Taming the Flood: Rivers, Wetlands and the Centuries-Old Battle Against Flooding

by Jeremy Purseglove

Overview

‘Exquisitely written’ Sunday Times

Beautifully written and magnificently illustrated with photographs, line drawings and maps, this book serves both as a celebration of the richness of the British countryside, and as a warning of the legacy of loss and destruction we could so easily leave to future generations.

In recent years the Somerset Levels suffered from the worst flooding in over twenty years, and more recently, flooding in Cumbria and other parts of Britain have reached new levels of severity. Taming the Flood analyses many of the conflicting demands made on rivers and wetlands, offering practical solutions which aim to protect, rather than destroy, these important ecological habitats.

Exploring the old arguments and new solutions raised over the last 400 years, this completely updated edition of the classic Taming the Flood reveals how harnessing nature, rather than attempting to repress it, is the only answer to the environmental disasters we are faced with today.

As a practical landscape architect and ecologist working in the water industry, Jeremy Purseglove has been actively involved in land drainage engineering to try to enhance, rather than destroy, the heritage of our rivers and wetlands. He charts the conservation, agriculture and development of our rivers and wetlands, outlining practical proposals for the protection and use of these sensitive habitats.

From the Lancashire mosses and the Derwent Ings, Otmoor and the Fens, to Romney Marsh and the Somerset Levels, he traces the history and natural history of our rivers and wetlands, describing in vivid detail both the beauty of these strange and ancient landscapes, and the often disastrous results of attempts to tame them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008132224
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	07/30/2015
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishers
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
File size:	28 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jeremy Purseglove helped to pioneer a new approach to the way we manage our rivers, having worked as an environmentalist in the water industry for over a decade. Taming the Flood, first published in 1988, is based on his personal experience and on the research he did for a television series, which he also presented. In 1989 he left the water industry to join an engineering consultancy. In this capacity he worked in the UK and throughout the world integrating civil engineering schemes with the environment. He lives in Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 9

1 River versus Drain: The Conflict within Traditional Flood Management 12

2 The Fear of the Flood: Traditional Attitudes to Wetlands 38

3 The Winning of the Waters: A History of the Fight against Flooding until the Post-War Era 62

4 The Wasting of the Waters: The Real Cost of Orthodox River Management 108

5 Riverside Riches: The Need for Management on Wet Land and some Alternative Economic Uses 124

6 Civilizing the Rivers: The New Approach to River Management 184

7 Creative Flow: Rules for Good Practice in River Management 206

8 The Last-Ditch Stand: The Wetlands Debate, 1974-1988 258

9 The Flood Untamed: Rivers and Wetlands, 1988-2017 338

Notes 378

Index 392

Editorial Reviews

‘His original determination remains the driving force of this compelling book. Mr Purseglove’s mission was to show why rivers really matter to England and how our wetlands are a vital part of the natural scene. His descriptions are wonderfully accurate, his writing captivating and his enthusiasm catching. On any level, it’s a good read, but, as a call to action, it’s outstanding […] It is his love of the subject, his deep knowledge and poetic insight that wins us from the very first page.’ John Selwyn Gummer, Country Life magazine

‘Taming the Flood most deserves its status as a classic […] for its evocation of place […] the descriptions of wetlands are exquisitely written. This fine book calls for, and takes, a longer view.’ The Sunday Times

Praise for the previous edition:

‘Jeremy Purseglove has a gift that is increasingly rare in these days of scientific specialisation – of joining practical wisdom about working with nature and the land to an imaginative appreciation of their place in our history and culture.’ Richard Mabey

‘A most authoritative book which appears at a very appropriate time. It will give rise to new attitudes in an extremely important aspect of conservation, and new hope to those who are fighting for a more enlightened approach to wetlands.’ Sir Peter Scott

From the Publisher