OUR WILD PENNINES

Conservation Stories from the English Uplands

Publication Date:
16 October 2026

Pages: 192
Size: 30 x 30 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Approx: 10,500 words; 150 photographs
Price: £ 35
ISBN: 978-1-0369-1250-5
Published by Stainmoor Wild Press

Our Wild Pennines is an exploration of the conservation challenges facing one of England’s most precious and fragile landscapes: the northern Pennines. Through six stories, wildlife photographer and former police detective John Birch examines the complex relationship between wildlife, land management and rural communities.

From the historic persecution of the elusive polecat to the continuing controversy surrounding driven grouse shooting, John investigates the pressures facing upland wildlife. He also explores the decades-long failure to tackle the illegal killing of hen harriers, alongside the fortunes of black grouse, curlews, raptors and red squirrels.

Combining powerful personal narratives with field-based observation and more than 150 photographs, the book offers an impartial and thought-provoking perspective on the challenges facing the English uplands.

His writing is calm and evidence-led, reflecting his deep personal connection to the landscape while avoiding the politics and polarisation that often surround conservation debates.