11 Facts About Oliver Rackham

Oliver Rackham's books included Ancient Woodland and The History of the Countryside.

Oliver Rackham began his academic career studying physics, but moved between several Cambridge departments.

Oliver Rackham conducted research in the Department of Botany from 1964 to 1968 and 1972 to 1990, and the Plant Breeding Institute of Cambridge from 1968 to 1972.

Oliver Rackham transferred to the Department of Geography from 1988 to 2000, latterly as Professor, and was appointed Honorary Professor of Historical ecology in the Department of Plant Sciences in 2006 and Honorary Director of the Cambridge Centre for Landscape and People in 2010.

Oliver Rackham worked as a tutor in the Kingcombe Centre in Dorset, teaching about the history of woodlands.

Oliver Rackham was associated with Corpus Christi College from his student days.

Oliver Rackham briefly served as Master of the College from 2007 to 2008, and was made a Life Fellow in 2010.

Oliver Rackham was a prolific historical ecologist whose prime interest was the function, history, and management of British woodlands.

Oliver Rackham kept a series of notebooks, which he began during his youth and continued until his death, in which he recorded observations on plants seen in his home surroundings and on his travels, in addition to information about the weather and his college duties.

Oliver Rackham argued for the preservation of traditional management techniques like coppicing, to let light in to increase in the diversity of the herb layer.

Oliver Rackham died on 12 February 2015 at the age of 75 after a short illness.