The Secret Life of a Meadow  
Published by Pen and Sword
Publication Date:  Available in all formats
ISBN: 9781399072557
Pages: 0

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ISBN: 9781399072557 Price: INR 1695.99
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Glorious flower meadows were part of our life force for 2000 years or more before we swept them away last century on the altar of progress. Is there to be no more drinking from their font of well being? This book says not. Lavishly illustrated, it describes their history and, from the few remaining examples, it shows us how beautiful they are, how rich in plants and animals. It coaches us in their creation, even in small gardens, or their restoration in larger fields. It tells of the extraordinary lives of even the most ordinary denizens, little secrets that make the meadow's world go around and the convoluted links between the many plants and animals that keep everything in balance. Their stories are woven, season-by-season, into a year in the life of two meadows, a small, garden meadow and a larger old paddock. We hear of birds that plant trees, bacteria that become plant organelles, plants that drink from other plants, plants that fool or poison insects and insects that turn the tables, ants that foster butterflies, mice that navigate by compass, snails that house bees and how all of these connections, together with the flow of energy and nutrients, result in a healthy ecosystem. The book even suggests how adults and children alike can see these things for themselves. So, read this book and help your local green space to become a meadow and revel in it.
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Glorious flower meadows were part of our life force for 2000 years or more before we swept them away last century on the altar of progress. Is there to be no more drinking from their font of well being? This book says not. Lavishly illustrated, it describes their history and, from the few remaining examples, it shows us how beautiful they are, how rich in plants and animals. It coaches us in their creation, even in small gardens, or their restoration in larger fields. It tells of the extraordinary lives of even the most ordinary denizens, little secrets that make the meadow's world go around and the convoluted links between the many plants and animals that keep everything in balance. Their stories are woven, season-by-season, into a year in the life of two meadows, a small, garden meadow and a larger old paddock. We hear of birds that plant trees, bacteria that become plant organelles, plants that drink from other plants, plants that fool or poison insects and insects that turn the tables, ants that foster butterflies, mice that navigate by compass, snails that house bees and how all of these connections, together with the flow of energy and nutrients, result in a healthy ecosystem. The book even suggests how adults and children alike can see these things for themselves. So, read this book and help your local green space to become a meadow and revel in it.
Table of contents
  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • Contents
  • Introduction: Why we are writing the book and what a meadow is
  • How to use this book
  • Part One
    • Chapter 1 A brief look at different types of meadow
    • Chapter 2 The importance of meadows to agriculture past and present
  • Part Two
    • Chapter 3 Preparing a small garden meadow from scratch
    • Chapter 4 Setting up a large field meadow, from scratch and as a restoration
  • Part Three
    • Chapter 5 Meadows in spring
    • Chapter 6 Meadows in summer
    • Chapter 7 Meadows in autumn and winter
  • Part Four
    • Chapter 8 Ecology and species interactions in a meadow
    • Chapter 9 The future
  • References and Further Reading
  • Resources
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