Heathland

About this book

Read our author interview here

Heathlands are so much more than simply purple carpets of heather. They are ancient landscapes found throughout Britain that support a complex of inter-related species and an immense diversity of habitats. They also possess a unique human history defined by the struggle between pastoralism and the competing demands of those who seek exclusive use of the land.

In this latest addition to the British Wildlife Collection, Clive Chatters introduces us to Britain's heathlands and their anatomy. He then takes the reader on a geographical heathland tour – from the maritime sub-arctic of the Shetlands to the mild wetness of the Atlantic coast – with an in memoriam nod to those heaths that have been erased from common memory and understanding. He concludes with a review of how people have perceived and used heathland wildlife over the ages, and sets out a future vision for this iconic landscape, its unique habitats and the species that live there.

Most of our heaths are pale shadows of their former selves. However, Chatters argues, it is not inevitable that the catastrophic losses of the recent past are the destiny of our remaining heaths. Should we wish, their place in the countryside as an integral part of British culture can be secured.

Contents

Foreword   7

Part One: An introduction to heathland
1. British Heathlands   15
2. Some commonplace heaths   35
3. The anatomy of heathland   47

Part Two: A selection of British heaths
4. Northern Isles   115
5. Upland margins   135
6. Western limits   165
7. Southern heaths   211
8. Heaths of the eastern shore   267
9. The East of England   297
10. In memoriam   341

Part Three: Perceptions
11. Changing perceptions   359
12. A vision for heathland   389

Acknowledgements   410
References and further reading   411
Illustration credits   418
Index   419

Customer Reviews

Biography

Clive Chatters is a naturalist who has worked for over 35 years as a nature conservationist in the counties adjoining the Solent. He has held positions in both the statutory and voluntary conservation sectors, taking time off to assist in establishing the New Forest National Park. Author of a variety of publications from scientific reports to magazine articles, he has also written several books including Saltmarsh, also in the British Wildlife Collection, Flowers of the Forest, an exploration of the botany of the New Forest through its history and rural economy, and Wild Hampshire and Isle of Wight, to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.