Woodland Flowers: Colourful past, uncertain future

Description

'A meticulously researched, important and beautiful volume that goes well beyond the scope of its title to describe the hitherto neglected subject of woodland flora and place it in a broad ecological and historical context' - STEFAN BUCZACKI Observing the plants of the forest floor - the flowers, ferns, sedges and grasses - can be a vital way of understanding our relationship with British woodland. They tell us stories about its history and past management, and can be a visible sign of progress when we get conservation right. For centuries, woodland plants have also been part of our lives in practical ways as food and medicines, and they have influenced our culture through poetry, perfume and pub signs. In this insightful and original account, Keith Kirby explores how woodland plants in Great Britain have come to be where they are, coped with living in the shade of their bigger relatives, and responded to threats in the form of storms, fires, floods, the attentions of grazing herbivores and the effects of the changing seasons. Along the way, the reader is introduced to the work of important botanists who have walked the woods in the past, collecting information on where plants occur and why. In-depth profiles of some of our most important and popular ground flora species provide extra detail and insight. Beautifully illustrated, Woodland Flowers is a must for anyone who appreciates and wants to learn more about British woodland and its plants.

Keith Kirby is currently a visiting researcher at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, where his main areas of work include analysis of long-term woodland changes and rewilding. Before that, he worked as a woodland ecologist with the government conservation agencies for many years, first with the Nature Conservancy Council and then its successor bodies, English Nature and Natural England. Keith was awarded the Royal Forestry Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Services to Forestry in 2011, and the CIEEM Medal for his outstanding, lifelong contribution to the advancement of ecology, forestry and woodland management in 2014. He has written widely for both refereed and more popular journals and the press, as well as co-editing the book Europe's Changing Woods and Forests and co-authoring the Woodland Survey Handbook.

An informative and enlightening book for those who love woodlands but seek a deeper understanding of the myriad plants that clothe the forest floor * Gardens Illustrated * Woodland Flowers offers wonderful insight into these other-worldly habitats * English Garden * Kirby's extensive knowledge is presented in a volume that is both accessible and detailed, in a format that will appeal to both the ecologist and anyone who simply appreciates and wants to learn more about woodlands and its flora * BBC Wildlife * Beautifully illustrated. Woodland Flowers is a must for anyone who appreciates and wants to learn more about British woodland and its plants. * Countryside * There is much to enjoy in Keith Kirby's writing style as his language is straightforward and accessible -- Clive Chatters * British Wildlife * Thought provoking, personal and richly illustrated -- Rob Fuller * BTO * I would highly recommend it for the Christmas list for any forester with an interest in woodland conservation -- Tim Hall * Trees magazine, the Institute of Chartered Foresters * Very well-informed with up-to-date research, relieved by personal reminiscences, unexpected snippets, lively prose and informative accounts of individual species -- George Peterken * Quarterly Journal of Forestry * A tour de force of woodland botany from a real woodland expert... Highly recommended. * Plantlife *