From its earliest origins to the present day this award-winning beautifully written book describes the endlessly changing character of Britain''s countryside. ''A classic'' Richard Mabey Exploring the natural and man-made features of the land - fields highways hedgerows fens marshes rivers heaths coasts woods and wood pastures - he shows conclusively and unforgettably how they have developed over the centuries. In doing so he covers a wealth of related subjects to provide a fascinating account of the sometimes subtle and sometimes radical ways in which people fauna flora climate soils and other physical conditions have played their part in the shaping of the countryside. ''One thing is certain: no one would be wise to write further on our natural history or to make films about it without thinking very hard about what is contained in these authoritative pages'' COUNTRY LIFE . Language: English