An Environmental History of Twentieth-Century Britain

by John Sheail

Overview

Environmental history - the history of the relationship between people and the natural world - is a dynamic and increasingly important field. In An Environmental History of Twentieth-Century Britain, John Sheail breaks new ground in illustrating how some of the most pressing concerns came to be recognised, and a response made. Much use is made of archival sources in tracing a number of key issues, including:
- Management of change by central and local government
- The manner in which natural processes were incorporated in projects to protect personal and public health, and ultimately environmental health
- New beginnings in forestry
- The emergence of a third force alongside farming and forestry in the countryside
- Management of a transport revolution, and mitigation of environmental hazards

Such instances of policy-making are reviewed within the wider context of a growing awareness, both on the part of government and business, of the role of environmental issues in the creation of wealth and social well-being for us all. An Environmental History of Twentieth-Century Britain is essential reading for all those concerned with these issues

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333949818
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/11/2002
Edition description:	2002
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

JOHN SHEAIL is a Senior Principal Scientific Officer in the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Natural Environment Research Council), and Deputy Head of its Research Site at Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire. He is also external Professor of Geography at the University of Loughborough.
JOHN SHEAIL is a Senior Principal Scientific Officer in the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Natural Environment Research Council), and Deputy Head of its Research Site at Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire. He is also external Professor of Geography at the University of Loughborough.

Table of Contents

Preface
Histories of Their Time
The Management of Change
Nature Incorporated
New Beginnings In Forestry
A Third Force
Environmental Conservation
Transport and the Environment
Environmental Hazards
The Century of the Environment
Bibliography
Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

It should be widely used by students and that elusive person, the general reader, since it addresses so many issues of current concern.' - Helen Meller, Planning Perspectives

'It is, as anyone who has read one of Sheail's papers or books will expect, meticulous in its attention to detail, judicious in its selection of material, and ruthlessly detached in its view of our past. What becomes quite clear is that anybody interested in any segment of British environmental management in the twentieth century will have to start here.' - Ian Simmons, Environmental History'...a serviceable survey text for undergraduate planning courses or for any adult reader interested in this topic.' - B.C. Pearson, Choice

'Provides an admirably clear account of 'human interaction with the natural world'.' - Northern History

'One will look in vain for a work which promotes the use of available sources for further research into environmental history at the local, regional and national level presented in such a well-formed way.' - Sehepunkte

Editorial Reviews

Exploring the growth of governmental recognition of environmental dangers and policy responses to it, Sheail (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council, UK) takes a thematic approach to the growth of environmental initiatives in local and national British government. Introducing the topic with a discussion of management issues in general, he moves on to discussions of sanitation efforts in communities, initiatives in forestry, the impact of the urban middle class in the politics of the countryside, environmental conservation initiatives, responses to transport pollution, and responses to environmental hazards. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR