Teesdale's Special Flora: Places, Plants and People

Description

A definitive and richly illustrated guide to the botanically unique area of Upper Teesdale in England’s County Durham To anyone who loves the wild flowers of Great Britain and Ireland, there are some places that beckon time and again, such as The Lizard in Cornwall, The Burren in Ireland’s County Clare and Ben Lawers in Perthshire, Scotland. Upper Teesdale in England’s County Durham must, however, be included among these jewels of our botanical heritage. This locality, which is within sight of the highest point of the Pennines, has an outstanding and special flora that has been shaped by its altitude, land-use patterns and diverse geology. Many of the plants found here are rare and localized, while others are more common and widespread, but together they form the botanically unique Teesdale Assemblage. For this reason, Upper Teesdale is a hotspot for botanists. It is also a scenically beautiful area, located within easy reach of the industrial heartlands of the north-east, and is much visited by walkers and tourists. This book offers visitors unique insights about this area and its botanical riches. Presents the first account to cover together the places, plants and people of this special areaFeatures more than 330 stunning photographsIncludes detailed profiles of 96 plants that make up the Teesdale AssemblageOffers a history of Teesdale’s botanical exploration and describes the people who live, work and study plants there todayProvides an overview of environmental threats and what is required to ensure a sustainable future Cover Contents Foreword by The Lord Barnard DL Preface Places Map of Teesdale Introduction and significance of the Teesdale flora The area, geology and soils Weather and climate Discovery – four centuries of plant hunting in Upper Teesdale Plants Communities and habitats of the Teesdale Assemblage Geographical elements in the Teesdale Assemblage A guide to the species accounts SPECIES ACCOUNTS People Plants and protection The construction of Cow Green Reservoir Case studies Land management and social change Teesdale: past and present Teesdale: the future References Glossary and abbreviations Gazetteer: places in Teesdale mentioned in the text Species mentioned in the text Acknowledgements and photographic credits Index of people Index of plants