An extremely comprehensive, straightforward and well-balanced study of the state of Ireland's wildlife and countryside.

With an admirable lightness of style the author remains positive for the future, without gritting his teeth, through a catalogue of destruction caused mainly by lack of direction and unintended consequence in an unprecedented period of intensification in farming.

He shows how the usual Irish story, centralised 'one size fits all' policy, the spoofery of politicians - "politics and the need to be seen to be addressing the problem" - and vested interests have pushed us down the path of short term exploitation and worn the tapestry of life down to the 'warp' thread. Ecological degradation in fact.

Few people who remember the rotten stench off Lough Sheelin and Lough Ennell in the 1980s from the slurry of surrounding piggeries, or the disappearance of the traditions of fishing for salmon and mussels on the Boyne, can credit the 'green' lifestyle branding now put about. ( )