What landscapes do you find most interesting?
A hard one. Once you begin looking and get to know something about how they came into being and what they hold, then every one is interesting. But here’s a few off the top of my head:
North-west Scotland with those extraordinary peaks rising out the lochans and peat hags - some of the oldest rocks in the world are here;
The flat, flat landscapes of the fens or Romney Marsh. The gigantic skies seem to envelop you;
The chalk downlands of Dorset; spectacular cliffs and wonderful flowers and insects;
The Vale of Evesham, archetypal 'English countryside' with, for me, deeply emotional associations with Elgar's music and A. E. Housman's poetry.
Which mysteries in the series were you most keen to solve?
The age and origins of the chalk figures and the extraordinary story of the NE Yorkshire alum industry.
What other mysteries of the landscape would you most like to investigate?
I'd like to learn much more about the history of Britain's woodlands as the ice has advanced and retreated over the past 2 million years. I'd like to know about the fluctuations in our fauna over the same time.
Industrial archaeology too - the history of the canals and then the railways and how they changed access across Britain and affected its landscapes.
The story of Cornish tin 'industry'; first alluvial, then mines, which has been operating since the Bronze Age and must have made Cornwall a major place of call for many cultures.
How can people find out about the landscape in their own area?
Observe and discover what questions rise. Then the public library for books and contact with local enthusiasts - archaeologists, historians and naturalists. They're always there and, in my experience, delighted to find others who share their interests!
Some people think Britain has no dramatic geological features like the Grand Canyon in the US or Ayers Rock in Australia. Do you think Britain's geology is rather boring by comparison?
No, of course not! Our scale is often smaller but, for example, the drama of the chalk sea cliffs of England matches up to anything else. Then the north-west of Scotland just flings geology into your eyes! Finally, just contemplate the rock formations of 'Hutton's Unconformity' on the shores of the Firth of Forth, about 25 miles east of Edinburgh. One of the world's holiest of places for any geologist - it is where their science began!
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Content last updated: 25/09/2003
