An Unassuming County
The Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside
Published on 5. January 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
162 pages
978-0-9572520-9-7 (ISBN)
Description
An Unassuming County by Brian Kerr, published by Eventispress in 2014, traces the history of landscape evolution in one English county-Bedfordshire. The book takes the position that this county has never received much attention and is worth a closer look. The title of 'An Unassuming County' fits well with this part of England: many travel through the county but few take the time to explore.
Using non-technical language, the book begins with a brief geological history and outlines how the geology has shaped the landscape. The impact made by underlying rock formations and later by periods of ice cover are traced with examples from across Bedfordshire and then explained with special attention given to how the land is used today. Changes over time in the agricultural landscape are described together with the impact that the extraction industries have made on the land. Bedfordshire has a special place in the geological history of England yielding fine brick making clays; a number of excellent building stones; and specialist sands used extensively in industrial processes. The extraction of these products has left a mark on the landscape and the book looks at how these old workings are being transformed.
The green spaces of the county are described with a review of the nature reserves including geological sites in Bedfordshire, and the opportunities for walkers and ramblers in the county are fully set out. New initiatives such as the Community Forest of Marston Vale and Country Parks are given special attention and the author lists oyjt designated sites conserved as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. (SSSIs).
Finally, the author looks at the mounting pressure of the landscape and likely changes in the countryside which may follow from changes in agricultural production and government policy. The pandemic has altered how we think about, and use, the countryside and this book provides a useful introduction to how this small county was shaped by its geological and more recent past.
The text is illustrated with colour images and ample maps and diagrams.
Using non-technical language, the book begins with a brief geological history and outlines how the geology has shaped the landscape. The impact made by underlying rock formations and later by periods of ice cover are traced with examples from across Bedfordshire and then explained with special attention given to how the land is used today. Changes over time in the agricultural landscape are described together with the impact that the extraction industries have made on the land. Bedfordshire has a special place in the geological history of England yielding fine brick making clays; a number of excellent building stones; and specialist sands used extensively in industrial processes. The extraction of these products has left a mark on the landscape and the book looks at how these old workings are being transformed.
The green spaces of the county are described with a review of the nature reserves including geological sites in Bedfordshire, and the opportunities for walkers and ramblers in the county are fully set out. New initiatives such as the Community Forest of Marston Vale and Country Parks are given special attention and the author lists oyjt designated sites conserved as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. (SSSIs).
Finally, the author looks at the mounting pressure of the landscape and likely changes in the countryside which may follow from changes in agricultural production and government policy. The pandemic has altered how we think about, and use, the countryside and this book provides a useful introduction to how this small county was shaped by its geological and more recent past.
The text is illustrated with colour images and ample maps and diagrams.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bedford
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Illustrations
full colour
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-9572520-9-7 (9780957252097)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brian Kerr trained as a soil scientist and has applied this knowledge of the environment in unravelling the landscape history of Bedfordshire. The first book, An Unassuming County: The Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside, published in 2014, is a readable account of the geology and landscape, which will be of interest to anyone with an interest in the countryside. Brian previously worked as a consultant on agricultural project worldwide and during the past decade has engaged in land projects in the UK, Ireland, Rwanda, and Tanzania. He presently holds a post as a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, UK.
Content
1. The Bedfordshire Landscape
2. Scarps and Vales
3. The Chalk Lands
4. The Clay Vales of Bedfordshire
5. The Greensand Ridge
6. The Clay Uplands
7. The River Valleys
8. The Landscape Beneath our Feet
9. People in the Landscape
10. Mud on your Boots
11. The Changing Countryside
2. Scarps and Vales
3. The Chalk Lands
4. The Clay Vales of Bedfordshire
5. The Greensand Ridge
6. The Clay Uplands
7. The River Valleys
8. The Landscape Beneath our Feet
9. People in the Landscape
10. Mud on your Boots
11. The Changing Countryside