A Richness of Martens

by Polly Pullar

When Les and Chris Humphreys moved to Ardnamurchan 15 years ago, little did they realise they would be sharing their home with some of Britain’s most elusive and misunderstood mustelids. Amongst all the animals and birds that visit their garden, they have formed a special bond with numerous pine martens, and have studied them and a cast of other creatures at close range through direct observation and via sensor-operated cameras.

Naturalist and photographer Polly Pullar has known the Humphreys and their pine martens for many years. In this book she tells the remarkable story of the couple and their animal friends, interpolating it with natural history, anecdote and her own experiences of the wildlife of the area. The result is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a much misunderstood animal and a passionate portrait of one of Scotland’s richest habitats – the oakwoods of Scotland’s Atlantic seaboard.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Natural History, Scotland

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2018

About the author

Polly Pullar grew up in Ardnamurchan. In addition to being a field naturalist, wildlife guide and wildlife rehabilitator she is also photographer and journalist, and contributes to a wide selection of magazines. She is currently wildlife writer for Scottish Field and is the author of a number of books.

Reviews

[Luke Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say never judge a book by its cover, but that's just what I did with "A Richness of Martens" by Polly Pillar. I saw it in my local bookshop and was enchanted. Luckily, the appeal didn't stop there, and I soon found myself lost, wandering the Ardnamurchan peninsula, whisked there by the beautifully descriptive language and wildlife-filled stories contained in each chapter.

Pine martens are without doubt, one of my favourite animals. I love the mustelid family especially, being besotted with otters, weasels, and polecats too. And I was thrilled to find these too within the pages of the book.

I felt especially drawn to the adventures of the martens in a Highland garden, observed by two retirees. The book reveals that their citizen science helped provide new insights into marten behaviour and the complex relationships they form - shooting down many preconceptions more so-called established naturalists had presumed for decades.

If you have an interest in nature, Scotland, and one of our most interesting, secretive, and increasingly sought out mammals, add it to your TBR list as soon as possible.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about pine martens and other wildlife from the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Polly is a naturalist and great writer and I do so love her articles in magazines and her books. This one is about a lovely couple who live on the shores of Loch Sunart and have devoted their garden to pine martens. The way Polly describes the antics of the ‘beastie boys and girls’ is really amazing. I have since read the book another two times, I have visited Ardnamurchan myself and it really is as wonderful a place as she describes.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book all about wildlife in a remote part of Scotland. Although mainly concerned with the lives of the martens, the book goes off on enjoyable tangents that encompass all sorts of animals: foxes, frogs, snipes,
Well worth the read for anyone interested in nature or wildlife, or indeed martens.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, mellow read about Scottish wildlife and an elderly couples nurturing observation of the wildlife in their highlands garden. A tale championing the value of citizen science and the wonder of all wildlife, but especially the much maligned pine marten.

[Augusta Critchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was something ethnographic in its approach which I really enjoyed about this book.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully lyrical account of a charismatic but unfairly maligned wee carnivore.

[Ulrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute