This week I have chosen Life Of A Chalkstream by Simon Cooper, hbk £16.99, a lovely book that records a year in the life of a very English waterscape, one that is home to a vast array of wildlife and forms the natural habitat of the keen angler – the chalkstream.

Chalkstreams are nearly exclusive to England, ranging from Dorset to Yorkshire and including the famous River Test in Hampshire.

Every river is special in its own right and Life of a Chalkstream details the yearly cycle of these unique waterways.

From the remarkable spectacle of salmon, sea trout and brown trout spawning in winter, to the emergence of water voles in spring and the explosion of mayflies in the early days of summer, the author evocatively describes the natural wonders of the chalkstream.

He introduces us to the fascinating diversity of life that inhabits its waters and environs – the fish, the angling community, the plant life and the wildlife.

We learn how neglect threatens these inhabitants and why the fight to save the chalkstreams is so vital, not only for fishermen, but for anybody who values the beauty of rural England.

My second choice is Ancient Stones of Dorset by Peter Knight, pbk £12.95.

This book goes beyond the obvious Stonehenge and Avebury to describe the county’s many megaliths, stone circles, Roman relics and stone crosses.

It is illustrated throughout with photographs and line drawings and provides the reader with maps, grid references and detailed site descriptions.

Peter Knight also speculates about the meaning of the stones, their importance to ancient communities and their place in local folklore.