About Calluna Books

specialists in out of print natural history books

Calluna Books began trading in July 1997 with our first mail order catalogue of out of print natural history books. Since then we have steadily built up our stock list and now aim to carry around 2000 titles at any one time.  We have a wide range of books covering various natural history subjects including birds, mammals, invertebrates, flora and general natural history in the UK and further afield including a selection of those in the Poyser and New Naturalist series plus a number of journals and reports.  Up until now we have sold through catalogues issued three times a year, supplemented by attendance at Bird Fairs, particularly Rutland Water in August, and at other countryside events. 

Neil has a life long interest in natural history and spent 23 years working in the nature conservation field in the UK and South Africa and since 1991 he has been based in Dorset. In 2006, after 15-years working for the RSPB on Dorset heathlands, he decided it was time for a change and is now spending his time developing Calluna Books, launching a natural history guiding service in Dorset (The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience), leading overseas wildlife tours and keeping his hand in with freelance conservation work as well as writing articles and lecturing.  He is currently writing ‘Best Birding Sites in Dorset’ for Buckingham Press.  Neil’s interest in serious book buying started in 1983 when he was working on the Farne Islands.  His own collection includes a complete run of New Naturalists and many books on Southern African  and Japanese birds – two areas of the world that he returns to as often as possible.  Yuki, his wife, helps to run the business on a part-time basis in between looking after their three children.