcliffe valley, and he's improved the shoot, brought in new money and generally shaken things up.But not all the locals approve of the changes. They can't walk in the woods, dead vermin adorn the fences and there are grumbles about over-production of game birds. There are boundary disputes, rumours of affairs and unsettling co-incidences.Here is a community in flux: eastern european farm workers, poachers, badger culls, TB testing, in-comers and old-school locals, financial and emotional tensions. Hansi organises an ambitious charity High Flyers Day raffle for which the winner can invite seven guests to shoot on donated drives at four different local shoots.But on the day, a shocking death rocks the village. Can DCI Robb, recently widowed and recovering from injury, solve the crime before more damage is done?

James Batty seldom ventures further than 20 miles from his Cornish home. He fishes from the rocks and beaches in a handful of places and that is enough for him. Generous with his knowledge and full of fresh ideas, Batty catches bass with lures, flies and bait. It's a myth, he says, that you need expensive gear - he beaches plenty of big bass yet is a tackle skinflint. He loves to fish in those pre-dawn hours beloved of insomniacs, when the tide brings the big feeding bass close in to the shore. The book's real focus is on understanding bass behaviour, then using that understanding to work out the place, time and method. Some bass-fishers obsess over conditions - too flat, too rough, too something. James Batty offers ideas as to how to catch bass in any weather or sea-state.His book isn't just about the hows-and-whys of bass fishing, it is a wry look at life and it will make the reader laugh - a lot.

Following the success of "Venison: The Game Larder", which celebrated and advised on the cooking and preparation of traditional game, this new title levels the same attention at game birds. Information on plucking, preparing, filleting, smoking, barbecuing and butchery, alongside recipes for sloe gin game pie, pigeon tikka and more.

Wayside Medicine is packed with practical information on the use of over 50 native plants as sources of herbal medicine.The countryside abounds with cures which really work and cost a fraction of over-the-counter commercial brands. Have the satisfaction of picking and making your own simple herbal medicine, which has worked for centuries. The authors of Wayside Medicine remind us of a cornucopia of nature's healing plants which have somehow been forgotten. Here are clear instructions from a renowned professional herbalist on how to make your own remedies: teas, oils, tinctures, poultices and creams. Stunning colour pictures accompany all the plants, as well as a comprehensive index matching health problems to the right herbal cure.

Award-winning photographer Stephen Dalton owns an 8-acre wood in Sussex and for the last 20 years has delighted in improving it, increasing its biodiversity - and simply watching it develop naturally throughout the seasons and the years. Using his pioneering high-speed photographic techniques, Stephen shows the reader the rich diversity of plants, trees, insects, birds and animals which live there. He captures on film the developments his woodland and pond have undergone over a couple of decades and shares his passion for the woods he loves. This delightful, informative photographic celebration will appeal to all who regularly walk throughout the seasons in their local woods, those lucky enough to own a woodland themselves, and all who dream of doing so one day.

Highly acclaimed author and naturalist Richard Jefferies (1848-1887) made his living writing about the countryside in which he lived. He made his name through his newspaper columns about the countryside and rural life, and achieved the peak of his fame as author of The Gamekeeper at Home and The Amateur Poacher. His love of nature and wildlife was nurtured by his father who taught him much about the life of the fields and woods. Jefferies' own remarkable powers of observation infuse his writing on the habits and habitat of his quarry, the techniques of fieldsports and the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. These sporting articles are collected here for the first time in a new anthology.

Could you complete the iconic walk from Land's End to John O'Groats? And even if you could, would it be worth it? What would you see on the way? Middle-aged professional photographer Helen Shaw and her partner Bob set off with those questions in mind and were blown away by the experience. They divided their journey into 7 stages to fit around work and family commitments and completed it in 81 days. On the way, Helen took stunning photographs of the route: coastal paths, meadowland, country lanes, moors and woods; of the wildlife, buildings and points of interest in villages, towns and even cities. With disarming frankness she and Bob touch on the highs and lows of the adventure, their reactions to it, the surprising discoveries and the sheer joy of getting to know Britain in a completely new way. This book will encourage walkers of all abilities to set off from Cornwall to Caithness, and Helen's photographs of the journey will be an inspiration to them.

Wild Flowers of Britain, penned by the talented Margaret, is a captivating exploration into the diverse flora that graces Britain's landscapes. Published in 2016 by Merlin Unwin Books, this book offers readers a journey through the verdant fields, rolling hills, and hidden corners of Britain, revealing the untamed beauty of its wildflowers. Each page is a testament to Margaret's deep understanding and appreciation for these natural wonders, making it a must-read for nature enthusiasts and botany aficionados alike. The book, while firmly rooted in the genre of nature writing, transcends it with its poetic prose and meticulous research. Wild Flowers of Britain is more than just a book; it's an invitation to experience the enchanting world of Britain's wildflowers through Margaret's eyes. So, embark on this journey with Merlin Unwin Books, and let the wild flowers of Britain captivate your senses.

Megan Boyd is considered to be one of the world's finest salmon fly tyers and she is the subject of the US film 'Kiss the Water'. She was born in 1915, and was bought up in the Highlands of Scotland where her father was a bailiff on the River Brora. She began taking flytying lessons at the age of twelve and soon gained a reputation for tying beautiful feather-wing flies which were extra-ordinarily durable and lasted many seasons. In 1935, at the age of twenty, Megan left home and moved into a small cottage near Brora where she lived without electricity or running water until the 1980s. Visiting anglers from all over the world who came to fish the Highland rivers for salmon would stop by her cottage to watch her tie flies and place orders.

Beneath the surface of the wealthy stalking party meeting for sport on a remote Scottish peninsular, tensions are slowly ratcheting upwards. The fishing and the stalking are all in good condition but a lethal cocktail of sexual, social, inheritance and political elements combine to result in some very unexpected outcomes. DP Hart-Davis' chilling and labyrinthine mystery is handled with aplomb by this experienced sporting author.

With hundreds of miles of underfished water, canals represent a vast, untapped fishing resource. From shallow, secluded rural waters to giant urban ship channels, they offer a staggering diversity of angling potential which is open and affordable to all.Britain's canals have never been in better shape, with a huge range of species to target. From classic roach fishing to specimen carp, pike and increasingly common surprises like chub and zander, this book covers everything from traditional to ultra-modern techniques.This is more than just a 'how to' volume. With details of venues and notable fish records from every part of the UK, this book also represents an essential guide to Britain's canals. Whether you're planning a short break or looking for a fresh challenge on your local 'Cut', Dominic Garnett's book is packed with inspiring ideas, beautiful photography and invaluable information.

Working at the sharp end, Scottish vet Hugh Cran describes his daily and nightly challenges working in Kenya as he encounters rabid dogs, a horse pageant that goes horribly wrong, missing tortoises, entire herds of sick cattle and corrupt policemen: he even witnesses how a witchdoctor successfully identifies a thief. Busy from early morning to midnight, Hugh never turns down a call to help an animal in distress, even if this means driving across floods or deserts, surviving vehicle break-downs or insanitary operating conditions on arrival. In this book, Hugh falls in love, marries and starts a family, climbs Kenyan mountains, survives a life-threatening health crisis, a surgery fire and a serious legal accusation.Throughout it all, he remains a dedicated and hardworking local vet, serving his African community, no matter what.He has promises to keep...