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Lord Clark of Windermere has always believed the Lake District a special place. His memoirs of the 1940s and 50s give a unique insight into a thriving rural community of working people which is now long gone. His warm style brings to life his happy years growing up in a family struggling to make ends meet including facing eviction, which made a lasting impression on him. Working on the land meant the family lived close to nature and he learned the names of all the local flora and fauna. He rejected a job on the farm for one in forestry and 50 years later became Chairman of the Forestry Commission. He attended university as a mature student and in 1970 was elected to Parliament where he spent almost 50 years including a spell in Cabinet. He was dubbed the 'First Green MP' and later led a successful campaign for World Heritage Status for the Lake District. The beauty of Lakeland is shaped by nature and then moulded by human activities. The sheep and cattle farmers of the uplands cleared the scrub trees and opened up the fells to grazing, providing humans with inspirational views and the freedom to roam at will. The traditional sheep breed, the Herdwicks, are 'hefted' to the land and won't stray from it. The mountainous area has been mined for over a thousand years and there have been over 1,000 mines and quarries and more than 20 minerals extracted. The tourist hotspot of Coniston has its extensive copper mines, whilst Grasmere and Glenridding also have their remains of lead mines. 182 page well illustrated softback, one colour plate.