A hidden resource
What do the following images have in common? A rolling heather moorland. A hillside covered in pine forest. A field full of grazing sheep or cattle. A riot of colour in a summer garden. A game of football on a muddy pitch in winter.
The answer is that none of these familiar scenes could exist without soil. People simply cannot survive without it. Soil is ‘what plants grow in’, but it is much more besides. It plays an important role in producing most of our food, timber and fibres for our clothing. It also provides a base for our homes, our industry and many of our leisure activities. In spite of this dependence, we often treat the soil as if it were an inexhaustible resource which we do not need to care for!