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  • Rebirding

  • Rewilding Britain and Its Birds
  • By: Benedict Macdonald
  • Narrated by: Angus Scott
  • Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (129 ratings)

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Rebirding

By: Benedict Macdonald
Narrated by: Angus Scott
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Summary

Rebirding takes the long view of Britain’s wildlife decline, from the early taming of our landscape and its long-lost elephants and rhinos, to fenland drainage, and the removal of cornerstone species such as wild cattle, horses, beavers and boar. Forward in time, it also covers the intensification of our modern landscapes and the collapse of invertebrate populations.

It looks at key reasons why species are vanishing, as our landscapes become ever more tamed and less diverse, with wildlife trapped in tiny pockets of habitat. It explores how Britain has, uniquely, relied on modifying farmland, rather than restoring ecosystems, in a failing attempt to halt wildlife decline.

The irony is that 94 percent of Britain is not built upon at all. And with more nature-loving voices than any European country, we should, in fact, have the best, not the most impoverished, wildlife in our continent. Especially when the rural economics of our game estates and upland farms are among the worst in Europe.

Britain is blessed with all the space it needs for an epic wildlife recovery. The deer estates of the Scottish Highlands are twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. Snowdonia is larger than the Maasai Mara. The problem in Britain is not a lack of space. It is that our precious space is uniquely wasted - not only for wildlife, but for people’s jobs and rural futures, too.

Rebirding maps out how we might finally turn things around: rewilding national parks, restoring natural ecosystems, and allowing our wildlife a far richer future. In doing so, an entirely new sector of rural jobs would be created, finally bringing Britain’s dying rural landscapes and failing economies back to life.

Praise for the book:

“This is a wonderful book, visionary, illuminating and fascinating.” (George Monbiot, author and environmental activist)

"A wonderfully imaginative book, which shows how things could be with our rapidly declining areas of countryside, instead of how - despairingly - they are now." (Rod Liddle, The Spectator)

©2019 Benedict Macdonald (P)2020 Benedict Macdonald
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What listeners say about Rebirding

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational book

Everyone who loves British nature should read this book to be inspired by what is possible. And then badger the nature charities to work for this, and not give up at setbacks.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you love nature a must read.

A good introduction to further study and research on a very important topic worth exploring.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book

so amazing , you Learn so many new facts , great for young or old nature nuts

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Informative, sobering, inspiring

The book doesn't pull any punches, putting across the grim state of British birds.
The author then states the path out that would benefit all including land owners, hunters, wild life and most importantly birds.
A really interesting listen, I cant recommend it enough.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow what a book for our times

I loved this book , the first two chapters are fairly devastating to listen to but necessary. However the hope for a better future that really does make complete achievable sense fills me with positive tangible faith . I wish for everyone to read this book and lobby our governing bodies to take on board these ideas . Who knew that rebirding could save our whole essence of nature and economy too

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An inspiring vision for our future

This is an amazing informative book - left me with a burning desire for drastic change in the UK and a full belief in the vision of a wilder future proposed. Found the narrator very clear but slightly monotone - hence four stars for performance- but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. I urge everyone to read it and then to fight for change!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A captivating, fabulous read. Highly recommended.

Not just for birders! The past, present and future ecology of the UK. Common sense conservation.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great educational read/audio

Great educational overall
It explains about how poorly we as adults, children & council are being misinformed on such important economical living & the food chain.
We …as a whole are focusing too much on other charities, in other countries, also in war…that we’re being blinded by our government to protect our wildlife and not realising the great consequences that it is doing to our economy.
We are killing our soils, ourselves, our pets, wildlife & food chain as a whole…that feeds us as humans. We are killing our pets because there’s no nutrients in our grass/soils, for them to graze on when poorly. Councils without realising are putting too much of strong chemicals on our weeds, effecting our soil …killing wildlife and pets much earlier than there life expectancy.
We under-educate our children & give them basic food chains etc in the curriculum.
We don’t carry enough vital books/audio to our libraries… just the basics to keep us as a whole, undereducated.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must read

The facts in this are amazing. The content is crucial for our futures, and that of our nature, to be thriving. It’s very controversial, everyone will find something to disagree with. However Benedict writes with heart and hope and I wish him well!!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Essential reading for birders & naturalists alike

Depressing figures with solutions, rather than a bombardment of the former and none of the latter - like much of what I'm seeing everywhere.

Very well researched and written. Essential, essential, essential! Read/listen and share!

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