Globalised football: nations and migration, the city and the dream
and hedonic valuation, with some interesting observations on pricing strategies. Again, there is the slight irritation of the provision of English references as the ‘only available’ UK data on participation rates (with a reference to the English Leisure Visits Surveys undertaken by Natural England), rather than any more comprehensive overview. It is also interesting to note that the North American paradigm is still one of ever-increasing participation rates, whilst in the UK we are now dealing with falling participation in many areas with the potential consequences this may bring in terms of an increasing disengagement with our natural environment in the future. There is a comprehensive and excellent overview of visitor management frameworks and models in the chapter dealing with the management of outdoor recreation. This will certainly be of use and interest to both students and practitioners. The section is not as strong on specific-site management strategies or actions, but perhaps this was not felt to be relevant in a more academic text such as this. As with the following chapter on parks and protected areas, the main examples are largely North American, although, as you would expect, there is also discussion of New Zealand applications as well. The parks and protected areas chapter perhaps suffers most through this focus on the North American situation. Inevitably, the main discussion in this chapter focuses on issues to do with wilderness, particularly in a Canadian and American context. There is a brief reference to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (or the World Conservation Union) and World Heritage Sites, but the larger discussion around cultural landscapes and their long-term management is not covered in as much depth. Practitioners from outside North America will undoubtedly find the discussion around the spiritual values of wilderness extremely interesting and illuminating, but ultimately of academic interest and only applicable in its broadest sense. The final chapters of the book pick up some specific issues which are more generically applicable to all practitioners in this field. These include interpretation and education, adventure, barriers to participation and professional certification. These are again presented in a straightforward and comprehensive manner, and provide some provocative questions for new professionals in this field to address. Overall, this text is a comprehensive overview of all the main themes affecting outdoor recreation with much to recommend it in terms of the academic background and theoretical concepts underpinning the field. It provides a fascinating introduction to the more practical issues prevalent in North America, and there is much that other countries can learn from the North American analysis. But it is less useful for those wishing to explore the UK and European background, or an even more international dimension.