The Lie of the Land: Who Really Cares for the Countryside?

George Monbiot's book exposes the damage done to our land by a tiny landowning elite, and how communities are fighting back. It calls for better care of the countryside, regardless of ownership.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Brave and brilliant GEORGE MONBIOT Urgent and essential reading should be required reading CAROLINE LUCAS For centuries, we have been sold a lie: that you need to own the land to care for it. Just 1% of the population owns half of England, and this tiny landowning elite likes to present themselves as the rightful custodians of the countryside. They are even paid billions of pounds of public money to be good stewards. But what happens when they just don't care? A small number of landowners have laid waste to some of our most treasured landscapes, leaving our forests bare, our rivers polluted, our moorlands burned, and our fenlands drained. Here, Guy Shrubsole journeys all over Britain to expose the damage done to our land and meet the communities fighting back: the river guardians, small farmers, and trespassing activists restoring our lost wildlife. Full of rage and hope, this is a bold vision for our nation's wild places and how we can treat them with the awe and attention they deserve. It's time to demand better for nature. We can start by replacing the lie of the land with a profound truth: that any of us can care for the countryside, regardless of whether you own it. The unjust impositions of historic land ownership blight all our lives – here, Guy shows why. Chris Packham Both dynamite and medicine Amy-Jane Beer Brave and brilliant GEORGE MONBIOT Urgent and essential reading should be required reading CAROLINE LUCAS For centuries, we have been sold a lie: that you need to own the land to care for it. Just 1% of the population owns half of England, and this tiny landowning elite likes to present themselves as the rightful custodians of the countryside. They are even paid billions of pounds of public money to be good stewards. But what happens when they just don't care? A small number of landowners have laid waste to some of our most treasured landscapes, leaving our forests bare, our rivers polluted, our moorlands burned, and our fenlands drained. Here, Guy Shrubsole journeys all over Britain to expose the damage done to our land and meet the communities fighting back: the river guardians, small farmers, and trespassing activists restoring our lost wildlife. Full of rage and hope, this is a bold vision for our nation's wild places and how we can treat them with the awe and attention they deserve. It's time to demand better for nature. We can start by replacing the lie of the land with a profound truth: that any of us can care for the countryside, regardless of whether you own it. The unjust impositions of historic land ownership blight all our lives – here, Guy shows why. Chris Packham Both dynamite and medicine Amy-Jane Beer
Brave and brilliant GEORGE MONBIOT Urgent and essential reading should be required reading CAROLINE LUCAS For centuries, weve been sold a lie: that you need to own the land to care for it. Just 1% of the population own half of England,and this tiny landowning elite like to present themselves as the rightful custodians of the countryside. Theyre even paid billions of pounds of public money to be good stewards. But what happens when they just dont care? A small number of landowners have laid waste to some of our most treasured landscapes,leaving our forests bare,our rivers polluted,our moorlands burned,and our fenlands drained. Here Guy Shrubsole journeys all over Britain to expose the damage done to our land,and meet the communities fighting back: the river guardians,small farmers and trespassing activists restoring our lost wildlife. Full of rage and hope,this is a bold vision for our nations wild places,and how we can treat them with the awe and attention they deserve. Its time to demand better for nature. We can start by replacing the lie of the land with a profound truth: that any of us can care for the countryside,regardless of whether you own it. The unjust impositions of historic land ownership blight all our lives – here, Guy shows why Chris Packham Both dynamite and medicine Amy-Jane Beer Brave and brilliant GEORGE MONBIOT Urgent and essential reading should be required reading CAROLINE LUCAS For centuries, we have been sold a lie: that you need to own the land to care for it. Just 1% of the population owns half of England, and this tiny landowning elite likes to present themselves as the rightful custodians of the countryside. They are even paid billions of pounds of public money to be good stewards. But what happens when they just dont care? A small number of landowners have laid waste to some of our most treasured landscapes, leaving our forests bare, our rivers polluted, our moorlands burned, and our fenlands drained. Here, Guy Shrubsole journeys all over Britain to expose the damage done to our land and meet the communities fighting back: the river guardians, small farmers, and trespassing activists restoring our lost wildlife. Full of rage and hope, this is a bold vision for our nation's wild places and how we can treat them with the awe and attention they deserve. Its time to demand better for nature. We can start by replacing the lie of the land with a profound truth: that any of us can care for the countryside, regardless of whether you own it. The unjust impositions of historic land ownership blight all our lives – here, Guy shows why. Chris Packham Both dynamite and medicine Amy-Jane Beer Brave and brilliant GEORGE MONBIOT Urgent and essential reading should be required reading CAROLINE LUCAS For centuries, we have been sold a lie: that you need to own the land to care for it. Just 1% of the population owns half of England, and this tiny landowning elite likes to present themselves as the rightful custodians of the countryside. They are even paid billions of pounds of public money to be good stewards. But what happens when they just dont care? A small number of landowners have laid waste to some of our most treasured landscapes, leaving our forests bare, our rivers polluted, our moorlands burned, and our fenlands drained. Here, Guy Shrubsole journeys all over Britain to expose the damage done to our land and meet the communities fighting back: the river guardians, small farmers, and trespassing activists restoring our lost wildlife. Full of rage and hope, this is a bold vision for our nation's wild places and how we can treat them with the awe and attention they deserve. Its time to demand better for nature. We can start by replacing the lie of the land with a profound truth: that any of us can care for the countryside, regardless of whether you own it. The unjust impositions of historic land ownership blight all our lives – here, Guy shows why. Chris Packham Both dynamite and medicine Amy-Jane Beer

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 242 x 163 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008651770