About us
BUCKINGHAM PRESS
Buckingham Press Ltd is a publishing company run by Hilary and David Cromack with the goal of 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
For the past 30 years The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook has been the core product in the Buckingham Press portfolio, but more recently 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.
The company has also introduced the ID Insights Pocket Cards concept to offer birdwatchers essential identification help for birds, butterflies and dragonflies on handy cards that simply slip into a jacket pocket for easy reference.
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.” 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 continued.
This annual volume, which generates completely new and verified information each year, 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. Work is now underway on compiling entries for the 2nd edition, which will be expanded and re-named Who’s Who In Birdwatching.
The Best Birdwatching Sites series was launched in 2002 with Neil Glenn’s ground-breaking guide to Norfolk. Best Birdwatching Sites in Sussex (Adrian Thomas and Peter Francis) followed in 2003 and BBS: Scottish Highlands in 2005. A completely updated second edition of the Norfolk guide was published in mid-2006 and guides to North Wales nd Cornwall & Scilly followed.
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 and plays an active role in Peterborough Bird Club.