Exploring the natural and man-made features of the land - fields, highways, hedgerows, fens, marshes, rivers, heaths, coasts, woods and wood pastures - he shows conclusively and unforgettably how they have developed over the centuries. In doing so, he covers a wealth of related subjects to provide a fascinating account of the sometimes subtle and sometimes radical ways in which people, fauna, flora, climate, soils and other physical conditions have played their part in the shaping of the countryside. 'One thing is certain: no one would be wise to write further on our natural history, or to make films about it, without thinking very hard about what is contained in these authoritative pages' Country Life 'A classic of scholarship and imagination...A monumental work, but it is written with humanity, dignity, concern and a great deal of humour' Times Educational Supplement

Author Biography

An acknowledged authority on the countryside and its history, Dr Oliver Rackham carries out research in the Botany Department at Cambridge University, where he is a Fellow of Corpus Christi College.