About Us | Magazine Contributors

BUCKINGHAM PRESS
Buckingham Press Ltd is a publishing company run by Hilary and David Cromack. Its ethos can be summed up as: Dedicated to providing relevant and trustworthy information in all its publications to enrich people’s experience of birds and the wider world of nature.

A brief history
Though The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook is the core product in the Buckingham Press portfolio, the highly-acclaimed series of Best Birdwatching Sites books are proving to be essential purchases for active birdwatchers in different parts of the UK. Every volume has been given rave reviews in the birding press and on websites and it is fair to say they now set the standard for others to follow.

Buckingham Press was formed in 1980 by John E.Pemberton to publish The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook, “described as a comprehensive and convenient work of reference for all sections of the birdwatching community in Great Britain and for visitors from overseas.”

Twenty-nine years later, the annual volume is still providing the same valuable level of service, and thanks to generous sponsorship from Swarovski UK, features such as the Nature Reserves Directory have been expanded and other new features introduced.

The only other title produced by Buckingham Press during Mr Pemberton’s editorship was The Who’s Who In Ornithology (1997), a hardback volume containing biographical information on more than 1,000 individuals. It is the current publishers’ intentions to produce a second edition of this valuable reference work as soon as is practicable.

Following the retirement of John and Joyce Pemberton, the business was sold to Hilary and David Cromack in 2000 to ensure that The Birdwatchers Yearbook & Diary continued Click here for full details.

The new owners also felt that there were other opportunities for high quality reference works and their Best Birdwatching Sites series was launched in 2002 with Neil Glenn’s ground-breaking guide to Norfolk.

This was followed the next year by Best Birdwatching Sites in Sussex (Adrian Thomas and Peter Francis) and in 2005 by Best Birdwatching Sites in the Scottish Highlands. A completely updated second edition of the Norfolk guide was published in mid-2006 and in October 2007 the series grew to include Best Birdwatching Sites in North Wales. As well as these highly-praised books, Buckingham Press has published the ID Insights Pocket Cards for British birds and British butterflies and in 2008 the series of postcard-sized identification aids will be expanded to include a set of British dragonflies (artist Dan Powell).

During this period David Cromack continued in his role as editor of Bird Watching magazine, the UK’s market-leading ornithological monthly magazine but in May 2006 he retired to devote his energies full-time to Birds Illustrated and Buckingham Press. David is now an established speaker at bird clubs, RSPB local member groups and photographic societies.

“In the short time we have been operating Buckingham Press, we have received so much support and encouragement from so many people we feel we are part of a large ‘family’ of people interested in birds and nature,” explained Hilary.

Return to top

Birds Illustrated has benefited from the work of many outstandingly talented photographers, artists and writers since it launched in August 2003.

Regular writers include:

	Bo Beolens, the founder of the Fatbirder website, who contributes a passionately-argued column called Grumpy Old Birder that stimulates a good response from readers.		Bill Coster, the well-travelled bird photographer. His first series was designed to help readers develop their own photo success and in Picture Perfect Places he gives useful advice on how to make the best use of great birding sites in the UK and overseas.
	Robin Cox of Cambridge Bird Club has written profiles of personalities such as photographers Chris Knights and Jari Peltomaki and Alec Zino, the man honoured in the naming of the extremely rare Zino’s Petrel.		Richard Facey is a young zoology graduate who has worked on contract for the RSPB. In each issue he surveys the world’s scientific press to bring readers a digest of the most interesting items about birds.
	Neil Gartshore has for many years operated the Calluna Bookshop, specialising in natural history titles and in alternate issues he contributes an informed column about secondhand bird books.		Neil Glenn, the author of Best Birdwatching Sites in Norfolk has written several times about his favourite county, plus other travel pieces on Cornwall and Texas.
	Tim Oldham is another experienced bookseller (Wyseby House Bookshop) and has provided profiles on the works of Sir Peter Scott and Charles Tunnicliffe.		Darren Rees A regular contributor to Birds Illustrated, Darren is a respected wildlife artist with a number of awards to his credit, including the runner-up prize in the GMAC European art awards. A Council member for the Society of Wildlife Artists, Darren also leads birding tours for Speyside Wildlife.

Return to top