Overview

Since time immemorial mankind has taken it upon himself to wage war against nature -- against those species of birds and mammals which he believes conflict with his livelihood. This remarkable book is about that war of attrition against the native mammals and birds of England and Wales from the middle ages to the present day. There is widespread knowledge about the huge declines in popular species such as song birds, farmland birds, otters, and pine martens, however, there is less understanding about the deep-rooted causes of these losses, or about the complex relationship between mankind and these species. Roger Lovegrove has undertaken years of unique research: by searching through parish records of 'vermin' trapped, hunted, and killed over the generations, he has revealed an unprecedentedly accurate and detailed picture of the history of a nation's wildlife, and of the often devastating impact and extinction that we have forced on our ecology. Consisting of species-by-species accounts, accompanied by beautiful, specially-commissioned illustrations, this book outlines the history - and often the future too - of a wealth of wildlife species, from badgers, bears and beavers, to wolves, kingfishers, the golden eagle and the humble house sparrow. The geographical scope is British, but the subject will be of interest to conservationists around the world because of the unique historical material that will be included. The topic has enormous relevance today, as public concern about the environment rises, and controversies rage about hunting, wildlife management and reintroduction of ancient species.

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9780199548156

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Reviews

`Review from previous edition This is a book of major importance and public interest tracing man's impact on wildlife since the 16th century. It culminates in posing the question: How do we manage our wildlife in modern Britain as part of the rural fabric and economy? ' Lord Barber of Tewkesbury, former Chairman of the Countryside Commission and RSPB `An amazing picture... Ground-breaking is a much-overused word, but Lovegrove's sweeping and meticulous research is for once genuinely that, endlessly fascinating as well as being elegantly written.' Michael McCarthy, The Independent (Review) `The book is much more than a lament for abandoned nests and empty burrows...Silent Fields is a marvellously detailed, hedge-skimming history of rural Britain with all its moral contradictions and complexities.' Richard Girling, Sunday Times `...excellent book...' Robin Page, Shooting Times and Country Magazine `...fascinating...' TLS `Fascinating.' Birds `[A] thought provoking and carefully researched book.' Country Life `Silent Fields was the book that Lovegrove was born to write. His storytelling ability...shines through.' Peter Ranscombe, The Scotsman (Critique) `[An] excellent book.' Fergus Collins, Focus `Fascinating.' Sunday Telegraph `It's all fascinating stuff.' Jeremy Hobson, Countryman's Weekly `A fascinating and exhaustive study...Wide-ranging and meticulously researched, Silent Fields is undoubtedly an instant classic - a treasure trove of information about our ancestors' attitudes and their behaviour towards the realm of nature.' Mark Cocker, BBC Wildlife Magazine `[A] fascinating book...Silent Fields provides a remarkable analysis of the social history of wildlife and our changing attitudes to it...a scholarly yet readable account.' Tim Birkhead, Times Higher Education Supplement

"`Review from previous edition This is a book of major importance and public interest tracing man's impact on wildlife since the 16th century. It culminates in posing the question: How do we manage our wildlife in modern Britain as part of the rural fabric and economy? ' Lord Barber of Tewkesbury, former Chairman of the Countryside Commission and RSPB `An amazing picture...""Ground-breaking"" is a much-overused word, but Lovegrove's sweeping and meticulous research is for once genuinely that, endlessly fascinating as well as being elegantly written.' Michael McCarthy, The Independent (Review) `The book is much more than a lament for abandoned nests and empty burrows...Silent Fields is a marvellously detailed, hedge-skimming history of rural Britain with all its moral contradictions and complexities.' Richard Girling, Sunday Times `...excellent book...' Robin Page, Shooting Times and Country Magazine `...fascinating...' TLS `Fascinating.' Birds `[A] thought provoking and carefully researched book.' Country Life `Silent Fields was the book that Lovegrove was born to write. His storytelling ability...shines through.' Peter Ranscombe, The Scotsman (Critique) `[An] excellent book.' Fergus Collins, Focus `Fascinating.' Sunday Telegraph `It's all fascinating stuff.' Jeremy Hobson, Countryman's Weekly `A fascinating and exhaustive study...Wide-ranging and meticulously researched, Silent Fields is undoubtedly an instant classic - a treasure trove of information about our ancestors' attitudes and their behaviour towards the realm of nature.' Mark Cocker, BBC Wildlife Magazine `[A] fascinating book...Silent Fields provides a remarkable analysis of the social history of wildlife and our changing attitudes to it...a scholarly yet readable account.' Tim Birkhead, Times Higher Education Supplement"

The facts are often fickle - which is why this is such an important book. Lovegrove has done a remarkable job. The Times. This is a work of diligent science, rather than literature, but that is exactly what we need. The Times. The future success of wildlife conservation depends on an understanding of the catastrophic failures of the past and Lovegrove's remarkable book makes a huge contribution to that understanding. Sunday Times.

Author Information

Roger Lovegrove, OBE, was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wales, until his retirement in 1997. He currently serves on a number of governmental environmental advisory committees. He is the author and contributor to numerous books on birds and wildlife, including the Collins Field Notebook and the Birdwatcher's Diary and has regularly appeared on television and radio. He was awarded an OBE in 1997 for services to wildlife conservation.

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