The Natural History of Keele University
A new book, Natural History of Keele University by David Emley, brings together 40 years of studying the flora and fauna of the Keele campus.
The estate of Keele University covers some 600 acres, much of it woodland with lakes and formal plantings, and the author, David Emley of Stone, has been cataloguing the flora and fauna of this area over the last 40 years.
He has brought all his information together in this new book. The Keele estate is a rich area with 137 birds, 250 plants, 26 butterflies, 500 moths and much more. Keele is also host to the National Collection of Flowering Cherries, with over 240 different species and varieties, it is the largest of its kind in Europe.
David Emley, a Senior Technician in the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, has a passion bordering on obsession for the natural world. He is an all-round naturalist with particular expertise in birds, flowers and insects, particularly butterflies and moths for which he is the Staffordshire County Recorder. He set up the arboretum at Keele and its accompanying website (www.keele.ac.uk/arboretum) where there is lots of information about the natural history of the campus. He has also created a series of way-marked trails around the grounds and a leaflet to go with them.
The book, which costs £5 inc postage (please send a cheque made payable to Keele University), is available from Dave Emley, William Smith Building, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG.