Nature’s Conscience: The Life and Legacy of Derek Ratcliffe

Who was the greatest British naturalist of the past seventy years? Many might answer David Attenborough, Peter Scott, or Max Nicholson, but, among professional nature conservationists at least, the answer would probably be Derek Ratcliffe. Although less well‐known to the general public, it was Ratcliffe who proved the disastrous effect of pesticides on Peregrines and other birds‐of‐prey, who came up with a system of defining the best places for wildlife in Britain, who led the fight against afforestation of the uplands, and who ensured that nature conservation was led by sound ecological science and not mere value judgements. His knowledge was encyclopaedic – he was a google before Google. He was equally expert on ravens and raptors, waders and plovers, mosses and peat‐bogs, alpine plants and mountain ecology. He was a fearless defender of nature: a David surrounded by Goliaths. Though quiet and unassuming, and almost unknown outside nature conservation circles, he was greatly admired for his wide expertise and scientific integrity.

Little has been written about Derek Ratcliffe, but now, on the tenth anniversary of his death in 2005, aged 75, a group of his friends and former colleagues have contributed a collection of essays on Derek. These cover an exceptional range of his interests and contributions to nature conservation, and have been edited by three long‐standing friends, Des Thompson and John and Hilary Birks. The book includes five papers by Derek himself that give a flavour of his style and approach to nature and field surveying. The book is profusely illustrated, including many photographs by Derek.

The book is written for a wide readership, especially aspiring ecologists, naturalists, and environmentalists who should be inspired by what Derek did, and stood for.

To celebrate this book release, British ornithologists have declared April 21 to be Ratcliffe Peregrine Day in honour of Derek Ratcliffe’s finding of his first Peregrine nest on 21 April 1945. (It is also Hilary Birks’ birthday!)