The British Ecological Society's Marsh Ecology Book of the Year is awarded to the book that has had the greatest influence on the science of ecology in any two-year period.
Groundbreakers traces the journey of author Chantal Lyons as she moves to the Forest of Dean, the stronghold of wild boar in England, to get up close and personal with this complex, intelligent and quirky species.
Through the book, Chantal reveals the history of the wild boars' comeback in the UK after a 700 year absence, their habitat-regenerating impacts on our landscapes, and stories of both fondness and fear from the people living alongside them.
Chantal Lyons fell in love with wild boar when she first went to the Forest of Dean 10 years ago to interview locals about their relationships with the animals. Her experiences have cemented her belief that wild boar could have a profound positive effect on our connection with nature.
"Boar are 'troublesome' and 'in your face' in a way that the animals we are used to in Britain are not." says Chantal. "A place with wild boar is one that is less beholden to traditional beliefs about how nature should behave. The boar challenge us to move away from a relationship with nature that depends on its subservience and to instead embrace a different kind of nature, one that has teeth and tusks and may not do what you expect it to."
As well as our cultural and social relationships with large wild animals (in a country largely devoid of them) Groundbreakers explores the ecology of wild boar and the forests they call home.
"Wild boar play a unique ecological role through 'disturbing' the ground in a way that no other animal does." explains Chantal. "That disturbance is crucial to the flourishing of a diversity of plant life, a benefit which in turn cascades up through the ecosystem."
Hefin Jones, a BES Marsh Ecology Book of the Year judge said: "What a remarkable story! I found Groundbreakers thrilling in many ways, leading us into a wild, unruly world, challenging us to consider our place on the planet and how we might relearn the forgotten skill of peaceful coexistence. It is rich with scientific and social understanding, gently thought-provoking and quite beautifully written."
Ken Thompson, another BES Marsh Ecology Book of the Year judge, said: "Lyons clearly wants boar back where they belong, but this is no polemic; it's a clear-eyed, balanced and well-written account that asks just how much wildness we're prepared to tolerate. I guarantee it will make you think, and not just about wild boar."
Chantal will be presented with their prizes during a ceremony held at the BES Annual Meeting in Liverpool this December. The international meeting will bring together around 1,500 ecologists to discuss the latest advances in ecological research across the whole discipline.
This prize is funded by The Marsh Christian Trust and is an honorarium of £1,000. It is open to books published anywhere in the world.
Groundbreakers was published on 01 Feb 2024 by Bloomsbury Wildlife.
