Based on the original Granada TV series, which I
never watched, this charming book details the natures, habitats and properties
of many of the wild plants growing in the UK. Perhaps this seems an odd book for
a writer. But it’s a wonderful source of local detail for stories. Sometimes,
the very mention of a specific plant can inject extra atmosphere into a story.
Think of the plant poisons that have been used during the ages and the
wonderfully evocative descriptive role of plants like waving marram grass on windblown
seaside sand dunes, pricking thistles or stinging nettles in the path of
fleeing, scantily clad beauties, reeds softening the edges of broads and rivers
where poachers or smugglers hide.
Clearly not a book from which every detail can be
taken and used at once. But a volume to return to for the many interesting facts
that Lancaster places before the reader. The local names bring character and
humour. The properties, both medicinal and nutritional, could be effective in
many science fiction settings or in historical novels. Merely knowing that
certain plants are likely to inhabit specific habitats is sufficient to make
those imagined locations more real.
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| English: Sand Dunes by East Beach Some areas are more densely covered in marram grass than others, and are thus better able to resist erosion by the wind. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Written in a casual, friendly style that reflects
the author’s enthusiasm, not to say passion, for the subject, the book is an
easy read in spite of the vast amount of detailed information that’s given. It
had me recalling early walks with my father, an expert on butterflies and birds
but without any knowledge of plants. It also created nostalgia for a holiday
spent in Germany, where my wife’s old landlady provided the German names of common
plants and I was able to compare them with those I knew from home. An
entertaining walk that highlighted the similarities to be found between
nations.
I’ll keep the volume on hand, along with my other ‘research’
books, on the shelves beside my desk. Easy access to such knowledge is vital
for the writer. For those who don’t write and for whom reading is the most essential
aspect of a book, I can say that this one will entertain, educate and amuse.
Split into different sections to explain the flora of various locations, it
brings life and light to a subject that might otherwise be seen as dry or essentially
academic.
I enjoyed the read. For anyone with any interest in
the countryside and with that sort of curiosity that seeks to know more about
the world about them, this is a valuable aid. It’s now over 30 years old, but
still relevant, and still available. I happily recommend it.
2 comments:
Stuart, thank you for including my account of our time foraging for wild asparagus in Croatia. What a special afternoon it was!
Hi Tricia. I've followed you on Twitter and sent you a FB friend request.
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