Sir George Stapledon FRS and his international grassland legacy

Sir George Stapledon (1882–1960) was one of the greatest agricultural scientists of the early and mid20th century. His work profoundly affected grassland science and agricultural production in the UK and beyond. He has an enduring legacy from the institutions he helped found and through the trust that carries his name. This article considers his early work on ecology and agronomy, progress on forage plant breeding, ley farming, and the influence of his later writings on land use policy and wider philosophical implications of the role of the land in terms of human wellbeing