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Oliver Rackham.
The History of the Countryside: the classic history of Britain's landscape, flora and fauna.
Phoenix Press. 1986

From its earliest origins to the present, Oliver Rackham describes the endlessly changing character of Britain’s countryside. Exploring the natural and man-made features of the land – fields, highways, hedgerow, 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. Based on extensive research, Oliver Rackham’s classic book is lively and immensely readable.

Oliver Rackham.
The Illustrated History of the Countryside.
Weidenfeld and Nicolson. 1994

The Illustrated History of the Countryside tells the multi-layered story of the British landscape – a story revealed in every field, tree, hedge, pasture, moor, meadow, grassland, marsh and pond. Dr Rackham shows, with passion and humour, how to ‘read’ our surroundings; the past, even the medieval past, still lives around us, if only we can be taught to see it.

Adapted from his classic work The History of the Countryside, which was first published in 1986, this new and fully illustrated edition combines Dr Rackham’s wisdom and eloquence with the finest landscape photography, vividly exposing the splendour and secrets of our countryside to an even wider audience. Lavish colour artwork and around one hundred colour photographs show how a variety of human and natural factors, from the formation of field boundaries and coppicing to wind and rain, have shaped the countryside through many centuries.

At the heart of the book is a series of photographic essays, describing eight of the author’s walks within areas of natural beauty; Dr Rackham proves an engaging and informative guide to some of Britain’s best-loved places, as well as offering fascinating practical advice on landscape detection techniques. All easily accessible to the public, these same walks can be enjoyed by the reader at any time of year; the annotated aerial photographs will help orientation and route-planning.

Containing a wealth of knowledge invaluable to the appreciation and ultimately the conservation of our natural heritage, The Illustrated History of the Countryside will inspire the uninitiated, and fill country-lovers of all ages with a renewed enthusiasm.

Oliver Rackham.
Woodlands.
Collins. 2006

Trees are wildlife, just as deer or primroses are wildlife. Each species has its own agenda and its own interactions with human activities …

Written by one of Britain’s best-known naturalists, Woodlands offers a fascinating new insight into the trees of the British landscape that have filled us with awe and inspiration throughout the centuries.

Looking at such diverse evidence as the wods used in buildings and ships, and how woodland has been portrayed in paintings and photographs, Rackham traces British woodland through the ages, from the evolution of wildwood, through man’s effect on the landscape, modern forestry and its legacy, and recent conservation efforts. He explores woodlands and their history through names, surveys, mapping, legal documents and archaeology, offering a compelling insight into Britain’s woodlands and how they have become a national obsession.