The Trees that Made Britain: Revised Edition

by Archie Miles

As the oldest living inhabitants on the planet, trees have played a major part in the way we live today, providing both the daily oxygen we breathe and the foundation of our nations heritage. Every native tree in Britain, whether its part of a grand avenue, a thriving hedgerow, an ancient wood or a colourful orchard, tells a different story.

The Trees That Made Britain takes us on a journey of discovery to every corner of the nation. Through detailed portraits of individual tree species, author and photographer Archie Miles reveals the stories of the trees that have influenced the culture, myths and fabric of the nation.

The book is full of surprising facts on how trees have been used by man over the centuries, from the oak used in the building of HMS Victory to ancient longbows made from yew, as well as practical advice on visiting some of Britains finest living examples. The combination of rich historical material and lyrical descriptions captures the essence of our native tree species.

Genres: Nonfiction, Natural History, Nature

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[George Foord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Lisa Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had hoped for more pictures in this book, but it was nevertheless a really interesting read.

[Tweedledum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes us on a fascinating journey around the British Isles discovering ancient trees and the significance of the particular genus to our history. Archie Mills has spent a lifetime at Kew Gardens and is incredibly knowledgeable. The book accompanied and expanded on a TV series of the same name but is a pleasure to read as a stand alone. If you are a tree lover you cannot fail to find this book fascinating. If you are not.... It may just turn you into one.

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new edition of a classic. Archie Miles is a man who loves trees, and his love is evident throughout the book. I particularly like his balanced view on species of trees that are often criticised or belittled, and his optimistic long term (longer than our lives!) prognosis on UK’s trees, despite the depradations and diseases we are seeing at the moment.
This is another book that I would like to give a 5 star review to, but the quality of the reproduced photographs is very poor.