Working with the Nature Conservancy and its successors, George Peterken started the ancient woodland inventory, and helped negotiate the nature conservation aspects of the Government’s 1985 Broadleaves Policy, which he later worked to implement in his role as nature conservation adviser at the Forestry Commission. His research interests, which have centred on nature conservation, natural woodland and long-term and large-scale aspects of woodland ecology, benefited from a Bullard Fellowship at Harvard University. George’s early books included Woodland Conservation and Management (1981) and Natural Woodland (1996), before he changed direction to write Wye Valley (2008) in the New Naturalist series and Meadows (2013) for the British Wildlife Collection. More recently, he has returned to woodlands to co-write Woodland Development: a long-term study of Lady Park Wood (2017) and Art meets Ecology (2020). Born into a New Forest family, he now lives in the Lower Wye Valley. He was awarded an OBE for services to forestry in 1994.
George Peterken has written a multilayered book about British woodland that is hugely informative, laced with insights and opinions, and superbly illustrated with carefully chosen photographs, most of which were taken by himself. Few, if any, people can match Peterken’s knowledge of the woodlands of Britain built over a long career embracing intertwined strands of research, conservation and forestry -- Rob Fuller * British Wildlife * This is a fascinating and insightful commentary on trees and our relationship with them. * Countryside * I doubt there is anyone living who is better experienced and skilled to write this book ... George Peterken's book is the one for you. * BSBI News * Yet another great example of the British Wildlife Collection […] I loved this book * Birdwatching Magazine * Peterken writes very clearly and complex issues are carefully explained in a straightforward and entertaining manner. The book is beautifully produced and the photographs and tables add greatly to the strong line of argument … a splendid book which will be invaluable for all those with an interest in landscape history, conservation and management -- Charles Watkins * Landscape History *