Reissue in paperback of the revised edition of 1990, this book provides a complete landscape history of Britain’s trees, woods and hedgerows from prehistoric times down to the present. A key text for anyone wanting to “read” the landscape of Britain as we see it today.
A masterly account...of supreme interest...a classic of recorded field work and meticulous scholarship * COUNTRY LIFE * As an aid to understanding the landscape I haven't found its equal * NEW SCIENTIST * Have you ever thought about how trees are represented in landscape paintings? Even country-loving Gainsborough could hardly paint them in such a way that individual species can be identified by Dr Rackham * DAILY TELEGRAPH * This is the book that felled the romantic cliche of sylvan England ... There are heroes in this book as much as in any history but they are ancient oaks and beeches and hornbeams. Besides, how could anyone not want to read a book with a section on "What nettles say"? -- Simon Schama