Former Newbury pupil turned environmental activist and author gives rousing lecture to packed Natural History Museum

Guy Shrubsole: The Lie of the Land
at the Natural History Museum, Oxford
on Thursday, February 6

Review by JON LEWIS

Countryside Matters

Environmental campaigner and activist, author, journalist and cartoonist Guy Shrubsole, who was educated at St Bart’s in Newbury, and then Merton College Oxford, gave a rousing lecture to a packed audience in Oxford’s Natural History Museum about his third book, The Lie of the Land.

The book is a sequel to his first, Who Owns England? where he examines the ownership of all land in England. He reveals stats that suggest that one per cent of the people own 50 per cent of the land, with aristocratic families controlling 30 per cent. In this new book, he analyses how these landowners use their land, for good or for bad.

England has lost half its wild birds, and many species, from hedgehogs to insects like butterflies and bees, are in decline. Guy suggests that the stewardship of many landowners is lacking. They misuse their power and political influence to reduce access to the countryside whilst at the same time encouraging activities that harm the environment. He praises examples of good countryside management.

One example of damage arises from some grouse shoots. Large shoots take place on upland peat moorland on an industrial scale. Guy trespassed onto some shooting land, showing us a photograph of mounds of dead game birds, shot for sport and therefore not eaten. Heather is grown on this land that is burned every year so that the birds can feed in greater numbers. When the heather is burned, the peat also releases carbon into the atmosphere that contributes to global warming. Moorland is burned by some landlords despite being awarded funding not to carry out this activity. Sphagnum mosses that retain water and act like sponges, are killed, with their absence contributing to flooding in land lower down.

Guy criticises utility companies in the water industry where only 16 per cent of their land is in a fair condition, according to government figures. Our national parks are not owned by the nation but by private landlords. 48 per cent of Dartmoor, where wild camping is allowed, is owned by 15 landlords, with much of this land corralling walkers on paths hemmed in by barbed wire fencing.

Food for thought.