“New England’s Roadside Ecology” guides readers through 30 spectacular natural sites, all within an easy walk from the road. The sites include the forests, wetlands, alpines, dunes, and geologic ecosystems that make up New England. Author Thomas Wessels, an ecologist and professor emeritus at Antioch College New England, is the perfect guide. Each entry starts with a brief description of the hike’s level of difficulty—all are gentle to moderate and cover no more than two miles. Entries also include turn-by-turn directions and clear descriptions of the flora, fauna, and fungi the reader will encounter along the way. Readers will also delight in the accessible bites of natural history and surprising facts they will learn as they explore. New England’s Roadside Ecology is a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and tourists in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist and professor emeritus at Antioch University New England, where he founded the master’s degree program in Conservation Biology. With interests in forest, desert, arctic, and alpine ecosystems, plus geomorphology, evolutionary ecology, complex systems science, and the interface of landscape and culture, Tom considers himself a generalist. He has conducted workshops on ecology and sustainability throughout the country for over three decades.