Jolly Green Giant by David Bellamy, Century, £16.99, ISBN 0712683593
HOW does the son of a pharmacist growing up in wartime London become Britain’s best known botanist? This book tells it all, from his early wonderment at nature in rural Sussex while escaping from the blitz, through the study of peat bogs at the University of Durham to the height of his notoriety as a TV personality jailed in Australia for protesting against dams.
Bellamy’s relish for life in all its forms is contagious and his determination to fight for the natural world benefits from an excellent sense of humour. His first public speech on marine pollution began with a quote from the Bible about men going about their business in great waters and seeing the wonders of the deep. The media loved him for his rich voice and his wackiness.
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As a botanist, Bellamy was a high flier, with several papers in Nature by his early 30s. As an environmental campaigner, he was never afraid to court the controversial – speaking out in favour of blood sports and zoos. I was left inspired by this man, who can extol the beauty of wilderness like no other, but can also explain carefully its crucial role in the future of humanity.