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Dave Goulson
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The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet Hardcover – July 11, 2019

by Dave Goulson (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 814 ratings
The Garden Jungle is about the wildlife that lives right under our noses, in our gardens and parks, between the gaps in the pavement, and in the soil beneath our feet. Wherever you are right now, the chances are that there are worms, woodlice, centipedes, flies, silverfish, wasps, beetles, mice, shrews and much, much more, quietly living within just a few paces of you.

Dave Goulson gives us an insight into the fascinating and sometimes weird lives of these creatures, taking us burrowing into the compost heap, digging under the lawn and diving into the garden pond. He explains how our lives and ultimately the fate of humankind are inextricably intertwined with that of earwigs, bees, lacewings and hoverflies, unappreciated heroes of the natural world.

The Garden Jungle is at times an immensely serious book, exploring the environmental harm inadvertently done by gardeners who buy intensively reared plants in disposable plastic pots, sprayed with pesticides and grown in peat cut from the ground. Goulson argues that gardens could become places where we can reconnect with nature and rediscover where food comes from. With just a few small changes, our gardens could become a vast network of tiny nature reserves, where humans and wildlife can thrive together in harmony rather than conflict.

For anyone who has a garden, and cares about our planet, this book is essential reading.
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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Jonathan Cape
  4. Publication date
    July 11, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.67 x 5.67 x 8.74 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1787331350
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1787331358
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jonathan Cape (July 11, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1787331350
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1787331358
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.67 x 5.67 x 8.74 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 814 ratings

About the author

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Dave Goulson

Dave Goulson

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I grew up fascinated by insects, and by wildlife in general, and have managed to make a living from studying them, which makes me very lucky indeed. I'm now Professor of Biology at Sussex University. I've published over 300 scientific papers on bumblebees and other insects. My main focus is on why bees are declining and on working out what best we can do to help them.

In 2006 I founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity devoted to bumblebees which now has about 40 staff and 12,000 members.

I am author of "Bumblebees; their behaviour, conservation and ecology" (2010), an academic text, and A Sting in the Tale (2013), a bestselling popular science book about bumblebees, published by Jonathan Cape, and now translated into fifteen languages. This was followed by A Buzz in the Meadow in 2014, Bee Quest in 2017, The Garden Jungle in 2019, Gardening for Bumblebees in 2021, and Silent Earth also in 2021.

I was: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s Social Innovator of the Year in 2010; given the Zoological Society of London’s Marsh Award for Conservation Biology in 2013; elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2013; given the British Ecological Society Public Engagement Award in 2014; given the Zoological Society of London’s Clarivate Award for Communicating Zoology in 2020. In 2015 I was named number 8 in BBC Wildlife Magazine’s list of the top 50 most influential people in conservation. In 2018, 2019 and 2020 I was named as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by Thompson ISI. I am a trustee of Pesticide Action Network, an “Ambassador” for the UK Wildlife Trusts, and president of Pesticide Free Scotland

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4.7 out of 5 stars
814 global ratings

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  • Tree Hugger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastic, warm, and a beautiful read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Not only is Dave’s enthusiasm infectious throughout this book, but his writing style is also spot on. Though he is a professor and highly educated man, The Garden Jungle is knowledgeable but ultimately approachable and easily digestible. With a wonderful dose of humour, it's hard not to be swayed by Dave's way of thinking.
    I came upon this book after, like most people, spending more and more time in my own garden during lockdown. Having gardened for many years, it perhaps took for the world to stop before I paid closer attention to the marvels outside my own home.
    Recently sectioning off an area to start a wildlife garden of my own, I’ve been reading up on this topic as much as I can. When you say wildlife gardening to some people, they immediately assume you’re about to let your garden grow wild and feral. Yet, I know there is so much more to this way of gardening and perhaps more so in the way of grafting. Not only that, I want to know how to make it better and to really make a difference – hence buying this book.
    This has become an essential read and a book that I’m proud to keep pride of place along with the rest of my many gardening books. It’s also one that I’ve made plenty of notes in for future reference.
    (I was also happy to discover that Dave has a couple of other books, which I think I have no choice other than to add to my collection now!)
    Customer image
    Tree Hugger
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Enthusiastic, warm, and a beautiful read

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2020
    Not only is Dave’s enthusiasm infectious throughout this book, but his writing style is also spot on. Though he is a professor and highly educated man, The Garden Jungle is knowledgeable but ultimately approachable and easily digestible. With a wonderful dose of humour, it's hard not to be swayed by Dave's way of thinking.
    I came upon this book after, like most people, spending more and more time in my own garden during lockdown. Having gardened for many years, it perhaps took for the world to stop before I paid closer attention to the marvels outside my own home.
    Recently sectioning off an area to start a wildlife garden of my own, I’ve been reading up on this topic as much as I can. When you say wildlife gardening to some people, they immediately assume you’re about to let your garden grow wild and feral. Yet, I know there is so much more to this way of gardening and perhaps more so in the way of grafting. Not only that, I want to know how to make it better and to really make a difference – hence buying this book.
    This has become an essential read and a book that I’m proud to keep pride of place along with the rest of my many gardening books. It’s also one that I’ve made plenty of notes in for future reference.
    (I was also happy to discover that Dave has a couple of other books, which I think I have no choice other than to add to my collection now!)
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  • Giovanna Olivieri
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really interesting and useful book
    Reviewed in Italy on April 16, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed reading this book because it is scientifically pertinent and correct but also has a personal edge which makes it even more real and enjoyable. Prof. Goulson is an expert as far as honeyhbees, bumblebees and other wild bees are concerned, but you can feel that he is genuinely concerned with the environment and all the tips he gives in his books have been personally tested.
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  • トラちゃん
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening!
    Reviewed in Japan on March 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    草花に飛来する昆虫、地中の生物たちの働きを知ることで育てる植物の種類の重要性を改めて感じさせられた。近来我が家のテラスを訪れる蜂、アブの数が減ってきているのを実感しているのでその理由も理解出来
    た。時にユーモアも交えた内容は楽しい読み物でした。
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  • Saga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informativ und unterhaltsam
    Reviewed in Germany on October 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Dave Goulson ist ein Autor, der auf sehr unterhaltsame Weise viel Wissenswertes über Insekten und die Natur im Allgemeinen zu übermitteln weiss. Mit britischem Humor schreibt er über Hummeln, Ameisen und Regenwürmer. Als Universitätsprofessor ist er top informiert, hauptsächlich, was die britischen Inseln angeht, aber er behät auch den Rest der Krabbelwelt im Auge.
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  • C. R. Palma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and delightful book
    Reviewed in Spain on July 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The cover says "should be read by every gardener in the country"...I would add "in EVERY country". Dave Goulson delivers on his 1st page promise to show us that the lives of the thousands (millions?) of critters in our gardens can be just as exciting as wildlife safaris. If we all stopped random killing with pesticides and started getting down to earth to know our little neighbours better, surely biodiversity conservation would be an easier task. The writing is fun and inspiring in equal parts, although it does also warn of impending disaster if we don't change our ways!
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