15.
tin cans, plastic sheeting ...'. Obviously the toxic
waste does not worry the badgers too much.
So far as sett numbers are concerned, we have so
far found about 350 in Essex, and the likely total is
perhaps 500 or so. Assuming 3/5 active at any one
time and four animals, say, per sett, this would give
a total population for the county of 1200 animals. I
am firmly of the opinion that they are declining in
number generally, but we need much more information to
be sure.
Bob Cowlin, Essex Badger Recorder
---oOo---
BOOK REVIEWS - BOTANY AND DEER
One of the perks of editing the Essex Naturalist
is that some kind publishers send me free copies of
their books. We don't print reviews in the Essex
Naturalist any more - hence this section in the
Bulletin.
"Bellamy on Botany" has reached its second edition -
published a few months ago to coincide with the re-run
of the BBC-tv series. The book is useful even if you
did not see the series (and if you missed it, watch out
for a repeat in a year or two). If you find Bellamy's
enthusiastic approach to botany infectious, then you
will be pleased to know that this book is written in
just the same style as his TV talks. Each chapter
takes a separate theme - grass, wood structure, fungi
and bogs for example. The level is best suited to
naturalists who have a general interest in botany - a
good section on follow-up studies tells you how to
become a more knowledgeable botanist if the bug bites
you. Thirty bob for a thinnish paperback with a fair
number of black and white photographs seems fair (but
not good) value.