Hedgerow

by John Talbot White, Eric Thomas

The story, based on fact, chronicles the life of a hedge, how it grew, its resources and wildlife, and how its life continued through the ages until it was destroyed by modern times

Genres: Nonfiction, Natural History

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Diane Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and short book on the history of hedgerows in England. The authors included beautiful illustrations to enrich the point, that are as lush as the subject content. Its written in the style of a narrator telling a youth (probably target audience) about what is happening in the countryside from the Saxons, through to Tudor times. The privatizing of common land, and the arrival of gamekeepers for the estates completely changed the way of life for the people and animals that depended on the hedgerows, and sadly had a detrimental effect on the biodiversity. I found the ending of the story to modern (then) times to be quite sad, at the natural state of the hedgerows and the community of people. The farmers have come to view nature as a pest, including the birds, and the people are at odds with one another over the old ways vs the new use of mechanized tools and the decision to choose what is cheaper and faster over the preservation of something so beautiful and timeless. This is an enjoyable read nonetheless that now has me piqued for other illustrated books of the same sort!

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a “picture book” but dense-packed with history and hedgerow facts. Beautifully illustrated.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books as a child and I loved looking at the large illustrations and all the detail within them. The book tells the story of a hawthorn hedge and how it changes both through the seasons and through the ages, beginning around 1000 years ago. It shows how hedgerows became an integral part of the British landscape and how many species of wildlife depend on them for food and shelter.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fascinating, informative story of a hedgerow--its origins, growth, resources, wild life and its place in a changing landscape.