Britain's Habitats : a Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Britain and Ireland

It is often said of British weather, if you don’t like it stick around for a few minutes and it will change. The same might be said of its landscape, take a few steps and it changes. Both are exaggerations, of course, but with a grain a truth. Within a remarkably small compass Britain has an astonishing diversity of habitats, which this book celebrates. Lavishly illustrated with photos and aimed at the curious naturalist, after a few pages introducing our geology and climate, each two-page spread introduces a different habitat (of which it recognises around 80) and includes information on origin, extent, conservation and characteristic species. Habitats range in extent from 200 ha (Calaminarian grassland; no, I hadn’t heard of it either – read the book to find out) to 5.5 million ha (arable farmland), so the text can be no more than introductory, and, although all habitats are essentially the results of our actions, there is no critical assessment of our relationships with them (here the dark wildwood is something to inspire, not to fear). In these reductionist days, we should applaud the authors for standing back and interpreting the rich tapestry that is our landscape. Everyone should browse this book and, with deeper understanding, rejoice in the green and pleasant land in which we live – and consider how it might be maintained and improved for future generations.

Book reviewed by Rob Robinson