The History Trees: extraordinary tales of famous forests and natural landmarks around the world, with roots in history through to today

by Colin Salter

The ultimate photographic collection of the most historic trees on the planet.Uncover remarkable trees from around the world, many of which have borne witness to key moments in history or reached a scale and age that have allowed them to become a part of history themselves.

First meet 'Methuselah’, a bristlecone pine in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, believed to be 4,900 years old. Learn about other trees which have inspired great events, such as the Isaac Newton apple tree in Woolhope, Lincolnshire, where the scientist observed the famous apple falling from a tree (which still stands in the family garden). Other flora has withstood historic events such as in Japan, where the Hibaku jumoku still grows as a survivor tree from the Hiroshima bombing or the 9/11 Survivor Tree in New York City.

Many trees continue to inspire our world today including the long avenue of beech trees in Northern Ireland known as the Dark Hedges which Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognise as the road to Kings Landing, the Robin Hood’s oak in the Sherwood Forest or the J. R. R. Tolkien trees in Avebury, which inspired the Ents in The Lord of the Rings.

Rest a while beside the oldest trunks and witness the enthralling stories nestled within the branches of these gentle giants.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2025

About the author

Edinburgh-based writer Colin Salter is the author of 100 Letters That Changed The World, 100 Speeches That Changed The World and the co-author with Scott Christianson of 100 Books That Changed The World.

Reviews

[Jen]

A tree-hugger’s delight!

[Richard Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book telling the tales of trees both ancient and recent. The stories are usually of resilience and historical significance.

[Deb Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this

[Vince · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of these are significant, some, ehh, not so much. The tree Marc Bolan crashed into?
It's a bit hit and miss, ahem.

[Teri Heyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin Salter's The History Trees is a very interesting and informative read. Anyone that loves trees and/or history will love this book.