This book focuses on the glorious diversity of a small area on the edge of the ocean: the coastal town of Looe, west to Polperro, east to Seaton, and inland to Shallowpool and Sandplace, including the nature reserve of Looe Island. It looks at the rocky shore; the tidal estuary of the West and East Looe rivers; the ancient, semi-natural woodlands of the river valleys - especially Kilminorth Woods, Trenant Woods and Seaton Valley - and the fields and hedgerows of the coast path. It highlightas the natural history of these environments, their protection and conservation.
Dr Derek Spooner has and MA and a PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge, and was Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Hull. He is actively involved in nature conservation and wildlife recording, and was a founder member of the Friends of Kilminorth Woods in Looe. He is a volunteer with the Looe Marine Conservation Group, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Looe Island seal surveys, and contributes regularly to bird surveys in south-east Cornwall for the British Trust for Ornithology. He is a member of the Cornwall Mammal Group, the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society, and Cornwall Butterfly Conservation.
Introduction: A Walk on the Wild Side; Abbreviations used in this book; map of the Looe and Polperro area; Sea and Rocky Shore; The Cliffs and the Coast Path; Estuary and River; The Valley Woodlands; The Rural Hinterland: Farm, Field and Hedgerow; Postscript: A Wheatear on the Roof; Acknowledgements
'stunning new book shows Looe at its best... laden with enough facts to satisfy the curious walker, and whet the appetite of more serious spotters. Page after page of stunning colour photographs' (Cornish Times, 11.07.14) 'I would recommend this practical little book for anyone who loves to discover new things about nature' (My Cornwall, Vol. 2, issue 25, August/September 2014) 'To say that he [Derek Spooner] is au fait with his subject is an understatement; he could hardly be better qualified... He can also write, and to accompany him... is a delight... Derek Spooner is as inspiring as he is informative. ... Illustrated with splendid photographs... Wild Looe... is good value and should be in the pocket of anyone who cares about nature conservation in Cornwall.' (The Cornishman, 21.08.14) '"Wild Looe" is enhanced by superb photographs from a variety of contributors.' (Cornish and Devon Post, 04.09.14) 'a beautifully observed and lyrically written overview of the wildlife and habitats of Looe and the surrounding area... a highly enjoyable, informative read with abundant, stunningly beautiful photographs' (Wild Cornwall, Issue 125, Winter 2014)
