ID Guide books

[Quixoticgeek]

I would like to know more about the flora and fauna around me when I am out and about. I have a copy of the Collins British Wildlife, but it doesn't quite work how I would like it.

Ideally I am after a guidebook where it allows me to use a sort of flow chart type affair to follow through to the end species, a sort of "Is it Green?" "Goto page 10" "Does it have more than 2 leaves?" "Goto page 132" *some steps later* "It's a Blue bell".

I am also looking for a book that is much the same but for animals rather than plants. Here I would like things like an illustration of the foot print, the droppings, what sort of habbitat it is in etc... I know as I kid I had some great books like this, but I've no idea where went.

Can anyone recommend any suitable books?

Thanks

Julia

 

[Jackdaw]

The Wild Flower Key by Rose is a must then. It is pretty much the standard text book for ecologists in the field.

Available here for ID purposes (you can get it cheaper but about £15.00 is about right: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wild-Flower-Revised-Edition/dp/0723251754

I use it all the time whenever I want to key out one of the edibles listed in the Food for Free or another foraging handbook.

 

[Leigh Robinson]

The Wild Flower Key by Rose is a must then. It is pretty much the standard text book for ecologists in the field.

Available here for ID purposes (you can get it cheaper but about £15.00 is about right: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wild-Flower-Revised-Edition/dp/0723251754

I use it all the time whenever I want to key out one of the edibles listed in the Food for Free or another foraging handbook.

Seconded, it's an excellent book.

 

[ozzy1977]

Used that when doing my degree, along with Hubbard for grasses and the Collins guide for trees