An author whose new book aims to interpret the landscapes of Northumberland has suggested that walkers should take a compulsory test before heading out into the countryside.
Andrew Bibby, writer and journalist, undertook at 200-mile backpacking walk from Edinburgh Castle to the old Great North Road at the River Swale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park for his latest book, The Borders: The Lands We Share. On the journey, he spent time in both Northumberland and County Durham, both of which feature heavily in the book.
Farming, in particular the challenges of farming in upland Northumberland, is the focus of one of the chapters. He also examines woodlands and commercial forestry, peatland degradation and restoration, and nature conservation and the loss of biodiversity.
His proposal for a test ahead of walking in the countryside is ultimately tongue in cheek, as he explains further. He said: “It’s always struck me as a little surprising that many people who enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside don’t take more of an interest in the way that the land is being used economically, particularly for farming.
“A little test for walkers on how the new agricultural subsidies work, and how upland farmers in particular are trying to survive financially. Well, why not?”
Andrew also explores how the UK’s national parks are faring, and how the long and hard-fought campaign for the right to walk freely in the countryside has developed separately on either side of the border. Unavoidably, Andrew also delves into the effects that climate change is having on our landscapes.
Though he lays out the observations he made along the way, Andrew hopes that the book is “more than simply a book about a walk”. He continued: “Walking has its own rhythm, a slow rhythm, one which allows you the time you need to absorb what you see.
“After a day or two of steady walking, life settles down to a quieter pace. Although I hope that this is more than simply a book about a walk, I don’t think I’d have been able to write it if I hadn’t first explored the land on foot.”
The Borders: The Lands We Share is published on March 1 by Gritstone Publishing and will be available from bookshops and other outlets at the price of £15.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/authors-new-book-suggests-northumberland-31062896
