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English agriculture
Book reviews How to move home 0 BIOLOGICAL HABITAT RECONSTRUCTION edited by G.P. Buckley Be/haven Press, London, UK, 1989, 358 pp, f37.50
This is an attractively presented and soundly edited book on a most topical subject published at a most opportune time. We in the UK have always transformed our habitats, sometimes for the better, mostly for the worse. Our idea of wilderness is a managed seminatural habitat that is expensively maintained in a state of suspended animation. There is nothing inherently wrong in all this. But from time to time we should ask whether it is all worth it, should we not expect private money to pay for public ecological amenities, and what would happen if we simply left an area alone for half a century rather than spend a fortune on holding back the tide of ecological succession. This is all very pertinent because we are surely entering a new era of land use planning where farmers will be expected to do more to garden their degraded habitats via the messy multiobjective schemes of set-aside, extensification, nitrate reduction and woodland planting. Similarly industry is expected to clean up its act by restoring its degraded ecosystems and by contributing via sponsorship to the transformation of degraded habitats into amenity lands ripe for redevelopment by the footloose clean technology of the computer and leisure age. Finally there is the brave new world of the ecological consultant, of which David Bellamy is the prominent example. He is prepared to move a marshland, a limestone pavement or a Norfolk reedbed hundreds of kilometres if necessary to transplant a whole ecosystem and maintain its species diversity. Such is the modern world of ecological surveying and green capitalism.
LAND USE POLICY
July 1990
For those excited by these possibilities, Dr Buckley’s book provides a gold mine of useful commentary and scientific analysis. Most of the most prominent writers and researchers in the field are represented. The book is divided into six sections: 0
0
l
0
philosophies of habitat reconstruction, where the point is made that working with nature is much less expensive and much more durable than fighting natural succession for the artificial advantages of manicured amenity or the protection of an ecologically marginal but politically symbolic species; ecological principles of habitat reconstruction, where the arguments cover the practical issues associated with site preparation, soil chemistry and species introduction, again with an emphasis on low cost, durability and practicability; opportunities for habitat reconstruction, particularly in farmland, given the scope for utilizing both the inherent site advantages and the growth of advisory skills both in the Ministry of Agriculture and the voluntary countryside movement; creating new habitats, where the emphasis is again on the practical
0
experience of actually managing restored and new habitats or wetland and heathland sites, with advice on what species to plant and to avoid; transplanting and transforming whole habitats. This is possibly the most controversial aspect of the book. Ecologists are divided on the merits and disadvantages of this approach. Generally a sensible middle line prevails. One would not tamper with an ancient woodland, or indeed any site of special scientific interest, but the learning-by-doing cannot be underestimated as there is money available for realistic experimentation; diversifying and enhancing existing habitats. The work of the Game Conservancy in managing pheasant woodland for butterflies and field margins for wild flowers is well covered in this section. This important scientific study deserves full airing, even though it does not provide a final solution.
The totality of this useful book exceeds its individual contributions. This is a most interesting and stimulating text to read. One can always quibble with both the science and the philosophy. But at least both are transparent, and this is a great help.
Timothy O’Riordan School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich, UK
Succinct summary of agricultural change ENGLISH AGRICULTURE An Historical Perspective by David Grigg Basil Blackwell, 256 pp, f 32.50
Oxford,
UK,
1989,
David Grigg has produced a highly readable and straightforward account of agriculture at a time of potential
radical change in the UK agricultural industry. Although the main objective of the book is to describe present patterns and changes in English (and Welsh) agriculture, the author argues that these can be explained only by developing a historical perspective. The (second) agricultural ‘revolution’ of the last 40 years, therefore, must be set within the context of 300 years of continuous change in farming. In this respect the book is similar to
267
Book reviews Guy Robinson’s
Agricultural
Change.’
even though the latter analyses change through a series of statistical manipulations. No such techniques are employed by Grigg who presents information, often from official Ministry sources, in a simple but clear manner. However, as such heavy use is made of the Agricultural Census it is surprising that problems associated with its accuracy and comparability are not discussed. Indeed, methodological issues are rarely raised in the empirical analysis and the different conceptual and theoretical perspectives developed by agricultural geographers do not find a home here. Whilst this was not a stated aim of the book, it is in some ways a pity, especially as the emerging political economy perspective could have provided a suitable framework for such a historical study. Nevertheless, David Grigg has done what he does best - provide a succinct summary of agricultural change over a long period of time. The text consists of 19 short and concise chapters. In between very brief introductory and concluding chapters, five main topics are covered, although not in equal depth. Chapters 7, 3 and 4 deal with broad patterns of land use and the structure of the agricultural industry. The growth in agricultural output and levels of selfsufficiency in the post-war period are placed alongside both the relative decline in the demand for food and the rise and then fall in real net farm incomes. Brief insights are provided into the role of government price support measures and the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Community. The second section (Chapters 5. h and 7) describes the main crop and livestock types found in England and Wales. Changing patterns of arable farming are outlined and the reader is reminded that both the post-war growth in cereals (especially wheat) and the search for alternative arable
crops have parallels in earlier centuries. Indeed, the overall area devoted to arable land uses has changed very little since 1950. Instead the rise in output is due to the intensification of production, which Grigg explains in terms of chemical technology and the
268
increased use of pesticides and fertilizers in particular. Livestock numbers and productivity have also risen considerably, but the traditional divide between ‘arable east’ and ‘pastoral west’ still exists and, if anything, has been exaggerated. Structural changes in agriculture form the third focus of interest (Chapters 8, 9 and 10). The decline in the landed classes and the corresponding growth in owner-occupancy are noted, along with the rise in mixed tenure. The latter relates in part to the decline in number of small farms and the concentration of most farmland on fewer but larger holdings. Such farms are located mainly in south-eastern and central parts of England and have, in the process of enlargement, often become fragmented. Despite the trend to larger farms, the phenomenon of part-time farming remains an important component of the agricultural industry. Chapters 11 and 12 comprise the fourth section of the book, which examines briefly the decline of the farm population and relates this, in part, to the substitution of machinery for labour. The increasing use of tractors, combine harvesters and milking parlours is traced, although similar technological changes associated with, for example, higher crop yields are discus-
separately in an earlier chapter. Different types of farming system are dealt with in the final section (Chapters 13-18) as the author highlights the combined effects of the ‘factors’ discussed in previous sections. Useful, but rather short, insights into mixed farming, pigs and poultry, dairying, horticulture and upland farming are given. The book is well structured and presented and the tables and illustrations are, with one or two exceptions, clear and informative. However: it would appear that the arable and mixed farming counties listed in Table 14.1 have been transposed. My overall impression is that this is a book well worth reading, even though the individual topics are never examined in any real depth. The lack of theory and methodological considerations suggests that this account of English (and Welsh) agriculture is unlikely to become a textbook for the agricultural geographer. sed
Brian W. llbery Coventry Polytechnic Coventry, UK
’ G.M.
Robinson, Agricultural Change: Geographical Studies of British Agriculture, North British Publishing, Edinburgh, UK, 1988.
Truly impressive scope ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN DRYLANDS
which is rich in illustration and detail, yet available in non-technical language for a multidisciplinary audience.
by Peter Beaumont a volume in the Natural Environment: Problems and Management Series, edited by Chris Park, Rout/edge, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA, 1989, 505 P/II, f60
The book is organized into three parts. Part I contains four chapters and provides an overview towards a systematic study of the drylands. Chapter 1 examines the physical nature of the drylands including climatic characteristics, arid soils and land-
‘The aim of this book is to provide the reader with an understanding of the ways in which drylands have been managed and developed by introducing a variety of examples differing widely in both time and space’ (p xviii). The author has achieved his purpose and the result is a volume
forms, vegetation and fauna and of course water sources, evapotranspiration and water balance concerns. While definitions abound here, the text is essentially non-technical in nature and with a sufficiently lively writing style. The second chapter examines human use of drylands, including tradi-
LAND USE POLICY
July
1990
This is an attractively presented and soundly edited book on a most topical subject published at a most opportune time. We in the UK have always transformed our habitats, sometimes for the better, mostly for the worse. Our idea of wilderness is a managed seminatural habitat that is expensively maintained in a state of suspended animation. There is nothing inherently wrong in all this. But from time to time we should ask whether it is all worth it, should we not expect private money to pay for public ecological amenities, and what would happen if we simply left an area alone for half a century rather than spend a fortune on holding back the tide of ecological succession. This is all very pertinent because we are surely entering a new era of land use planning where farmers will be expected to do more to garden their degraded habitats via the messy multiobjective schemes of set-aside, extensification, nitrate reduction and woodland planting. Similarly industry is expected to clean up its act by restoring its degraded ecosystems and by contributing via sponsorship to the transformation of degraded habitats into amenity lands ripe for redevelopment by the footloose clean technology of the computer and leisure age. Finally there is the brave new world of the ecological consultant, of which David Bellamy is the prominent example. He is prepared to move a marshland, a limestone pavement or a Norfolk reedbed hundreds of kilometres if necessary to transplant a whole ecosystem and maintain its species diversity. Such is the modern world of ecological surveying and green capitalism.
LAND USE POLICY
July 1990
For those excited by these possibilities, Dr Buckley’s book provides a gold mine of useful commentary and scientific analysis. Most of the most prominent writers and researchers in the field are represented. The book is divided into six sections: 0
0
l
0
philosophies of habitat reconstruction, where the point is made that working with nature is much less expensive and much more durable than fighting natural succession for the artificial advantages of manicured amenity or the protection of an ecologically marginal but politically symbolic species; ecological principles of habitat reconstruction, where the arguments cover the practical issues associated with site preparation, soil chemistry and species introduction, again with an emphasis on low cost, durability and practicability; opportunities for habitat reconstruction, particularly in farmland, given the scope for utilizing both the inherent site advantages and the growth of advisory skills both in the Ministry of Agriculture and the voluntary countryside movement; creating new habitats, where the emphasis is again on the practical
0
experience of actually managing restored and new habitats or wetland and heathland sites, with advice on what species to plant and to avoid; transplanting and transforming whole habitats. This is possibly the most controversial aspect of the book. Ecologists are divided on the merits and disadvantages of this approach. Generally a sensible middle line prevails. One would not tamper with an ancient woodland, or indeed any site of special scientific interest, but the learning-by-doing cannot be underestimated as there is money available for realistic experimentation; diversifying and enhancing existing habitats. The work of the Game Conservancy in managing pheasant woodland for butterflies and field margins for wild flowers is well covered in this section. This important scientific study deserves full airing, even though it does not provide a final solution.
The totality of this useful book exceeds its individual contributions. This is a most interesting and stimulating text to read. One can always quibble with both the science and the philosophy. But at least both are transparent, and this is a great help.
Timothy O’Riordan School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich, UK
Succinct summary of agricultural change ENGLISH AGRICULTURE An Historical Perspective by David Grigg Basil Blackwell, 256 pp, f 32.50
Oxford,
UK,
1989,
David Grigg has produced a highly readable and straightforward account of agriculture at a time of potential
radical change in the UK agricultural industry. Although the main objective of the book is to describe present patterns and changes in English (and Welsh) agriculture, the author argues that these can be explained only by developing a historical perspective. The (second) agricultural ‘revolution’ of the last 40 years, therefore, must be set within the context of 300 years of continuous change in farming. In this respect the book is similar to
267
Book reviews Guy Robinson’s
Agricultural
Change.’
even though the latter analyses change through a series of statistical manipulations. No such techniques are employed by Grigg who presents information, often from official Ministry sources, in a simple but clear manner. However, as such heavy use is made of the Agricultural Census it is surprising that problems associated with its accuracy and comparability are not discussed. Indeed, methodological issues are rarely raised in the empirical analysis and the different conceptual and theoretical perspectives developed by agricultural geographers do not find a home here. Whilst this was not a stated aim of the book, it is in some ways a pity, especially as the emerging political economy perspective could have provided a suitable framework for such a historical study. Nevertheless, David Grigg has done what he does best - provide a succinct summary of agricultural change over a long period of time. The text consists of 19 short and concise chapters. In between very brief introductory and concluding chapters, five main topics are covered, although not in equal depth. Chapters 7, 3 and 4 deal with broad patterns of land use and the structure of the agricultural industry. The growth in agricultural output and levels of selfsufficiency in the post-war period are placed alongside both the relative decline in the demand for food and the rise and then fall in real net farm incomes. Brief insights are provided into the role of government price support measures and the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Community. The second section (Chapters 5. h and 7) describes the main crop and livestock types found in England and Wales. Changing patterns of arable farming are outlined and the reader is reminded that both the post-war growth in cereals (especially wheat) and the search for alternative arable
crops have parallels in earlier centuries. Indeed, the overall area devoted to arable land uses has changed very little since 1950. Instead the rise in output is due to the intensification of production, which Grigg explains in terms of chemical technology and the
268
increased use of pesticides and fertilizers in particular. Livestock numbers and productivity have also risen considerably, but the traditional divide between ‘arable east’ and ‘pastoral west’ still exists and, if anything, has been exaggerated. Structural changes in agriculture form the third focus of interest (Chapters 8, 9 and 10). The decline in the landed classes and the corresponding growth in owner-occupancy are noted, along with the rise in mixed tenure. The latter relates in part to the decline in number of small farms and the concentration of most farmland on fewer but larger holdings. Such farms are located mainly in south-eastern and central parts of England and have, in the process of enlargement, often become fragmented. Despite the trend to larger farms, the phenomenon of part-time farming remains an important component of the agricultural industry. Chapters 11 and 12 comprise the fourth section of the book, which examines briefly the decline of the farm population and relates this, in part, to the substitution of machinery for labour. The increasing use of tractors, combine harvesters and milking parlours is traced, although similar technological changes associated with, for example, higher crop yields are discus-
separately in an earlier chapter. Different types of farming system are dealt with in the final section (Chapters 13-18) as the author highlights the combined effects of the ‘factors’ discussed in previous sections. Useful, but rather short, insights into mixed farming, pigs and poultry, dairying, horticulture and upland farming are given. The book is well structured and presented and the tables and illustrations are, with one or two exceptions, clear and informative. However: it would appear that the arable and mixed farming counties listed in Table 14.1 have been transposed. My overall impression is that this is a book well worth reading, even though the individual topics are never examined in any real depth. The lack of theory and methodological considerations suggests that this account of English (and Welsh) agriculture is unlikely to become a textbook for the agricultural geographer. sed
Brian W. llbery Coventry Polytechnic Coventry, UK
’ G.M.
Robinson, Agricultural Change: Geographical Studies of British Agriculture, North British Publishing, Edinburgh, UK, 1988.
Truly impressive scope ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN DRYLANDS
which is rich in illustration and detail, yet available in non-technical language for a multidisciplinary audience.
by Peter Beaumont a volume in the Natural Environment: Problems and Management Series, edited by Chris Park, Rout/edge, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA, 1989, 505 P/II, f60
The book is organized into three parts. Part I contains four chapters and provides an overview towards a systematic study of the drylands. Chapter 1 examines the physical nature of the drylands including climatic characteristics, arid soils and land-
‘The aim of this book is to provide the reader with an understanding of the ways in which drylands have been managed and developed by introducing a variety of examples differing widely in both time and space’ (p xviii). The author has achieved his purpose and the result is a volume
forms, vegetation and fauna and of course water sources, evapotranspiration and water balance concerns. While definitions abound here, the text is essentially non-technical in nature and with a sufficiently lively writing style. The second chapter examines human use of drylands, including tradi-
LAND USE POLICY
July
1990