Foreword
Snowdonia is a magical land of myths, legends, magnificent scenery and stunning wildlife. This book celebrates the survival of wildlife, including man himself, in this rugged part of north west Wales and highlights issues, big and small, that affect each and every one of us.
The stories link landscape, people and wildlife into an optimistic view of the future with subjects as diverse as the rare and elusive pine marten, freshwater pearl mussels and local foods. Underneath the humour and optimism, however, there are serious messages about the viability of our lifestyles. Why is the pine marten, once our second commonest carnivore, now so rare? Why do we continue to import food from the far ends of the earth when we have so much excellent local produce? These are all questions that deserve an answer.
If someone read this book in a thousand years' time, they would probably conclude that people and wildlife co-habited relatively harmoniously in Snowdonia at the beginning of the 21st century. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they also said that it was around this time that we significantly changed our approach to our environment and sustainable living.
Iolo Williams