Colchester Natural History Society, and its members, have published a number of superb field guides, books and reports. CNHS publications can be ordered below with PayPal or credit card by clicking the relevant button. Alternatively, you may order by post enclosing your name, address and a cheque made out to “Colchester Natural History Society”:-

Pete Hewitt, 121 Mile End Road, Colchester, CO4 5DA - Tel: 01206 853942

email: pete.h@colchesternaturalhistorysociety.org.uk

For other books please contact the authors direct as we do not hold stocks of these publications (details below).

The Butterflies of Colchester and North East Essex £3.50 (+ £1 p&p)

This book features all the butterflies found in the area in the last fifty years and includes at least one colour photo of each. It tells the story of what has happened to our butterfly population over the period. Populations often vary from one year to the next, but here is an authoritative account of their distribution over five decades, based on scientifically collected records.

A few species have expanded their range in the last decade and there is an exciting programme of re-introducing some of the species which formerly lived here, the first of which is especially featured, having survived its fifth year since it was brought back to one of its old haunts.

The guide also includes useful tips on the best places to see all of the butterflies in the area, and stresses the fragility of some of their habitats. The authors, Ted Benton and Joe Firmin, have both been deeply involved in recording local wildlife for most of their lives.

Publications

'Cervus' - Free to members

Cervus is our newsletter published six monthly for CNHS members and includes news, reports, details of future Events and other information about the Society and its activities.

If you would like to submit an article for Cervus the copy dates are 30th June and 31st December. Please either email your submission to:

cervus@colchesternaturalhistorysociety.org.uk or contact the editor below:-

Darren Tansley - 18 Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2RT

Nature in North-East Essex “A5 New Series”

The new edition is out now free to members with additional copies available for £5 (+ £1.50 p&p). This is our biggest edition yet, full colour throughout, dedicated to the amateur field naturalists who bring so much to our Society.

Back issues 2010, 2008 and 2006 editions £3 each (+ £1 p&p)

2010 - A diverse mix of articles and papers produced by CNHS members, local naturalists and professional ecologists draws together the important, and above all, fascinating work that is ongoing in our area. Fully illustrated throughout in full colour.

2008 - This edition of Nature in North-East Essex again focuses on the practical conservation achievements and important species recording by our members which is playing a growing and increasingly important role in maintaining the wildlife of the county. Fully illustrated throughout in full colour.

2006 - The 'Edition of Discovery', and the first edition of the A5 format New Series Nature in North-East Essex. Fully illustrated throughout, and with an additional 9 full colour plates, there are only a few copies left.

Nature Boy in the Flower Fields

Nature Boy is the first of two personal publications from CNHS President, Joe Firmin.

In this little book he transports us back to a vanished era, before the spread of urbanisation, universal car ownership and the mechanisation and intensification of agriculture. It is the story of the people and wildlife that lived side by side on an Essex seed production farm in the middle of the 20th century - a happy hunting ground for a boy with a passion for nature in the years when sturdy horses provided the power for cultivation and harvesting.

Publications not available from the CNHS website

These books, written by CNHS members, are available from the authors so please do not contact us for copies.

Butterfly Days in High Provence

Butterfly Days describes his butterfly adventures and the many colourful personalities of this mountainous region of southern France in the 1960s and 70s. It is a must for butterfly enthusiasts but can be enjoyed by anyone with it's rich tales of this wonderful time. Not satisified with publishing his own books (Dragonflies of Essex and the Collins New Naturalist Bumblebees), Ted Benton provides a chapter with dozens of striking photographs of the different species commonly observed in the area. Malcolm Simpson also has a chapter describing what Provence is like now.

The Dragonflies of Essex

The new hardback publication from CNHS Chairman Ted Benton and Essex Field Club Recorder John Dobson - The Dragonflies of Essex (price £20) received a glowing review in the October 2007 issue of British Wildlife magazine.

Described by Peter Marren as "A model of its kind", this fully illustrated book is the most up to date field guide for our county's dragonflies and damselflies currently available. There are distribution maps, habitat and behavious guides, as well as the superb photographs we have come to expect from Ted Benton.

Copies are available from a wide variety of bookshops and wildlife outlets or contact:

John Dobson, 148 Main Road, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4DT (tel 01245 224408).

After the death of Joe Firmin in March 2013 these books are no longer available, however if you are interested in reading them then please contact CNHS Chairman Darren Tansley and we may be able to assist.

darren.t@colchesternaturalhistorysociety.org.uk