An Unnatural History of Britain

An Unnatural History of Britain follows nature writer Kevin Parr across the country in search of non-native species that have established themselves in the British Isles. Its subjects include yellow-tailed scorpions, Aesculapian snakes, eagle owls, wallabies and wild boar, revealing a Britain populated by creatures more often associated with distant habitats.

Alongside field observations, Parr considers the stories and traditions that have gathered around these animals. The book discusses wild boar returning after escapes and illegal releases, wallabies living among dale and moor, and a colony of yellow-tailed scorpions said to have persisted since Victorian times. It presents their presence as part of a changing natural history, shaped by both human activity and folklore.