|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 06 April 2011
Posts: 2,
Visits: 60
|
|
| I’ve not read the book cover to cover, but having dipped into three or four chapters I found what I read quite accessible and not a difficult read. I particularly liked the author’s treatment of the fauna of Dartmoor. In many of the recent New Naturalist books covering geographical areas I’ve found the information about animals fairly disappointing as it’s largely been limited to a single chapter or a few paragraphs tacked onto the back of chapters dealing with individual habitats. In many cases the information is very scant, often consisting of single sentences discussing some of the typical animal species that are known to be present. The exceptions have been Derek Ratcliffe’s books on Lakeland and Galloway where the author made the fauna as much an integral part of the landscape as the habitats and plants that grow there and the human influences that shaped it. Perhaps these books reflect the breadth of experience of the author, a brilliant field naturalist who watched and studied many aspects of nature, as well as being involved in the policy side of conservation. Ian Mercer has done a similar job with Dartmoor in that he has, in places, woven discussion about fauna into the fabric of the chapters dealing with the key habitats. This is no mean feat given that so few of the other books do more than touch on the animals that depend upon the landscapes being discussed. I’d be interested in hearing other’s views.
|
|
|
|
|
Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 23 October 2011
Posts: 173,
Visits: 1,547
|
|
| It's still on my to read list, I'm afraid. 2 friends have read it...one rated it very highly, the other was very disappointed...not got to the bottom of the exact reasons why yet though. So no help from me.....
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 16 April 2012
Posts: 52,
Visits: 838
|
|
HelenBall (06/01/2010)
The exceptions have been Derek Ratcliffe’s books on Lakeland and Galloway where the author made the fauna as much an integral part of the landscape as the habitats and plants that grow there and the human influences that shaped it. Perhaps these books reflect the breadth of experience of the author, a brilliant field naturalist who watched and studied many aspects of nature, as well as being involved in the policy side of conservation. I’d be interested in hearing other’s views. I quite agree about Derek Ratcliffe, Helen. His autobiographical book In Search of Nature published by Peregrine Books is even better. I haven't read Dartmoor but Ian Mercer's name is familiar. John B
|
|
|
|