A Buzz in the Meadow

March 23, 2015
In 2003, British biologist Goulson (A Sting in the Tale) bought Chez Nauche, “a derelict farm deep in the heart of rural France,” with the intention of establishing a wildlife sanctuary: “a place where butterflies, dragonflies, voles and newts could thrive, free from the pressures of modern agriculture.” Discussion in this nostalgic and earnest volume revolves around the plants and animals that live on Goulson’s “little corner of the French countryside,” and he reflects on his professional past while looking to the future. Ever the scientist, Goulson details the ways in which “creatures in the meadow” are connected to one another as well as to their surroundings. He champions their delicate ecosystem, urging readers to “cherish life on Earth in all its forms,” and he explains many of the roles that insects play. “They can be predators, parasites, herbivores or detritivores.” Some live in large colonies. Others spend years alone in the darkness. Chapters on the “extraordinarily varied and often bizarre” mating habits of insects prove especially intriguing. Whether he’s describing the quotidian existence of insects on his farm or sounding cautionary notes about the natural environment, Goulson appreciates the smallest things in the world and hopes others can do the same.

February 1, 2015
When we speak of endangered species, our focus is usually on the plight of mammals. However, writes Goulson (Biological and Environmental Sciences/Univ. of Sterling; A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees, 2014, etc.), they are only a small section of the "perhaps ten-million different species," many yet to be named, that inhabit our planet and play a critical role in maintaining its ecosystems.In 2003, the author, founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, purchased a derelict farmhouse and 33-acre meadow in the French countryside. His aim was to transform the run-down property into a wildlife sanctuary to shelter and preserve the habitats of "the smaller, everyday creatures that live around us." The author's professional specialty, the study of bees, prompted his involvement in efforts to determine the cause of the disastrous, worldwide decline in the honeybee population, which plays a crucial role in pollination. An early hypothesis blamed the introduction of a nicotine-based pesticide applied to seeds before planting, as a substitute for aerial spraying. Goulson and his collaborators confirmed that this wasn't the case, but they found that the reproductive rates of queen bees, which ate the nectar brought back by the worker bees, were sharply reduced. Furthermore, the worker bees exhibited cognitive problems. Equally alarming, recent evidence indicates a buildup of the pesticide in soils and waterways. The pesticide has been temporarily banned in Europe but is still in use in America. On a lighter note, the author explains how the tapping of beetles in search of a mate was once fancifully compared to the devil tapping his fingers. Their residence of choice is old timber, including that of his farmhouse, which is also home to dormice and other creatures. Though he celebrates the majority of species living on his land, disease-bearing flies, he says, are less welcome. "Go outside," he urges readers, "look and listen." A charming but serious warning of the need to protect our natural ecosystems from heedless, irreversible destruction.

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Starred review from April 15, 2015

Goulson (biological sciences, Univ. of Stirling; A Sting in the Tale) woos readers with a personable tale of his well-intentioned (and sometimes bumbling) mission to create a natural environment for wildlife on a derelict plot of French land. The memoir introduces concepts of genetics, entomology, botany, and environmental science as the author's true goal becomes clear--he seeks to provide a warning eerily like that in Rachel Carson's pioneering Silent Spring. Goulson recounts his research on the effects of modern-day pesticides on bees and the political muddling that followed, and charges his readers to consider what our future will hold if we choose not to take action similar to that of Carson's readers more than 50 years ago. Speaking for an untold number of organisms, whose role in our environment remains unknown, Goulson adds a compelling voice to the long list of scientists he cites. Environmentalists will champion the author's message, students and professors of the natural sciences will want to read this work, and anyone who eats food will need to. VERDICT A strong voice in the canon of environmental writings, a call to action, and a relatable narrative combine in this highly recommended text.--Jaime Corris Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll. Lib., Waterbury, CT

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
In this engaging title, conservationist Goulson (A Sting in the Tale, 2014) delivers an entertaining account of life on his farm in rural France. The purchase of the long-neglected property allowed him to immerse himself in an area that was largely untouched and pristine, a place where wildlife took precedence over development. Turning his careful eye on the smallest of species, in successive chapters he shares his observations of dragonflies and flowers, butterflies and bees, while ruminating on their overall contributions to his corner of the world. Unexpectedly, Goulson also moves beyond his home to reflect on the work of biologists of the past and present, particularly when considering the critical state of the world's pollinators, for whom he issues a gentle call to arms. The book is, therefore, less a meditative reflection of wildlife in the country and more an artful blend of E. O. Wilson and Barry Lopez, with a continental flair. Backyard naturalists, regardless of their locale, will delight in the amiable company of this witty and thoughtful guide.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)