The Secret Life of a Meadow

About this book

Lavishly illustrated, this book describes the history of flower meadows and, for the few remaining examples, shows us how beautiful they are, how rich in plants and animals. It coaches the reader 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.

The stories of meadow organisms 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 offers suggestions how to see these things for yourself. The authors encourage you to read this book and then help your local green space become a meadow.

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Biography

A scientist by inclination and training, Wilson Wall studied zoology and then genetics, an area in which he worked for many years. While being a professional laboratory scientist he continued his interest in the natural world, especially invertebrates. A perfunctory change of career now sees Wilson running Bewdley Orchids, a conservation company which grows British native orchids for repopulating meadows and orchards.

David Morgan grew up in the West Midlands at a time when there were still wild and messy pieces of countryside to explore. He has continued exploring nature for his whole life both professionally, as a research plant physiologist, and privately, as a keen botanist. He has grown a wildflower meadow in his garden for nearly 30 years and in retirement has taken up detailed investigation of this little piece of heaven.