This event took place on 20th September 2011
Berrill Lecture Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall Campus, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Meadows in floodplains once formed a major land-use in the British landscape; with historical roots in the Roman occupation, they were flourishing by the time of the Norman Conquest and were still underpinning the rural economy during the First World War. Centuries of consistent management allowed a plant community to develop that is one of the most species rich in Britain. A productive, species rich ecosystem is both an ecological conundrum and a valuable asset to be passed to future generations. My lecture explores our understanding of this agricultural system and considers its future prospects.
Meadows in floodplains once formed a major land-use in the British landscape; with historical roots in the Roman occupation, they were flourishing by the time of the Norman Conquest and were still underpinning the rural economy during the First World War. Centuries of consistent management allowed a plant community to develop that is one of the most species rich in Britain. A productive, species rich ecosystem is both an ecological conundrum and a valuable asset to be passed to future generations. My lecture explores our understanding of this agricultural system and considers its future prospects.
Click below to play the event (70 minutes)