Parkland

Parkland is a familiar and enduring landscape. From its origins in the cleared areas of the "wildwood" to the contemporary interpretation of the recreation ground with children's swings, the concept of the park is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the UK. A decidedly pastoral environment, it is one which has been repeatedly reinvented through the centuries. Perhaps because of the chord that parks strike within us, they have been the focus of concerted human activity since their very creation. As places in which to live, work, seek food and materials, rear livestock, enjoy leisure time, and appreciate both landscape and wildlife, they are unrivalled. Against this complex backdrop, Parkland considers the origins and development of parks by looking at their social and natural history. Graham Harvey traces the evolution of parkland from its earliest guise as a wood-pasture through royal forests and deer parks to the 18th century landscape park and finally to the metropolitan creations of the Victorian philanthropists. The book is fully illustrated with both contemporary and historical photographs, as well as specially commissioned wildlife watercolors by artist Dan Cole.