This book brings together Bill Meek's wildlife columns from the Cleethorpes Chronicle between April 2014 and the paper's demise in August 2017, and creates an unrivalled portrait of the natural history of his home town Cleethorpes, a seaside resort town in Northeast Lincolnshire. He describes the wonders and diversity of our natural heritage in easy to read articles that will delight and entertain anyone with an interest in our environment. Almost every aspect of the natural world is observed and recorded month by month through the year. Examples from the local area abound but the line between local and global themes is effortlessly negotiated. While not overly sentimental in style, the work conveys some uncompromising ecological messages with great balance and insight.
- Introduction
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- Bibliography
- Index
Growing up in the fields and marshes of Lincolnshire's north-east coast, Bill Meek has been obsessed by natural history since early childhood. He contributed large amounts of data to national bird recording schemes while still at school, and went on (via a short detour writing music for TV) to make a career as a research ecologist, where he put an extensive, in-depth knowledge of British wildlife to good use. Bill has authored a number of scientific papers and has contributed material to landmark publications in the field of natural history. He has dispensed ecological information to decision-makers, landowners, business leaders and Government departments as part of his work, and has appeared on TV. When not at work, Bill has travelled the length and breadth of Britain in pursuit of rare and special wildlife. He has also led specialist natural history holidays in Spain and Greece. He now makes a living as an ecological consultant and remains an active contributor to various wildlife recording schemes.