The Great British Butterfly Safari (as not seen on TV)

One of Robin’s favourite books. As Robin says: “It was such fun to do, but at the same time it was a tremendous challenge. Without a doubt it is one of the best projects I have undertaken and the butterflies I saw have opened up a whole new world”. Robin hopes to take part in a new and sponsored butterfly safari in 2011. Lulu will be accompanying him, not necessarily navigating, as since their marriage she too has been bitten by the butterfly bug.

Rejected, of course, as an idea by the BBC, “The Great British Butterfly Safari” is a high-speed race around Britain, with Robin and assorted friends (to act as witnesses), trying to see every species of British butterfly flying in a single summer.

The resulting book is hilarious and serious and gives a tantalising look at wild Britain, tame Britain and political Britain.

Since his “Safari” several journalists have taken up Robin’s idea and it also helped to inspire Professor David Newland’s excellent book “Discover Butterflies in Britain”.

Describing The Great British Butterfly Safari, Willie Poole says: “One of the funniest books I have read”.

Vivienne Schuster, probably Britain’s top literary agent writes: “”Butterflies” is an astonishing bombshell of a book travelling from lyricism to laughter, rant to rapture: it is Bill Bryson meets David Bellamy, meets Laurie Lee, meets Christopher Booker. What a cocktail – what a read – not for the squeamish or politically correct”.

Hardback with cartoons by Norfolk artist John Paley. A free colour chart of British butterflies with every copy.