This volume investigates the complex interplay between geological history, climate, and human land use in shaping the unique natural environment of Galloway and the Scottish Borders. Derek A. Ratcliffe, a distinguished ecologist and conservationist, utilizes his extensive field observations and historical data to document the biodiversity and ecological evolution of this specific region. The work provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how distinct habitats have persisted or transformed over centuries of environmental change.

This work is regarded as a definitive regional study, valued for its rigorous scientific detail and the author's deep familiarity with the Scottish landscape. The text serves as a primary reference for naturalists and historians interested in the specific ecological character of the Borders region.