Britain’s Structure and Scenery

Britain’s Structure and Scenery
L. Dudley Stamp

Britains Structure and Scenery deals with the physical background, the stage on which the drama of life is played and which provides the fundamental environment for plants, newnaturalists.comIt would be difficult to find an area of comparable size anywhere in the world with such a variety of physical conditions, scenery and consequently of plant and animal life as the British Isles. Our homeland is indeed a geological museum, epitomising in miniature the geological history of the globe. Each hill and valley, each plateau and plain reflects the underlying geological structure or build; this volume attempts not only to describe the surface features, but also to sketch the long and complex series of events which have given the land its present form - the building of the British Isles. It thus deals with the physical background, the stage on which the drama of life is played and which provides the fundamental environment for plants, animals and man.

Collins New Naturalist Library

4

Britain’s Structure and Scenery

L. Dudley Stamp

Editors: (#ulink_3dd7c1d8-b5c0-5111-b433-b6937222db23)

JAMES FISHER M.A.

JOHN GILMOUR M.A.

JULIAN HUXLEY M.A. D.Sc. F.R.S.

L. DUDLEY STAMP C.B.E., B.A. D.Sc.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EDITOR:

ERIC HOSKING F.R.P.S.

The aim of this series is to interest the general reader in the wild life of Britain by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalist. The Editors believe that the natural pride of the British public in the native fauna and flora, to which must be added concern for their conservation, are best fostered by maintaining a high standard of accuracy combined with clarity of exposition in presenting the results of modern scientific research. The plants and animals are described in relation to their homes and habitats and are portrayed in the full beauty of their natural colours, by the latest methods of colour photography and reproduction.

TO

A TRUE LOVER OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

THE RT. HON. LORD JUSTICE SCOTT, P.C.

TO SERVE UNDER WHOM FOR A YEAR

IS A LIBERAL EDUCATION

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u5aeb306f-d797-5d49-a7ee-b746def6eaaa)

Title Page (#u921bfea5-ee85-5f17-b389-727486ecea2a)

Editors: (#u0a7ed49c-2c80-5b81-b824-5eee0e34140e)

Editors’ Preface (#u552308c9-702f-5352-bab1-08507d155e9c)

Introduction (#uce819408-661e-5a67-ab84-fca06fb6e83a)

CHAPTER 1 (#ub9b561ff-6b56-5a74-8681-eaf1bc70ae68) HIGHLAND BRITAIN AND LOWLAND BRITAIN

CHAPTER 2 (#udd76c093-8932-5238-b163-0a43bbe52a5a) READING THE ROCKS

CHAPTER 3 (#ue947d751-e5aa-5342-bcc6-076dcc6aef33) EARTH HISTORY—TIME AND LIFE

CHAPTER 4 (#uac0feacc-292c-5029-ac2b-bd912660cc70) THE GEOLOGICAL MAP

CHAPTER 5 (#u151a84d2-825e-5355-b131-96f2731e07b7) LAND FORMS AND SCENERY THE WORK OF RIVERS

CHAPTER 6 (#u0f6d4b27-1ef7-579d-aff3-6e13b6e2a699) THE WORK OF THE SEA

CHAPTER 7 (#u732e3e53-af81-5d49-baa8-3a7ea69e6c8a) THE SCENERY OF THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

CHAPTER 8 (#litres_trial_promo) THE SCENERY OF LIMESTONE COUNTRY

CHAPTER 9 (#litres_trial_promo) THE LAND FORMS OF VOLCANIC COUNTRY

CHAPTER 10 (#litres_trial_promo) THE SCENERY OF GLACIATION

CHAPTER 11 (#litres_trial_promo) SOILS

CHAPTER 12 (#litres_trial_promo) GEOGRAPHICAL EVOLUTION

CHAPTER 13 (#litres_trial_promo) THE PLIOCENE PERIOD

CHAPTER 14 (#litres_trial_promo) THE GREAT ICE AGE AND AFTER

CHAPTER 15 (#litres_trial_promo) THE REGIONS OF BRITAIN

CHAPTER 16 (#litres_trial_promo) THE WEALD

CHAPTER 17 (#litres_trial_promo) EAST ANGLIA AND THE FENS

CHAPTER 18 (#litres_trial_promo) THE ENGLISH SCARPLANDS

CHAPTER 19 (#litres_trial_promo) THE ENGLISH MIDLANDS

CHAPTER 20 (#litres_trial_promo) THE SOUTH-WEST

CHAPTER 21 (#litres_trial_promo) THE WELSH MASSIF

CHAPTER 22 (#litres_trial_promo) THE NORTH OF ENGLAND—THE LAKES AND THE PENNINES

CHAPTER 23 (#litres_trial_promo) SCOTLAND

CHAPTER 24 (#litres_trial_promo) IRELAND

Annotated Bibliography (#litres_trial_promo)