A Certain Degree of Magnificence

Even though most people in England live in towns, many retain a strong emotional attachment to the countryside. The popularity of television programmes such as Countryfile, and the volume of magazines and books published today on country matters, cater for this strong interest.
This book traces the landscape history of Bedfordshire, highlighting the impact individuals have had on the countryside - whether they worked the land to make a living or simply improved the landscape.
The chapters trace Bedfordshire's history from the most recent ice age to the present, covering the invasions of the Romans and Danes, the arrival of the plague in the Middle Ages, and enclosure in the eighteenth century. The landowners and landscape gardeners who helped to shape Bedfordshire, such as Capability Brown, feature, as do ordinary people such as market gardeners. The book also discusses recent changes in agriculture, and the pressure of housing development and leisure use on the land.
The book will appeal to anyone interested in the outdoors, even if they do not live in Bedfordshire. Walkers will find much to enjoy, as will those interested in local history, agriculture and conservation. The book includes an appendix listing the locations mentioned in this book, such as Woburn Abbey and Wrest Park.
Soil scientist Brian Kerr is a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire. His first book, An Unassuming County: The Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside, was published in 2014.