environmental history

The Wildwood of my Imagination

This afternoon I went for a walk at Weeleyhall wood, an eighty seven acre ancient woodland in north Essex, owned by Essex Wildlife Trust. It was quiet and peaceful, apart from the odd rumble from a car on the road about four hundred metres to the south. For a Sunday afternoon I met remarkably fewContinue reading “The Wildwood of my Imagination”

Do we need to reinvigorate Environmental History?

‘‘Many people believe that the humanities are retreating, that they are irrelevant, and students—especially in the emerging world—are encouraged to study subjects that are considered to be more useful for the labour market. The task of the humanities, according to Wilfrid McClay, is to be distinctive from the natural and social sciences, by grasping ‘humanContinue reading “Do we need to reinvigorate Environmental History?”

What is animal studies?

Last week I was lucky enough to be able to attend a BIRTHA funded symposium at the University of Bristol Department of Historical Studies on the subject of ‘Animals and Empire’ – involving a cross disciplinary approach to research in the form of animal studies. The day included papers on subjects as diverse as ‘MulesContinue reading “What is animal studies?”

Bill Cronon on Environmental History

Whenever anyone asks me about what era or ‘typology’ of history I most enjoy studying I generally respond with two small words: ‘environmental history’. Those of you who regularly read my posts will know that environmental history forms a profound base in my interests and my study and indeed I hope to write many moreContinue reading “Bill Cronon on Environmental History”

The notion of space in environmental history

I have just been reading the introduction to ‘Alaska’s Place in the West: From the Last Frontier To the Last Great Wilderness’ (Lawrence, 2010) by American environmental historian Roxanne Willis. One particular aspect of this short essay grabbed my attention: the notion of geographical space when it comes to constructing frameworks and, particularly in thisContinue reading “The notion of space in environmental history”