Dartmoor. A Statement of its Time. New Naturalist Series no. 111.First edition. by Mercer, Ian - 2009

London: Collins, 2009. Hardback. xiv, 402pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. Dartmoor is said to be the last great southern wilderness in England. Popularly, the area has been renowned as a vast and empty moorland area, which is actually the product of 5,000 years of hill farmers' stockmanship and the grazing of their cattle, sheep and ponies. Spanning miles of open moorland, whilst also hiding small secluded river valleys, rare plants and endangered birds, Dartmoor is a place of variety. It has evolved in the public's mind from a forbidding place to one of romance and mystery. In 1951 it became a National Park, helping to conserve both its beauty and cultural heritage. Ian Mercer sets out to explore every aspect of this important area. Focusing not only on its extensive history and physical landscape, but also on its cultural place within Great Britain. This is a comprehensive and engaging look at the wild and rugged landscape that ha sinspired so many poets, painters and musicians over the centuries. Illustrated with lots of colour photographs plus maps and diagrams. Jacket design by Robert Gillmor. Book as new and unread. Jacket as new and unclipped. Quite a heavy book but no additional shipping charges to UK postcodes.