Osprey Group Acquires British Wildlife Publishing

Osprey Group Acquires British Wildlife Publishing

Osprey Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of British Wildlife Publishing. The company will become part of Osprey’s thriving Heritage Division, which comprises industry mainstay Shire Publications and Old House Books & Maps, publisher of the bestselling Bradshaw’s Handbook, 1863. The deal was brokered by Prism Consult, the specialist media M&A consultancy.

Established by Andrew and Anne Branson in 1989, British Wildlife Publishing (BWP) has become a by-word for quality and authority in the world of British natural history publishing. BWP produces two magazines, as well as its own list of authoritative and extremely well-respected field guides and books on British natural history. British Wildlife is a bimonthly magazine about which television naturalist and author Nick Baker has said: ‘If you want to know what is really happening in the British countryside, then a subscription to British Wildlife is a must.’ Conservation Land Management provides quarterly practical advice for professional land managers. The company’s book publishing programme comprises high-quality field guides and the British Wildlife Collection, which for its authoritative content and immaculate production values has been favourably compared to HarperCollins’ revered New Naturalist’s Library, the industry benchmark for publishing in this area.

The Dorset-based company will relocate to Osprey’s Oxford offices. Under the leadership of Heritage Managing Director & Publisher Nick Wright it will continue its existing publishing programme, with growth expected from increased exposure to sales channels that have thus far remained untapped.

Nick Wright said:

‘It is very exciting, and no small responsibility, to take on a list that has been so carefully developed and nurtured over the years. It is not easy to discern a wrong step in anything that BWP has done, which sets the bar pretty high for Osprey. But we believe that we can bring our experience, market and greater resources to BWP to take it to the next level, setting it up for the next twenty-five years of service to the natural history community and the British countryside.’

BWP founder Andrew Branson said:

‘Anne and I are proud of the legacy we have created with British Wildlife Publishing over the past quarter of a century. We believe it is now in safe hands with the Osprey Group. Osprey’s understanding of the needs of different market sectors, combining real expertise with first rate presentation, is something that we appreciate and feel that BWP has achieved in equal measure.’

Both magazines will continue to be published with no change in content, format or scheduling, and the existing book programme will continue to grow and develop. 

About Osprey Group

Osprey Group is a UK-based international publishing company focused on producing the best content for enthusiasts via branded imprints for niche markets. Osprey Group publishes in four divisions: Military (Osprey), Fiction (Angry Robot, Strange Chemistry and Exhibit A), Wellbeing (Watkins) and Heritage (Shire and Old House). What defines us is not what we create but for whom we create – enthusiast readers are at the heart of everything we do.

Osprey Group has been publishing for enthusiasts of British history and heritage since 2007 when Shire Publications, and its remarkably diverse list of affordable illustrated introductions was acquired. In 2011 Shire was joined by Old House, which publishes heritage-themed gift books, maps and the phenomenally successful Bradshaw’s Handbook, 1863. 

For Further Details Contact:

Abraham Davies, 01865 811302, [email protected]

To find out more, visit:

www.ospreygrp.com

www.britishwildlife.com

www.oldhousebooks.co.uk

www.shirebooks.co.uk