The Long Mynd and the Stiperstones ridge make up the largest area of heathland in the Shropshire Hills - Upland is a celebration of this beautiful area, which is one of the unsung wonders of the UK.

Upland is an exploration of this beautiful and fragile area: its landscape, flora and fauna, the magic of the region captured through Andrew Fusek Peter’s lens, and its story depicted with passion and lyricism by a man who lives and breathes the landscape.

Upland came about when Andrew was commissioned by the National Trust and Natural England for their major environmental project, Stepping Stones, an innovative plan to prevent the decline of certain wildlife species by linking nature reserves to create a viable habitat that will enable threatened species to recover.

Species such as the magnificent curlew have dropped catastrophically, as Andrew explains: “Modern farming methods have impacted severely on birds such as the lapwing, linnet and curlew and loss of habitat is another major problem. The Stepping Stones project links the two nature reserves, Stiperstones, owned by Natural England, and Long Mynd, which is in the custodianship of the National Trust, creating habitat corridors in between, so that these reserves are no longer islands. A population existing in an island habitat could easily be extinguished by fire, famine, disease or a sudden change in land management. By putting as much habitat back as possible, enables wildlife to recover more readily in adverse conditions.”

Much as he fears for the landscape and the wildlife that depends on it, Fusek Peters is keen to show that beauty still exists, and by conveying the glory of the natural world, encourage more of us to protect and cherish it.

“There is a responsibility on all of us to do whatever we can to minimise our impact on the planet,” he says. “I hope my pictures convey the outstanding beauty of Shropshire’s upland area, and feel inspired to protect it.”

Peter Gill, MD of publishing house, Graffeg, adds: “Andrew Fusek Peters photographic work has graced the pages of national newspapers and magazines for many years, but this book illustrates that he is equally adept at writing, and his love of the landscape comes across eloquently, yet without sentimentality. This is a magical book, and he has put his heart and soul into its creation.”

Praise for Upland

“Upland is my kind of book. A passionately written and lavishly illustrated account of the natural history of one of Britain’s hidden secrets, by a man who understands his subject.” Iolo Williams, naturalist and TV presenter.

“The images alone are jaw-dropping, reminding us all that great exploratory journeys can be made into nature, often in our own overlooked backyard.” Dr. Richard Shucksmith, British Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 2011.