Wild Waters

About seventy-one per cent of the Earth's surface is water, and even on dry land we remain closely connected to aquatic life. It provides us with oxygen, food, medicine and materials. Wild waterlife infiltrates our lives in many surprising ways. Every other breath we take is filled with oxygen provided by ocean-dwelling microscopic plants. A type of seaweed provides a means to directly test whether people are infected with viruses, including Covid-19. Robotics design takes inspiration from a pike's ability to accelerate with greater g-force than a Porsche. Wild Waters by Susanne Masters is a celebration of the breadth of wildlife that can be found in and around our varied waterways, from oceans and rivers to rock pools and ponds. Armchair explorers can read a fascinating account of how aquatic plants and animals enrich human life. Swimmers, paddleboarders, dog walkers, families and anyone with a passion for the great outdoors can learn about local wildlife, including when and where to look for different species without causing any harm. With stunning illustrations by Alice Goodridge, Wild Waters provides a tantalising insight into the world beneath the surface.

Susanne Masters is a plant scientist, writer and swimmer who loves connecting people with nature and the environment. She studied conservation science and ethnobotany, and works on the botanical side of product development for the spa and distilling industries, with a particular interest in sustainable wild harvesting and cultivation. Susanne has written about wildlife and travel for a broad range of media, including BBC Wildlife magazine, BBC Earth, BBC Travel, Countryfile magazine, the Guardian, Red Bull Adventure and the New York Times. She writes a monthly column on wildlife for Outdoor Swimmer magazine, and has contributed to The World Atlas of Street Food and Kew's Teas, Tonics and Tipples. She has swum in the Bosphorus race from Asia to Europe, at a winter festival in China, and at high altitude in Bhutan. She swims outdoors all year round in the UK.