18/10/2026
There was no work party last week, so instead, we have another book review, this time of Dave Goulson`s The Garden Jungle ISBN 9781784709914.
A writer of major popular science books and with over 300 scientific papers on entomology to his name, Dave Goulson is widely considered one of Britain's foremost bumblebee experts and an authority on bumblebee ecology and conservation. His pioneering research concerning pesticide use on insect populations has helped change public opinion and influenced environmental policy. An ambassador for the Wildlife Trust and professor of biology at the University of Suss*x.
As well as his ability to make accessible that which to many seems hidden, the joy of this book is learning how easy his practical advice can be implemented and how each act of resistance against climate breakdown (however seemingly small) is an act not just for ourselves but also for our futures. Many homes have access to some green space and our gardens collectively form the last refuge for Britain's remaining wildlife; and, taken together with roadside verges, traffic roundabouts, wasteland etc., can provide a safer refuge for wildlife if well managed.
Goulson combines the curosity of the old style naturalists with the empirical, data-led research of modern science. This book is about the small invertebrates, trees, shrubs and wild plants that are all around us and calls for a shift in our baseline approach to how we see nature. What gives this book a classic status is, perhaps not so much its subject, as the manner and style in which he writes. One feels he writes for all humankind (the book is dedicated to Gaia, the ancient Greek goddess of Earth) and for all our futures in each and every sentence.
This is a small book with a big idea; and, put in context of Earth's current climate breakdown, addresses the problem at the individual level, speaking directly to the reader. When thinking about the broader issues of climate breakdown it is easy to forget the life that exists in our own back gardens and how crucial a role it can play in protecting our remaining biodiversity. This book is the perfect balance between evolutionary history and the life going on all around us; and with a recipe introducing each chapter, it is little wonder it became a Sunday Times Bestseller.
Chris Hall, FoLV volunteer.
