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Endemic: Exploring the wildlife unique to Britain
Meet the rare, obscure, and utterly British species found nowhere else on earth.
Around 70,000 species call Britain home, but how many of them can be found here and only here? Join conservationist James Harding-Morris as he uncovers the stories of our endemic wildlife – the plants, animals and fungi that are unique to these islands.
Determined to give these irreplaceable species their moment in the spotlight, James goes in search of them across the length and breadth of Britain, from wild and rugged Orkney, the only known location for the Orkney vole, down to suburban Plymouth where the horrid ground-weaver spider faces global extinction at the hands of developers. He explores Devon's depths on the hunt for ghostly cave shrimp, seeks out alien fungi on Norfolk roadsides, and traces the tribulations of interrupted brome, the grass that has gone extinct not once, but twice.
Along the way, he meets the experts devoted to the study and survival of these vanishingly rare creatures and plants, individuals working tirelessly – and often single-handedly – to save them from the brink of global extinction. Because many of these species are at risk of disappearing forever, before most of us have even realised they exist.
A tapestry of wonder and weirdness, tragedies and triumphs, Endemic celebrates what makes our natural history so special and calls on us all to cherish and protect it.
Around 70,000 species call Britain home, but how many of them can be found here and only here? Join conservationist James Harding-Morris as he uncovers the stories of our endemic wildlife – the plants, animals and fungi that are unique to these islands.
Determined to give these irreplaceable species their moment in the spotlight, James goes in search of them across the length and breadth of Britain, from wild and rugged Orkney, the only known location for the Orkney vole, down to suburban Plymouth where the horrid ground-weaver spider faces global extinction at the hands of developers. He explores Devon's depths on the hunt for ghostly cave shrimp, seeks out alien fungi on Norfolk roadsides, and traces the tribulations of interrupted brome, the grass that has gone extinct not once, but twice.
Along the way, he meets the experts devoted to the study and survival of these vanishingly rare creatures and plants, individuals working tirelessly – and often single-handedly – to save them from the brink of global extinction. Because many of these species are at risk of disappearing forever, before most of us have even realised they exist.
A tapestry of wonder and weirdness, tragedies and triumphs, Endemic celebrates what makes our natural history so special and calls on us all to cherish and protect it.
- GenresNature
336 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 20, 2025
I've had the pleasure to join James in some adventures before this book. He's great company, an outstanding naturalist. You'll never leave his presence before learning obscure facts or interesting details on particular species, or meeting new ones, that appear to turn up from his sleeve as if by magic. I can say now that he's also a very engaging writer. This book reads as an adventure book, a road trip around Britain to meet a bunch of species that are known from nowhere else on earth. James conveys an intense passion for these often tiny plants and animals and encourages everyone to try to discover, love and nurture all the wild things.
February 12, 2026
An excellent read from an original UK nature writing perspective. It reminded me a lot of Black Ops and Beaver Bombing about Britain's mammals, in that it conveyed the author's enthusiasm but was also well researched, very readable and in places really quite funny as well.
My only criticism would be that the author mentions he didn't have space for other British endemic species. Given that he could have perhaps put his own fascination with white beam trees and covered more breadth of nature.
My only criticism would be that the author mentions he didn't have space for other British endemic species. Given that he could have perhaps put his own fascination with white beam trees and covered more breadth of nature.
October 19, 2025
This was an interesting read about Endemic species in Britain, I could feel the authors passion coming through the pages.
Each chapter covered a different plant / animal etc and where the author went to find it.
It was fascinating to read, but I do feel that a few photos in the book could have helped with some of the explanations.
Each chapter covered a different plant / animal etc and where the author went to find it.
It was fascinating to read, but I do feel that a few photos in the book could have helped with some of the explanations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews