TREES AND WOODLAND IN THE BRITISH LANDSCAPE

This beautifully written classic was first published in 1976 and we have the new paperback facsimile reprint with all 23 original plates and 38 text-figures. Long accepted as the very best work on the subject, it is both a comprehensive history of Britain's woodland and a field-work guide that presents trees individually and as part of the landscape. Even at the time of writing in the Preface to the first edition the author wrote 'Time is running out. The historical flow of change in the countryside... has turned since 1950 into a devouring flood from which little, at least in the eastern half of Britain is safe. To plan rationally for the future we need to know about the origins and past maintenance of the details that we now prize.' The Preface to the second edition states: 'The conservation chapter has been entirely rewritten after a dramatic change in the fortunes of ancient woodlands in the late 1970s. The anthropology of woodland has become a fascinating subject in itself.' Beginning with how woods and trees work, classical woodland management in the Middle Ages and after, parks and private wood pasture, hedges and conservation, the images are reproduced to the best quality given their age and show coppicing in progress, a giant ash stool at least 800 years old, medieval (or earlier) wood bank exposed by felling the underwood, wattle-work filling a panel in a medieval timber-framed house and more. Maps and diagrams, Oliver Rackham from Prehistoric times through the Roman period onwards describes the changing character, role and history of Britain's trees, woodlands and hedgerows. 234pp, large softback.