This book is designed for those involved in the conservation and management of grasslands in the UK. While grasslands represent some 37% of the surface area of the UK, only about 2% of that area can be considered unimproved or semi-natural. Sadly, around 86% of the unimproved grasslands are hay meadows. It is not therefore surprising that such grasslands are of major conservation concern, and some categories have been recognised as priority areas in UK Biodiversity Action Plans and EU Habitat Directives. I was pleased to see the importance of grasslands for other organisms emphasised, with valuable synopses of associated invertebrates of concern, including butterflies, birds, mammals, reptiles, and fungi (even saprobes and pathogens). Particular attention is given to grazing regimes, including management of cattle and sheep, and mechanical harvesting. The treatments are pragmatic and hands-on, also with discussions of when to use herbicides and coping with invasives, not least bracken. The whole is lavishly illustrated with coloured photographs, both of organisms, grassland types, and management operations.

The authors are both experienced ecological consultants, and this is reflected in a welcome hands-on approach throughout. This is surely destined to be the major reference work on grasslands for conservation practitioners in the UK, and merits a wide distribution amongst county Naturalists' Trusts, local authority ecologists, and those responsible for the management of grassland SSSI's.