Sandlands

The Suffolk Coast and Heaths

Tom Williamson

This table gives the books price, published date, ISBN reference and other details
Price:	£17.00
Published:	August 2005
ISBN:	1-905119-02-X
Details:	180 pp, illus: 30 col, 40 b/w

Synopsis

The Suffolk coast has long been a popular destination for visitors, who come to enjoy the tranquillity of resorts like Southwold and Aldeburgh, and the abundant wildlife, especially birds. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the district's biological diversity derives from its unique combination of coastal wetlands, heaths, and extensive woods.

This book explains how this distinctive landscape - the Sandlings or, to use an older name, the 'Sandlands' - evolved over centuries through the interaction of people and nature. Tom Williamson examines the origins and development of both the wildlife habitats and the wider landscape of fields, farms, towns and settlements. The landscape was firmly shaped by the hand of man. Yet at the same time, the character of local communities has itself been moulded by nature - and in particular, by the poor acid soils and the ever-changing form of the coast.

Reviews

'...captures in words and images 'the peculiar character of the area', concentrating on components such as heaths, marshes, forests hedges, fields, settlements and coast. Williamson stresses the fragile and changing nature of the landscape and the impact of humans.' Antiquity Williamson's choice of subjects to illustrate and elucidate is masterly... Here in Sandlands, history is making decisive contributions to the understanding and conservation of one of our most vulnerable and sensitive areas, varied and sublimely beautiful.' The Local Historian