Grassland Restoration and Management

At first glance this book reminded me of Malcolm Emery’s “Promoting Nature In Cities And Towns: A Practical Guide”, a pioneering practical habitat management book that provided a vital reference point for myself and many others working in nature conservation in the late 20th century.

This new book is well formatted and there are ample photos and tables to complement the text. The authors successfully pull together the latest research and a wealth of practical advice on the ways to preserve, restore and create natural grasslands. Various management and restoration techniques such as soil amendment, reseeding and harvesting are all comprehensively covered. As are the threats and challenges of conserving this declining habitat, along with remedial measures available to land managers. Other chapters provide detailed information about the different grassland communities and their associated wildlife. My one minor criticism is that there could have been more emphasis on wet grassland communities, which are hardly mentioned. Despite this I am certain this latest edition in the ‘Conservation Handbook’ series will be essential reading for land managers and site owners alike. 

Book reviewed by Chris Gregory