Red squirrels and red kites, drained lakes and flooded valleys, sulphurous springs and sea-filled caves. The land, sea and skyscapes of the UK are constantly shifting. Species, landmarks and ways of life slip in and out of existence, and firm ground is often just out of reach. Weaving together stories drawn from literature, local history and her own family heritage, Oxford professor Fiona Stafford leads us along coastlines and through forests and fens, revealing the forces, both natural and human, which leave places unrecognisably changed. Following in the footsteps of John Keats, Charles Dickens, and Wilkie Collins, the book takes us from the monkey puzzles planted in Cornish coastal gardens to the wave-beaten rocks of Fingal’s Cave. The book offers glimpses into the past and a sense of nature’s resilience that gives us hope for the future.