Your Reading List for Autumn: New Tree Books
We’re very excited about a plethora of new books on trees, just published in the past few weeks. Every purchase you make helps support the arboretum, so you can expand your library while helping to maintain Westonbirt's world-class tree collection.
Trees of North American, Europe, The UK and Ireland
9781529082227 – Macmillan £35
We start off with a much-loved updated classic from Roger Phillips. Originally published in 1978, it caused a sensation with Phillips’ novel labour-intensive approach of using photographs to show each seasonal aspect of each tree. It’s been thoroughly updated with the help of Westonbirt’s Curator Dan Crowley. It now includes 650 species, showing leaves, bark and blossom. A must for every tree lover.
Wild Guides – Trees of Britain and Ireland
9780691224169 – Princeton - £20
Slightly less ambitious in scope than Phillips’ book Trees of Britain & Ireland is an important addition to the Wild Guides series. Author Jon Stokes brings three decades of experience and expertise to bear to produce a wonderfully comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book.
The Lost Elms – Mandy Haggith
9781035412327 – Wildfire - £22
Many of us of a certain age will remember the devastation caused by Dutch Elm disease. This book is a love letter to the elm; it covers the desperate attempts by scientists to halt the spread of the disease and the place the tree had in our folklore. Beautifully written and a timely book reminding us of some of the dangers of globalisation.
The Genius of Trees – Harriet Rix
9781847927828 – Bodley Head - £25
An original and sideways look at trees and how they have shaped the world and environment we live in today. Rix shows off her wide-ranging expertise and has produced a work that is sometimes breath-taking and always informative. A great read and a real eye-opener.
The Healing Power of Trees – Terebenina & Evans
9781836000068 – Leaping Hare - £20
Founders of the Forest Bathing Institute, the authors have written a beautifully illustrated book that will help you get the most out of your forest bathing experience. Here at Westonbirt you can experience Shinrin-yoku and all the goodness it brings.
An honourable mention….
England – A Natural History – John Lewis-Stempel
9781804992067 – Penguin - £10.99
Often hailed as our best nature writer, Lewis-Stempel’s wonderful book is now out in paperback. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and the writing is very lyrical, his love of the English countryside just bursts through each page. A future classic.
