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Cornerstones

Wild Forces That Can Change Our World

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Cornerstones

By: Benedict Macdonald
Narrated by: Joshua Picton
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Cornerstones by Benedict Macdonald, read by Joshua Picton.

FINALIST IN THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2022/2023 – WRITTEN BY THE WAINWRIGHT-CONSERVATION-PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF REBIRDING.

Transform your understanding of the natural world forever and discover the wild forces that once supported Britain’s extraordinary natural riches, and could again.

Our precious archipelago is ravaged by climate change, bereft of natural ecosystems and lies at the mercy of global warming, flooding, drought and catastrophic biodiversity loss. But could restoring species that once helped protect our islands help turn this crisis around?

From familiar yet imperilled honeybees and ancient oak woods to returning natives like beavers and boars, Britain’s cornerstone species may hold the key to recovering our biodiversity on land and in our seas.

In Cornerstones, we discover how beavers craft wetlands, save fish, encourage otters, and prevent rivers from flooding. We learn how ‘disruptive’ boars are seasoned butterfly conservationists, why whales are crucial for restoring seabird cities and how wolves and lynx could save our trees, help sequester carbon and protect our most threatened birds.

Benedict Macdonald transforms our understanding of the natural world forever, revealing lives that once supported extraordinary natural riches and explaining how humans – the most important cornerstone species of all – can become the greatest stewards of the natural world.©2022 Benedict Macdonald (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Animals Biological Sciences Ecology Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Conservation

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What a magical and beautiful book. I've learnt so much from Benedict Macdonald's "Cornerstones" about ecosystems and how different animals and plants shape their environment. The book enchantingly illustrates how profoundly wise and intelligent nature is and - when left alone and not meddled with - builds thriving, abundant ecosystems where plants and animals live harmoniously and to one another's benefit. "Cornerstones" is absolutely stunning and one of the best books I have ever had the privilege of reading.
Thank you, Benedict, for writing such a magical book!

A magical treat of a book!

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Cornerstones is an incredible account of how us humans have almost destroyed every keystone species on our planet, we humans maybe be intelligent but we are not wise! Here wisdom and intelligence collide into a beautifully read masterpiece on how can ‘put things right’. Heartbreaking, horrifying and yet filled with hope. Thank you

Beautifully read account of human destruction with glimmers of hope

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Having read Rebirding I was keen to hear more from Benedict & was not disappointed. An inspiring book & poignant message to us as humans at a pivotal time in our environmental history. Everyone should read his books! 💚🦫🐝

Inspiring

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For better at least if we will let them. I did enjoy this title and learned few things I didn't knew before. Hopefully ideas pointed out in this book someday will become a reality😊

Animals can change the world

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...once I bumped up the speed to 1.35x it was spot on and very interesting!

Overly slow narration but...

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Fascinating & hopeful. Full of incredible facts & particularly eye-opening read close to ‘Wilding’ about the rejuvenated estate on non-profitable farmland.

Excellent

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Great , Factual and insitefull...
if only the world could be read this brilliant Book.

A must read....

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Very interesting and insightful. Its great that we now have the understanding of how these cornerstone species impact the food chain and world overall. I learned a lot from this book and I'd like to listen through again at some point in the future also.

Really enjoyed

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Beautifully showcases the most vital species we are missing and what good they could do if brought back into the British Isles.

Eye Opening

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A treasure trove of interesting facts and anecdotes. I found the description of the pecking order among birds of prey particularly interesting.

A treasure trove

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