The Bookshelf - #5 -National Parks of the United Kingdom
This Pleasant Land
Carey Davies
Publisher: Bonnier Books
Available on Amazon from £29.33
This blog contains Amazon affiliate links, if you make a qualifying purchase after clicking one of these links, I may receive a small kick back. This is at no extra cost to you, but does help me to keep this blog running, so thank you if you decide to make a purchase.
I was given this book as a birthday present, having wanted to get hold of a copy of it for some time, and what a present it is.
National Parks of the United Kingdom is great balance between some fantastic landscape photography and in depth information about the stunning national parks that we have in the UK. It’s always going to be great to see the place that you live being spoken about in books and this is no execution to this. The shots of all of the national parks in this book are breathtaking and it is a great source of both inspiration and information.
The book was written to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of national parks in the United Kingdom and takes us on a journey which ranges all the way from the rugged Cairngorms right down the rolling hills of the South Downs.
Throughout the book, we are treated to a range of stunning photography; there are 200 photos in the book and these are from a range of landscape and wildlife photographers and they really manage to capture the essence of each of the locations they are helping to illustrate.
This isn’t a phonebook in there truest sense of the word. What I mean is that you don’t just pick this book up and flick through the images, this is a book that demands to be read and when you consider that it is asking to look after these places and preserve them for future generations, I think time spent reading this book and enjoying the photographs is absolutely time well spent.
This book both informs and inspires and is going to appeal to an audience of both photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. It makes you want to go out to explore and to make images. Davies draws attention to the diversity of environments found across the UK, from coastal cliffs and wetlands to mountains and ancient woodlands. Alongside this, he emphasises the role these spaces play in conservation, protecting wildlife and preserving cultural identity.
For me, this book is two things: a guide and a tribute. It encourages readers to explore these landscapes while also reflecting on their value and the need to protect them. Whether read as a source of travel inspiration or as a deeper exploration of Britain’s natural heritage, it offers a compelling and accessible insight into some of the country’s most remarkable places.
At the time of writing, this book is £29.20 on Amazon, over £10 less than it’s RRP and for a book of this quality and hardback, this, I feel makes the book an absolute steal! Click the link below to grab your copy.
Check out more of The Bookshelf by clicking the links below.
