I am a big fan of the old Pelican paperback books. At their most basic they are a nice reminder of my childhood but more importantly they serve as a useful yardstick by which to view how our world has changed (or not) since these books were published.

Man and Environment was published by Pelican Original in 1967. Written by Robert Arvill (pen name) it looks at the impact of man’s drive to push the limits of mechanisation on the natural world and our own human health.

It’s easy to think that care for our planet, calls for preserving our open spaces and wild places is a relatively modern concept but it isn’t. Ever since people began to realise that pollution from factories and increased traffic, the loss of so many of our hedgerows and the damage done to wildlife through pesticides was having a detrimental effect on the planet there has been a movement to stem the tide of overt modernisation.

‘Planning’ by local and national government has long been a bone of contention and Arvill argues for a radical approach by local authorities to create a cohesive plan for tackling the issues created by a growing population and the building of affordable housing and facilities in line with an environmental considerations.

Arvill argues that there is a direct relationship with those who work the land and those who benefit from it and how these communities must work alongside each other in how our natural resources are used and maintained.

What is so apparent from this book is that over fifty years ago there were urgent calls for action to be taken against air, land and water pollution and what needed to be done to protect our shorelines, forests and urban areas from an ever increasing threat from increased industrialisation. It makes both compelling and sad reading.