Patrick Whitefield has spent a lifetime living and working in the countryside and twenty years of that taking notes of what he sees, everywhere from the Isle of Wight to the Scottish Highlands. This book is the fruit of those years of experience. In How to Read the Landscape Patrick explains everything from the details, such as the signs which wild animals leave as their signatures and the meaning behind the shapes of different trees, to how whole landscapes, including woodland, grassland and moorland, fit together and function as a whole. Rivers and lakes, roads and paths, hedgerows and field walls are also explained, as are the influence of different rocks, the soil and the ever-changing climate. There's even a chapter on the fascinating history of the landscape and one about natural succession, how the landscape changes of its own accord when we leave it alone. The landscape will never look the same again. You will not only appreciate its beauty, it will also come alive with a whole new depth of appreciation and understanding. The lively text is supported by 50 colour photographs, 140 line drawings by the author, and extracts from his notebooks illustrating actual examples of the landscapes he describes. Opening How to Read the Landscape is like opening a window on a whole new way of seeing the living world around you.
About the AuthorPatrick Whitefield, bestselling author and one of Europe's foremost authors, teachers and practitioners of temperate permaculture. Patrick's previous books include: Permaculture In A Nutshell, The Earth Care Manual, How To Make A Forest Garden, Tipi Living. He has appeared in several BBC TV programmes, made popular YouTube videos and was a consulting editor of Permaculture Magazine: Practical Solutions For Self-Reliance.
ReviewsThis introduces the reader to secrets of the outdoors: the clues left by wildlife, and the ecology of the landscape. Find out how elements harmoniously combine and gradually evolve. Discover Britain Magazine
Book InformationISBN 9781856231855
Author Patrick WhitefieldFormat Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Permanent PublicationsPublisher Permanent Publications