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Rock Pool: Extraordinary Encounters Between the Tides
An eye-opening, enchanting journey into the miniature worlds of rock pools with a new author who will change the way you view even the most ordinary creatures - from crabs to barnacles, blennies to anemones - forever.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2019
6 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Heather Buttivant
3 books2 followersI grew up in north Cornwall, where I spent much of my time amassing a collection of shells and exploring the tidal pools. Not much has changed, except I now own a proper pair of waders and have a fantastic network of fellow marine wildlife enthusiasts.
I moved away for a while to work on environmental issues in the Civil Service, Friends of the Earth and Climate South East, and to teach for The Open University, but the call of the sea was too strong. I moved back to Looe in south-east Cornwall in 2011 with my partner to bring up our son.
I volunteer with Looe Marine Conservation Group and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust to inspire people of all ages to learn about and help to conserve our exceptionally diverse marine wildlife. I write about wildlife, travel and environmental issues.
I moved away for a while to work on environmental issues in the Civil Service, Friends of the Earth and Climate South East, and to teach for The Open University, but the call of the sea was too strong. I moved back to Looe in south-east Cornwall in 2011 with my partner to bring up our son.
I volunteer with Looe Marine Conservation Group and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust to inspire people of all ages to learn about and help to conserve our exceptionally diverse marine wildlife. I write about wildlife, travel and environmental issues.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 5, 2020
If I have a choice then I would rather spend time at the coast, walking over dunes, sitting having an ice cream or even bodyboarding. I like to go all times of the year, from the blistering hot days that we occasionally get in the summer to the windswept winter beaches where there is almost no one there.
One of the activities that we have done for the past decade, in particular at one of my favourite places, the beautiful harbour of West bay, is to go crabbing. Some of days we have caught loads, and there have been other days when we got a few pieces of seaweed. As disappointing as that is it is still good fun. When we are in Jersey we try to head out to the east coast to see what we can find in the rock pools.
Rock Pools are Heather Buttivant’s passion, so much so that she has made a career from it. Down in the beautiful county of Cornwall she takes people out on to the tidal zone to see what they can discover lurking just out of sight. The book is split into three sections, which are the upper, middle and lower intertidal zones, or as she headlines it, Life at the Extreme, Rock Pool Specialists and Gateway to the deep. In each of these sections she describes the type of animals such as the Shanny, the Dog whelk or the Squat Lobster, that you could come across if you are prepared to get a little wet when searching for them.
Understanding a sea squirt as an animal is far more challenging. It stretches the imagination beyond its twanging point.
If you are expecting a guide book for things that you might find in rock pools, this is not the best book for that. Join her as she alternately freezes and bakes in the sun exploring the rock pools that are close to her Cornish home without having to get wet and cold. As well as spending time introducing you to the weird, wacky and seriously strange creatures you could come across whilst rootling about in a rock pool, there is a little of her life story too. No so much to distract us from her obsession, but enough to help you understand why she is doing this today. This is a joy to read as her enthusiasm is evident on every single page and you are a lover of the things in the sea then this is definitely a worthy addition to your natural history shelves.
One of the activities that we have done for the past decade, in particular at one of my favourite places, the beautiful harbour of West bay, is to go crabbing. Some of days we have caught loads, and there have been other days when we got a few pieces of seaweed. As disappointing as that is it is still good fun. When we are in Jersey we try to head out to the east coast to see what we can find in the rock pools.
Rock Pools are Heather Buttivant’s passion, so much so that she has made a career from it. Down in the beautiful county of Cornwall she takes people out on to the tidal zone to see what they can discover lurking just out of sight. The book is split into three sections, which are the upper, middle and lower intertidal zones, or as she headlines it, Life at the Extreme, Rock Pool Specialists and Gateway to the deep. In each of these sections she describes the type of animals such as the Shanny, the Dog whelk or the Squat Lobster, that you could come across if you are prepared to get a little wet when searching for them.
Understanding a sea squirt as an animal is far more challenging. It stretches the imagination beyond its twanging point.
If you are expecting a guide book for things that you might find in rock pools, this is not the best book for that. Join her as she alternately freezes and bakes in the sun exploring the rock pools that are close to her Cornish home without having to get wet and cold. As well as spending time introducing you to the weird, wacky and seriously strange creatures you could come across whilst rootling about in a rock pool, there is a little of her life story too. No so much to distract us from her obsession, but enough to help you understand why she is doing this today. This is a joy to read as her enthusiasm is evident on every single page and you are a lover of the things in the sea then this is definitely a worthy addition to your natural history shelves.
July 8, 2021
This book is a nice mixture of information about marine creatures and personal stories. I like the author's style of writing - easy to read and poetic at the same time.
I found tons of interesting information about species that I saw so many times in intertidal zones, like periwinkles, shore crabs, even limpets and barnacles turned out much more interesting than I thought. Also, this book brought me a lot of inspiration to learn more, rockpool more, and enjoy rock pooling more. I bought Collins shore ID guide and booked a marine life course in Dale Fort after reading it :)
Highly recommend it to anyone who loves strolling on the wild beaches.
I found tons of interesting information about species that I saw so many times in intertidal zones, like periwinkles, shore crabs, even limpets and barnacles turned out much more interesting than I thought. Also, this book brought me a lot of inspiration to learn more, rockpool more, and enjoy rock pooling more. I bought Collins shore ID guide and booked a marine life course in Dale Fort after reading it :)
Highly recommend it to anyone who loves strolling on the wild beaches.
January 24, 2023
Rock Pool by Heather Buttivant is an engaging mix of fascinating facts and personal memoir.
The book is in three sections, covering the Upper, Middle and Lower Intertidal Zones of the shore. In each section we discover many different rock pool regulars - some very familiar such as limpets and barnacles and some far less so such as cup corals and pipefish.
There's lots of interesting information in here, and for something that is essentially a list of different beasties, it's extremely readable. There's just enough personal information about the author and her family to make it more than that, and more than anything it makes you want to get down to the beach and stick your head in the nearest rock pool.
The book is in three sections, covering the Upper, Middle and Lower Intertidal Zones of the shore. In each section we discover many different rock pool regulars - some very familiar such as limpets and barnacles and some far less so such as cup corals and pipefish.
There's lots of interesting information in here, and for something that is essentially a list of different beasties, it's extremely readable. There's just enough personal information about the author and her family to make it more than that, and more than anything it makes you want to get down to the beach and stick your head in the nearest rock pool.
September 2, 2024
Fab book full of readable information and charming personal snippets to keep you intrigued. In fact it made me want to rush to the shore to discover for myself everything she talks about.
November 6, 2019
I found this book a joy as it described a variety of creatures in detail but having a sense of a shared journey of discovery. Many books on rock polling are detailed lists but not an enjoyable read.
July 26, 2022
Great natural history read, written with all the attractive passion of a real enthusiast. I have learnt about sea creatures I never knew existed, marvelled at their unusual bodies and most of all enjoyed Heather's passion and enthusiasm for her subject.
August 25, 2021
A great book. I read this book along side doing a marine biology module in university. This book was a great help to interpret the information given by lectures. Makes marine biology personal.
April 19, 2023
Very interesting even for someone who has not really rockpooled!
October 29, 2024
*289 pages
So many wicked facts in this book that I'm excited to share with others! I love it 🦀 🐚🌊
So many wicked facts in this book that I'm excited to share with others! I love it 🦀 🐚🌊
May 11, 2022
Marine biology is my area of study at university and although an interesting subject, it can be difficult to remember the reasons why you are so passionate about it whilst drowning in exams, deadlines and statistics. This book was exactly what I needed to get me out of a slump. Although it isn't challenging to someone with a good understanding of rocky shores, this book transports you there and makes you feel like you are exploring it yourself, reminding you of what you are really learning about.
Not only has this book re-ignited a passion I missed, it's also given me some fantastic inspiration for my dissertation next year and a new found appreciation of the UK's coastal wildlife.
Thank you Heather Buttivant!
Not only has this book re-ignited a passion I missed, it's also given me some fantastic inspiration for my dissertation next year and a new found appreciation of the UK's coastal wildlife.
Thank you Heather Buttivant!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews