Moorland Management - John Phillips

'Moorland' in all of its many forms makes up the largest single vegetation type in the United Kingdom. It is internationally important, whilst being culturally and nationally valuable for agriculture, conservation and field sports. However, as Man's understanding has increased, through detailed scientific study over the past half century, management standards have tended to decline in many places. There are fewer people living in the uplands with the understanding and skills needed to make the moorland system work on a sustainable basis. 

In Moorland Management John Phillips draws together proven expertise, management tactics and information on politics, public bodies, the survival of heather, bracken control, restoration, winter browning and more for the benefit of those responsible for this wonderful land-type to carry on forward into the twenty-first century.

THE AUTHOR

John Phillips was born in Ayrshire and learned country skills almost as soon as he could walk. After Harrow and Cambridge, where he read agriculture, he worked as a hill shepherd in Galloway, a cattleman in Midlothian and a farm manager in Perthshire. In 1959, he bought a farm in Fife and in 1965, career-switched and became a game manager at Fordingbridge, before starting a consultancy and specialised in addressing the conflicts between foresters, farmers, sportsmen and conservation objectives. He founded The Heather Trust in 1984.

Reviews:

'... a comprehensive and practical guide that covers the sustainability and practicalities for managing moorland...This book will be very welcome to those who are inexperienced in moorland management. The book is detailed and thorough enough for even the most experienced to gain some additional nuggets of knowledge.' NGO Keeping the Balance

'Not so much comprehensive as a bible. This is a substantial work from the founder of the Heather Trust, a man who has pretty much devoted his life to grouse and moorland... packed with information and detail on the given subject matter. Beautifully illustrated too with good use of Jason Lowes' paintings.' Fieldsports

'There is no doubt that the scope of the book covers everything a moorland manager should be thinking about and as it draws on a lifetime of experience, the book is authoritative.' The Heather Trust Annual Report 2012