Why a Booktrail?
Forgotten edgelands, furious battles, suburban mysteries – discover the secret history of our green belts.
Outskirts
What you need to know before your trail
Green belts are part of the landscape and psyche of post-war Britain, but have led to conflicts at every level of society – between conservationists and developers, town and country, politicians and people, nimbys and the forces of progress.
In the green belts John discovers strange hidden places, from nuclear bunkers to buried landfill sites, and along the way meets planners, protestors, foresters and residents whose passions for and against the green belt tell a fascinating tale of Britain today.
Travel Guide
The Green Belt
What’s that piece of land which separates our towns from the countryside? The green belt is much more than just a strip of land however separate from either urban or rural landscape. It’s a key part of the land of both those who live in towns or outlying areas.
this book looks at the history of the green belt, why land between town and country was thought to be so important, why it’s maintained, how it affects animal habitats and why towns merging together would be a bad thing for everyone.
The green belt is disappearing however as pressures from people, and indeed animals are changing the way we live with this vital part of our landscape.
There’s a lot about why and how we use the greenbelt – we explore the woods beside our houses as children, we first meet a fox who has wandered into the urban habitat and the way city living and rural living has changed, merged and co existed since the author was a young boy.
Personal to the author but relevant to every reader – wherever they live.
Mentions books! The author often talks about the books he read as a child and made him want to explore the world around him. He played here, took refuge here, scavenged for coal and wood for the fire here. Got to find out names of plants etc
For people who can’t travel far, the green belt can be an introduction to the countryside without making much of an effort
Streetview Maps
A) New Addington - Fairchildes Road
E) Croxley Green
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Outskirts: Living Life on the Edge of the Green Belt
Destination : England, New Addington Author/Guide: John Grindrod
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