Tir: The Story of the Welsh Landscape

(Hardback)

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Description

In Tir the Welsh word for land writer and ecologist Carwyn Graves takes us on a tour of seven key elements of the Welsh landscape, such as the ffridd, or mountain pasture, and the rhos, or wild moorland. By diving deep into the history and ecology of each of these landscapes, we discover that Wales, in all its beautiful variety, is at base just as much a human cultural creation as a natural phenomenon: its raw materials evolved alongside the humans that have lived here since the ice receded. In our modern era of climate concerns and polarised debates on land use, diet and more, it matters that we understand the world we are in and the roads we travelled to get here. By exploring each of these key landscapes and meeting the people who live, work and farm in them, Tir offers hope for a better future; one with stunningly beautiful, richly biodiverse landscapes that are ten times richer in wildlife than they currently are, and still full of humans working the land.

Reviews

"As he maps out some of the distinctive features that make up the landscape of Wales Carwyn Graves shows us how this tapestry of features and habitats is a living place, and a place where people make a living. In a chaotic, challenging time for farming and wildlife his is a steady voice, his secateurs of measured prose cutting through thickets of babble to show us how a future Wales can sustain people and increase wildlife.

Much like his books about apples or Welsh food Graves again proves to be a diligent researcher and engagingly clear writer, offering us a book shot through with historical facts and bright vignettes of modern living. From goose grazing to peat harvesting, from agroforestry to the myriad wonders of hay meadows, this is an engaging book of exploration, examination and, ultimately, of illumination."-- "Jon Gower"

Author Bio

Carwyn Graves is an author, public speaker, gardener, and amateur ecologist from Wales. His books include Apples of Wales and Welsh Food Stories.