Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest Books

Book SynopsisInstant Guides are packed with essential information and useful facts covering a wide variety of subjects from survival skills to stargazing. Portable, easy to use and durable they contain all the basics whether you're studying the subject or just interested. For practical topics such as Bicycle maintenance they offer expert advice, to-the-point instructions and tips from insiders. Booklets on more educational topics such as The Human Body provide colourful diagrams and straightforward information.

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Out of the Woods takes you on a revelatory ramble through country and city - from woodlands of majestic oak and ash to mean streets lined with cherries.Containing myriad tips for recognition and rich in tree-biography and gossip, this book will enable you to tell your birch from your beech as you pass at 70mph, and will inspire even the most unreformed couch potato to pull on the wellies and brave the local park in search of the national treasures scattered all around us.

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Book Synopsis**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN’S BEST BOOKS OF 2018**Join renowned naturalist Peter Marren on an exciting quest to see every species of wild plant native to Britain.The mysterious Ghost Orchid blooms in near darkness among rotting leaves on the forest floor. It blends into the background to the point of invisibility, yet glows, pale and ghostly. The ultimate grail of flower hunters, it has been spotted only once in the past twenty-five years. Its few flowers have a deathly pallor and are said to smell of over-ripe bananas. Peter Marren has been a devoted flower finder all his life. While the Ghost Orchid offers the toughest challenge of any wild plant, there were fifty more British species Peter had yet to see, having ticked off the first 1,400 rummaging in hedges, slipping down gullies and peering in peat bogs. But he set himself the goal of finding the remaining fifty in a single summer. As it turned out, the wettest summer in years. This expert and emotional journey takes Peter the length and the breadth of the British Isles, from the dripping ancient woods of the New Forest to the storm-lashed cliffs of Sutherland. He paddles in lakes, clambers up cliffs in mist and rain, and walks several hundred miles, but does he manage to find them all? Partly about plants, partly autobiography, Chasing the Ghost is also a reminder that to engage with wild flowers, all we need to do is look around us and enjoy what we see. Praise for Chasing the Ghost:‘Peter Marren is the unsung hero of Britain’s nature writers’ Stephen Moss, author of Dynasties‘Jolly, quixotic and ends with real poignancy’ Guardian ‘A poignant reminder to us all to engage with the wild flowers that grow around us’ i NewspaperTrade ReviewPeter Marren is the unsung hero of Britain's nature writers. His luminous prose sheds light on the forgotten corners of Britain's natural heritage – our diverse and sometimes bizarre flora – and his quest to see every single species in the country. He is the perfect guide, leading us along the highways and byways, through wayside and woodland, as he tracks down some of our rarest and most fascinating plants. Delightful. * Stephen Moss, naturalist and author *Planting hunting here or abroad has always pulled in great enthusiasts. In Marren’s case it is a quiet enthusiasm, not academic, but companionable and intimate. He delivers easily all kinds of fascinating thoughts and information about the natural world… There is philosophy too. He understands that no ecosystem has a perfect moment to which it ought always to be restored. Environments change for better and worse, populations of plants and animals wax and wane. Ecology is flux. And does he find the ghost orchid? Well, he’s philosophical about that. * The Times *Peter Marren writes with such knowledge and affection for plants, and in such a modest and winning manner that few could help wanting to be a plant spotter in this image... If you already have the botany bug then you’ll want to read this book, and to own it so that you can dip into it in future years, but even for the confirmed non-botanist like myself, this is a very good read and one which makes me slightly uneasy about how much I have been missing by looking up rather than down and how blinkered is my view of the natural world. * Dr Mark Avery *A poignant reminder to us all to engage with the wild flower that grow around us * i Newspaper *Wonderful... This book would appeal to anyone with an enthusiasm for wildflowers or an interest in the history of natural history -- Hannah Gardner * Gardens Illustrated *

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Book SynopsisPraise for The Green Planet (BBC One)'David Attenborough's gobsmacking, awe-inspiring return' The Guardian'The Green Planet reveals the secret lives of plants in the same way The Blue Planet opened our eyes to the oceans' New ScientistThere's something new under the sunPlants live secret, unseen lives - hidden in their magical world and on their timescale. From the richest jungles to the harshest deserts, from the snowiest alpine forest to the remotest steaming swamp, Green Planet travels from one great habitat to the next, showing us that plants are as aggressive, competitive and dramatic as the animals on our planet. You will discover agents of death, who ruthlessly engulf their host plant, but also those that form deep and complex relationships with other species, such as the desert cacti who use nectar-loving bats to pollinate. Although plants are undoubtedly the stars of the show, a fascinating new light will be shed on the animals that interact with them.Using the latest technologies and showcasing over two decades of new discoveries, Green Planet reveals the strange and wonderful life of plants like never before - a life full of remarkable behaviour, emotional stories and surprising heroes.

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Book SynopsisEven with the best planning and care, every garden can run into a problem or two. Whether you are beset with beetles or blighted by blackspot, The Garden Problem Solver has the solution.Guided by the team of experts at Gardeners' World - including advice from Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein, Arit Anderson, Adam Frost and more - The Garden Problem Solver contains the practical tips, tricks and techniques to deal with the obstacles that every home gardener has to face.Broken down into easy-to-follow steps, this handy guide will help you anticipate, avoid and troubleshoot the most common garden problems which crop up when growing your favourite fruit, veg, flowers and more.With a foreword by Adam Frost and complemented with hand-drawn illustrations, The Garden Problem Solver holds the secrets to making your garden look its very best.

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Book Synopsis"Wonderful stories and in-depth information you will normally never find in books about trees." - Piet Oudolf, Landscape Designer and creator of the planting design for New York's High Line"Entwining fascinating facts about 100 trees with inspiring stories of their importance to ancient civilizations, trade, religious and pagan beliefs, wellbeing and medicinal uses over the ages, this delightful and well-researched book provokes curiosity on every page." - Dr. Alexandra Wagstaffe, Eden Project LearningThe Story of Trees takes the reader on a visual journey from some of the earliest known tree species on our planet to the latest fruit cultivars.The chosen trees have all had a profound effect on the planet and humankind. Starting with the Ginkgo Biloba, fossils of which date back 270 million years, we learn about how trees came to be integral to the development of our species, and how specific trees have become important religious, political, and cultural symbols.With beautiful illustrations by Thibaud Herem and fascinating botanical facts and figures, this book will appeal to tree lovers from all over the world."Within these pages, we hope to inform and inspire those who already have a love of trees, as well as those who otherwise may have taken them for granted. The Story of Treesis our story, but also that of our ancestors. It is about our relationship with some of the world's most important trees, both on a local scale and globally. With so many trees to choose from, we have endeavored to feature those that have been, and in most cases continue to be, of cultural and practical value to humankind." - From the Introduction of The Story of TreesTrade Review"A fascinating book on just how trees have changed the way we live." -- - Sunday Express"An engaging, digestible take on the tree anthology; drawing together arboreal histories, attractive illustrations and a few surprises along the way." -- - Gardens Illustrated"Well researched and full off interesting facts and figures linking history, folklore, economics and horticulture (...) a fascinating and attractive read." -- - RHS The Plant Review

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Book SynopsisIn an age when people are in search of new and more fulfilling experiences to replace screens and bring families together, this book explores 100 ways to connect with nature and discover the benefits of forest fun. From bushcraft activities like whittling and firelighting to spiritual pursuits like forest bathing and meditation, forest educator Jennifer Davis has brought together activities for people of all ages, helping them to connect with their forests and woodlands, while discovering the healing and restorative benefits of a life lived outdoors.

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Book Synopsis'Clever, pretty, fun and informative - what more can a reader ask for?' Sara Maitland, author of Gossip From the ForestWe're surrounded in cities by trees, quiet colossuses that most of us don't know by name. Does that matter? It's certainly possible to appreciate a tree for its beauty, its shade and its shelter without knowing whether it's an alder, an elder, a lime or a beech. But look harder, and we begin to see the beauty beneath the bark - the tales of how trees are integral to medicine and art as they are furniture and firewood; the stories of why wild figs grow on the banks of Sheffield's rivers and why the ash tree is touched with magic and mischief. As well as being an illustrated guide that will help you identify some of the species you see around town every day, Sylvan City is also a potted-journey through our cities' woody places and a literary hunt for where their wild things are.Inviting readers on an intricately illustrated journey into the urban forest, Sylvan City is both a practical guide to identifying twenty of the most common trees standing sentry on our street corners, and a lyrical, anecdotal treasure trove of facts and history, culture and leafy lore.Trade ReviewCharming...lovely...well-written...beautifully illustrated. * Gardens Illustrated *Dulce et utile. (I'm allowed the Latin for "both sweet and useful" here because the botanical science is as sound as the cultural, historical and poetic aspects.) This is a delightful book: clever, pretty, fun and informative - what more can a reader ask for? Even a committed rural dweller like me is impressed. Big thanks to Helen Babbs, who has solved a fair number of my 2019 Christmas present problems already. * Sara Maitland, author of Gossip From the Forest *Full of gems; a manifesto for green cities. Babbs will turn us all into urban rangers, an unquiet army of neighbourhood watchers. * Max Adams, author of Wisdom of Trees *Her read-aloud pen portraits on common varieties are a joy. * FT *Table of Contents1: THE ALDERS 1: Common alder 2: Italian alder 2: THE ASHES 1: Common ash 2: Raywood ash 3: THE BEECHES 1: Common beech 2: Copper beech 3: Hornbeam 4: THE BIRCHES 1: Silver birch 2: Himalayan birch 5: THE BUTTERFLY BUSHES 1: Buddleja davidii 2: Leyland cypress 6: THE CHERRIES 1: Wild cherry 2: Crab apple 7: THE ELDERS 1: Common elder 2: Lime and pine 8: THE ELMS 1: English elm 2: Wych elm 9: THE FIGS 1: Common fig 2: Mulberry 10: THE HAZELS 1: Common hazel 2: Turkish hazel 11: THE HORSE CHESTNUTS 1: Horse chestnut 2: Sweet chestnut 12: THE LIMES 1: Common lime 2: Silver lime 13: THE MAIDENHAIRS 1: Ginkgo biloba 2: Caucasian wingnut 14: THE MAPLES 1: Sycamore 2: Norway maple 15: THE OAKS 1: English oak 2: Red oak, holm oak and pin oak 16: THE PINES AND ANOTHER CONIFER 1: Maritime pine 2: Dawn redwood 17: THE PLANES 1: London plane 2: American sweet gum 18: THE POPLARS 1: Black poplar 2: Lombardy poplar 19: THE TREES OF HEAVEN 1: Tree of heaven 2: Indian bean tree 20: THE WHITEBEAMS 1: Bristol whitebeam 2: Rowan 21: THE YEWS 1: English yew 2: Willow

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Book SynopsisSince Antiquity few trees have had a greater impact on the world’s culture and economy than the mulberry. The sole food of the silkworm, the leaves of the mulberry brought prosperity not only to ancient China, but to all nations that learned the art of silk production. Mulberry bark was used to make the first paper and the succulent, blood-red fruit of the Black Mulberry has inspired poets from Ovid to Shakespeare. The medicinal properties of all parts of the tree have been known for millennia, making it a tree of choice for medieval monastery gardens, while its anti-diabetic effects are opening exciting avenues of research today. This sumptuously illustrated book tells the remarkable story of the mulberry tree and its migrations from China and Central Asia to almost every continent of the globe. It will appeal to all who wish to know more of the rich history of this emblematic tree.

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Book SynopsisRipe, sensuous, irresistible: the cherry tree and its stunning blossoms conjure up many literal, metaphorical and visceral sensations. We enjoy cherry-picking, a cherry on top, and even, on occasion, to lose one's cherry. Cherries have been consumed since prehistoric times, reaching great popularity among the ancient Romans. They have come to symbolize such divergent concepts as fertility, innocence and seductiveness, inspiring Dutch still-life paintings, Freudian theory, contemporary pop artists, and one of the first food emojis. In Japan and other Asian cultures, the short-lived but beautiful cherry blossoms are important elements throughout art and literature. In this intriguing natural and cultural history, Mary Newman and Constance L. Kirker recount the origins, legends, celebrations, production and health benefits of this beloved tree.Trade Review "A charming read from beginning to end. Beautifully illustrated, it reveals the history, culinary and medicinal uses, symbolic meanings, and artistic representation of the cherry tree. . . . The more than 100 color photos and illustrations add a great deal to the book, as does the representation of global cherry recipes. Included in the appendix is a historical timeline of cherry references starting in 5,000 BCE, as well as a list of worldwide cherry-related associations and websites. Kirker and Newman have written a delightful, informative book that explores all the nuances of the beloved cherry tree." * Digestible Bits and Bites *

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Book SynopsisOur penchant for keeping house plants is an ancient practice dating back to the Pharaohs. House Plants explores the stories behind the plants we bring home and how they were transformed from wild plants into members of our households. A billion-dollar global industry, house plants provide an interaction with nature, and contribute to our health, happiness and wellbeing. They also support their own miniature ecosystems and are part of the home biome. Featuring many superb illustrations, House Plants explores both their botanical history and cultural impact, from song (Gracie Fields’s Biggest Aspidistra in the World), literature (Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying) and cinema (Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors) to fashion, technology, contemporary design, and painting.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Dan Torre explores the intriguing and multifaceted natural, cultural and social history of the orchid. Orchids are one of the largest families of plants - approximately 8 per cent of all the Earth's flowering species. They are known for their beautiful flowers with bright colours, delicate forms and delicate fragrances. However, when we look deeper into their world, we find that they are much more than an elegant flowering plant and behave in unexpected ways that no other flowers do. Philosophers have contemplated them; countless artists have celebrated them; millions of people have cultivated them, displayed them and even consumed them. Orchids occupy our thoughts, our stories, our societies, our greenhouses, our florists, our supermarkets and our homes. And that is merely the beginning.

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Book SynopsisReveals how pine trees have inspired and been utilized by humanity throughout history.

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Book SynopsisA scientific and botanical history of weeds, from unwanted intruder to beautiful ornament.

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Book SynopsisTrees and humans essentially want the same thing – to live good, happy, purposeful lives and to flourish. We are inextricably bound.Trees provide us with the necessities of life – they clean the air we breathe, fill us with awe as we walk through forests and provide timber for the houses we live in, yet there are deeper reasons for our arboreal admiration that go beyond utility and beauty.Tree Glee looks at the psychology behind our fascination with trees, examining exactly how they comfort, restore and revitalise us and what we can learn from the wisdom of woodlands to improve our own wellbeing. It explores the importance of trees in our leafy suburbs and urban landscapes, sharing magical stories of remarkable ancient trees across the globe and inviting readers to reflect on their own personal 'treestory'.Featuring captivating photos and with chapters on forest bathing and nature therapy, woodland wellbeing and tree mythology Tree Glee explores how by deepening our appreciation and connection to trees and by celebrating and protecting them, we can flourish together.Trade Review'This lovely book is an absolute gem' -- Joanna Lumley, Tree Aid Patron'Trees are so important to our health and that of the planet. This inspirational book shows just how we can thrive together' -- Alan Titchmarsh MBE'I have loved trees as long as I can remember, and Cheryl Rickman's wonderful book illuminates the vitally important role they play, not only in maintaining the health of our planet and a habitat for so many living creatures, but also in providing us with mental and physical healing. Tree Glee also presents ideas on how you can help protect our amazing trees for the good of all' -- Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace'A blend of evocative nature writing, wellbeing advice and a call to action ... This gorgeously illustrated book offers practical tips, exercises and thought-provoking reflections to help us engage with our natural habitat and become healthier and happier as a result' * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisThe ancients revered this sacred tree that has existed on Earth for 200 million years - some trees, still alive today, even survived the last ice age. This immortal tree was therefore venerated as the triple goddess of life, death and rebirth, and was believed to be the guardian of our planet. With climate change threatening our existence, many are now turning to the Tree of Life, identified with the ancient yew, for answers to our predicament. Through groundbreaking research, Janis Fry answers our modern yearning to make sense of life through a god/dess of Nature that guides our lives and connects us to people and events, to which we are answerable as custodians of life on Earth. The Cult of the Yew: Tree of Life, Mystery and Magic explores the spiritual history of this iconic tree and aims to change how those who read it think and understand life in these times.

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Book SynopsisThe language of flowers is as old as language itself. In the earliest poetry familiar plants were used to represent simple emotions, ideas, or states of mind: love, hope, despair, fidelity, solitude, beauty, mortality. Over time these associations entwined with myth and legend, with religious symbolism, folk and herbal lore. By the early 19th century the 'Language of Flora' had become increasingly refined, especially in England and America, where sentimental flower books listing flower meanings and illustrating them with verse were perennial bestsellers. The Everyman Language of Flowers without sacrificing the charm of its Victorian predecessors aims to provide extended, updated and rather more robust floral anthology for the 21st century, presenting poetry from ancient Greece to contemporary Britain and America, and spanning the world from Cuba to Korea, Russia to Zimbabwe. Here are Rumi and Rilke on the rose; Herrick and Louise Glück on the lily; Chaucer, Emily Dickinson and Jon Silkin on the daisy; Mary Robinson and Ted Hughes on the snowdrop; Lorenzo de Medici, John Clare and Alice Oswald on the violet; Hugo and Roethke on carnations; Ovid and Goethe on poppies; Blake and Eugenio Montale on the sunflower; Christina Rossetti on heartsease and forget-me-nots; Emily Brontë on harebells and heather, Seamus Heaney on lupins, Pasternak on night-scented stock... Eastern cultures, rich in flower associations, are well represented: there are Tang poems celebrating chrysanthemums and peonies, Zen poems about orchids and lotus flowers, poems about jasmine and marigolds from India, roses, tulips and narcissi from Persia, the Ottoman empire and the Arabic world. Flowers are arranged by season, with roses and lilies in a section of their own. In a final section poets comment directly or indirectly on the language of flowers itself. The book concludes with a selected glossary drawn from several celebrated Victorian collections.

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Book SynopsisFor thousands of years humans have variously worshipped trees, made use of them, admired them, and destroyed them— and poets have long chronicled the relationship. In this collection, Robert Frost’s “Birches,” Marianne Moore’s “The Camperdown Elm,” Gerard Manley Hopkins’s “Binsey Poplars,” and Zbigniew Herbert’s “Sequoia” stand tall beside Eugenio Montale’s “The Lemon Trees,” Yves Bonnefoy’s “The Apples,” Bertolt Brecht’s “The Plum Tree,” D. H. Lawrence’s “The Almond Tree,” and A. E. Housman’s “Loveliest of Trees.” Whether showing their subjects being planted or felled, cherished or lamented, towering in forests or ?owering in backyards, the poems collected here pay lyrical tribute to these majestic beings with whom we share the earth.

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Since the introduction of heat into homes, making it possible to keep potted plants alive, people have been obsessively collecting and caring for house plants. These now common additions to any well-designed space add vibrancy and colour while simultaneously instilling a sense of tranquillity. This new title in the Kew Pocketbooks series is a celebration of the integration of plants into our living spaces, showcased through 40 stunning paintings from the Kew archives. An introductory chapter by Kew expert Bryony Langley provides an overview of the plant group, and extended captions accompany each painting.

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Book SynopsisThis very important new publication is an essential work of reference for any study of flora and ecology in Lancashire, both at the present time and into the future. The detailed, exhaustively researched information provided in the book represents a unique and indispensable 'snapshot' which will act as a crucial baseline for the ongoing analysis of changes in our natural environment. The first de finitive account of the past and present occurrence of flowering plants and ferns found in North Lancashire.

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Book SynopsisThis is an indispensable guide to the wildlife of Seychelles, covering the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates most likely to be encountered. It features 64 superb color photographic plates, and highlights the many species and subspecies unique to these islands. The first comprehensive photographic guide to the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies, and other conspicuous invertebrates likely to be encountered in Seychelles 64 stunning color photographic plates accompanied by text giving key identification features, behavior, breeding, distribution, population, and conservation status Simple-to-use format and easy-to-read style, aimed at beginners and experts alike Highlights the many species and subspecies unique to Seychelles Notes on conservation status, habitat, and distribution An essential guide for all visitors Contains annotated checklists Written to support local nature conservation

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Book SynopsisThis is the second edition of the field guide, with updates of plant species and location, additional maps and photos. Over 1000 kinds are covered and over 5000 plant sites described, with a list of flower-rich localities, a calendar of outstanding displays and help in telling similar species from their look-alikes.

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 tree and shrub species most commonly seen in India is perfect for resident and visitor alike.High quality photographs from India's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat.The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species.Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the trees and shrubs of India encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, its status in each state as well as its global IUCN status as at 2015.

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Book SynopsisMarking the 800th anniversary of the Forest Charter, award-winning botanical artist Christina Hart-Davies celebrates our long relationship with trees. Since pre-historic times they have provided us with shelter, fuel, medicine, food and even the air we breathe. They have tanned leather, dyed cloth and made everything from cathedrals to clothes-pegs. We have told stories about them, admired their magnificent beauty and woven them into our spiritual lives. Following A Wild Plant Year, which recorded the folklore and cultural history of our native wildflowers, in The Greenwood Trees Christina looks at the history, folklore and virtues of our native trees - and a few well-known introductions too - all illustrated with her exquisitely detailed watercolour paintings. We have relied on trees throughout our history. We still do, and we always will. Touch wood. * Which tree provides a talisman supposed to protect against lightning? * Which firewood burns best, even when green? * Which tree should you plant by the dairy and the privy to deter flies?

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Book SynopsisA photographic identification guide to 150 species of mushrooms most commonly found in Britain and Northern Europe. A user-friendly introduction includes an overview of distribution, the anatomy of a mushroom, nomenclature and useful information on hunting for and cooking with mushrooms. The identification section then divides into three categories: edible mushrooms, inedible (but not poisonous) mushrooms, and poisonous species. There is useful information on where and when mushrooms can be found, characteristic features and if edible, how best to cook the species.

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Book SynopsisWritten by experts with extensive local knowledge, each volume features 100 –280 species that the amateur naturalist might expect to see in the field, with high quality photographs accompanied by detailed species descriptions that include common name, scientific name, size, distribution, habits and habitat. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the species of the region encompassing for each one its common and scientific name, and IUCN status.

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Book SynopsisThe plant world of the Mediterranean region is remarkable for its great diversity of species and forms. This user-friendly pocket nature guide is organized by colour to help identify over 500 commonly seen flowers, shrubs, trees, grasses and ferns. Detailed descriptions give the common and scientific names as well as the flowering time. They also provide information on characteristic features, occurrence and distribution.As an extra at-a-glance aid over 45 eye-catching ornamental plants are featured on the flaps.The book covers every country with a Mediterranean coastline, including France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Morocco

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Book SynopsisA completely new look at plants - not only in food, drink and commerce, and how they have created civilisation, trade and empires, but also in love, in war, in crime, in horror and delight, in music, poetry and prose, and on the screen. Not just another gardening or plant book, this is a complete picture of how plants affect people, for better or worse, now, in the past and in the future with illuminating and startling facts about their ubiquitous presence in human affairs - through life, death, illness, happiness, murder, despair, desperation, love, hate, loss, and far more. From Presidents to pop stars, from scientists to slavers, royals to religious leaders, chefs to charlatans, pioneers to politicians, artists to actors, Plants & Us is a unique overview of plants, wild and cultivated, their vital importance and the threats they face. Above all, how they affect all our lives in stories that will often surprise the reader.Trade ReviewThe Telegraph: "The amazing secrets of everyday plants and how they rule our lives. A fascinating new book sheds light on how plants have been so pivotal through the centuries"; Botany One: "It is a most impressive achievement with numerous items of plant 'trivia' on every page. Except that none of these plant facts are trivial" "It should be essential reading for everybody - not just those who create plant-themed quizzes - whose appreciation of plants can only be improved as a result"; Gardens Illustrated "Best 10 gardening books for 2022"; WI Life "10 Best books for Christmas 2021"; The American (3-page review); Also Local Gardener (3-page review), Horticulture Week, The Field, Garden News, The Tablet, Fine Food Digest; Author interviews: BBC, Talk Radio Europe, Brooklands Radio.

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Book SynopsisWales has a rich and varied flora of about 1200 native and anciently introduced flowering plants, conifers and ferns. 101 Rare Plants of Wales celebrates 101 of our rarer Welsh plants, summarises what is currently known about them and aims to raise their profile in the national consciousness. Reprint. First Published in 2019.

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Book SynopsisAn easy-to-use photographic identification guide to 89 species of tree most commonly found in Britain and North-West Europe.

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Book SynopsisOld orchards have an irresistible appeal. Their ancient trees and obscure fruit varieties seem to provide a direct link with the lost rural world of our ancestors, a time when the pace of life was slower and people had a strong and intimate connection with their local environment. They are also of critical importance for sustaining biodiversity, providing habitats, in particular, for a range of rare invertebrates. Not surprisingly, orchards and the fruit they contain have attracted an increasing amount of attention over the last few decades, from both enthusiastic bands of amateurs and official conservation bodies. But much of what has been written about them is historically vague, romanticised and nostalgic. Orchards have become a symbol of unspoilt, picturesque rural England.This book attempts, for the first time, to provide a comprehensive review of the development of orchards in England from the Middle Ages to the present day. It describes the various different kinds of orchard and explains how, and when, they appeared in the landscape – and why they have disappeared, at a catastrophic rate, over the last six decades. Chapters discuss the contrasting histories of fruit growing in different regions of England, the complex story of ‘traditional’ fruit varieties and the role of orchards in wildlife conservation. In addition, a chapter on researching orchards provides a practical guide for those wishing to investigate the history and archaeology of particular examples.Trade ReviewThe book is an enjoyable read, it combines a vast amount of information in an accessible narrative * Antiquity *This is a well-produced book with ample colour illustrations and presents a useful summary on the subject of English orchards, in particular the consideration of the four different types of orchards and a comparison of orchard development between the three key regions of orchard landscapes in England. * Landscape History *Blending erudite landscape history and ecology with a perceptive eye for heritage and environmental issues, this book provides a superb overview of a neglected feature of our historic environment. It fully deserves the wide readership that it will doubtless receive. * Worcestershire Recorder *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations 1. Introducing Orchards 2. Types of Orchard: Farmhouse and Commercial 3. Types of Orchard: Gardens and Institutions 4. The Orchard Countries: Western England 5. The Orchard Countries: South-East England 6. The Orchard Countries: East Anglia and the Fens 7. The Recent History of Orchards 8. Studying Old Orchards 9. The Importance of Orchards: Biodiversity 10. The Importance of Orchards: Culture and History 11. Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhen and how did we humans lose our connection with nature – and how do we find it again? Matthew Yeomans seeks to answer these questions as he walks more than 300 miles through the ancient and modern forests of Wales, losing himself in their stories (and on the odd unexpected diversion, too). Return to My Trees weaves together history and folklore with tales of industrial progress and decay. On his journey, he visits landmarks that once were home to ancient Druids, early Celtic saints, Norman Lords and the great mining communities that reshaped Wales. He becomes immersed in the woodlands that inspired the country’s great legends. At one point he even stumbles upon a herd of television-watching cows. As Yeomans walks, he reflects on these woods’ uncertain future, his own relationship with nature and the global problems we need to solve if humans are to truly make peace with the natural world. from tree-planting in ways that are actually beneficial to the environment and local communities to embedding the value of nature into our financial and economic systems. The result is a fascinating and funny adventure that offers insight into the past, present and future of Wales’s woodlands and shows what the rest of the world can learn from them.

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Book SynopsisPaul Wood's brilliant and acclaimed London's Street Trees sold out three printings in its first edition, is a fixture in London's bookshops and museum and gallery gift shops, and was republished in Spring 2020 in a new, revised and expanded edition. One of its most popular features is the handful of 'tree walks' at the back, while the author is still leading his own guided 'street tree walks' every weekend somewhere in the capital. So now here is a whole book of tree walks around the capital - some for an hour or two, others for an afternoon, and several to while away a whole day. They take you to Ealing and Highgate, to see nineteenth-century London Planes lining the Embankment, newly-planted Persian Silk Trees in Brockley, and a whole Dawn Redwood forest at Canary Wharf - while pointing out the architecture and social and natural history along the way. You'll find trees taking you to the haunts of Seventies rock stars, in search of a long-buried circus elephant, and to some London's highest ground with the most stunning views over the capital.

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Book SynopsisRoadside 'weeds' and other routinely overlooked aspects of urban nature provide a fascinating glimpse into the complex global ecologies and new cultures of nature emerging across the world. This unique collection of essays explores the botanical dimensions of urban space, ranging from scientific efforts to understand the distinctive dynamics of urban flora to the way spontaneous vegetation has inspired artists and writers. The book comprises five thematic sections: histories and taxonomies, botanising the asphalt, the art of urban flora, experiments in non-design, and cartographic imaginations. The essays explore developments in Berlin, London, Lahore, and many other cities, as well as more philosophical reflections on the meaning of urban nature under the putative shift to the Anthropocene.

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Book SynopsisBack-lit in the morning, the olive tree differs greatly in appearance from in the afternoon or at sunset, each time offering new perspectives as well as new photographic collections. Jacques Berthet has long been interested in the olive tree. The idea of studying them came to him during a photography project which took Berthet all around the Mediterranean: from the Alentejo region in Portugal to the Pleistos Valley at Delphi, passing through Kabylia, Tunisia, to the Middle East, in Israel and the West Bank. In his photography, Berthet opts for black and white to distance himself from botany and move closer towards sculpture or drawing, opting for backlighting to single out the chosen tree against the backdrop of the olive grove which remains bathed in light. The olive tree has remained a significant influence in the everyday life of cultures around the Mediterranean. In ancient poetry and writing, it is the most venerated of trees. The Greeks made it a sacred tree (particularly for its oil, used in lamps), and so have the people of Tunisia and Algeria in more recent times. In Islamic cultures, it is the cosmic tree, the centre and the pillar of the world, symbolising universal man. What sets the olive tree apart from many other species is that no two trees look alike, and its fate is closely linked with that of man. Text in English and French.

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Book SynopsisThe masterpiece we have all been waiting for in this classic text from the 60s, Ergot Alkaloids comes to life in the English translation of Albert Hofmann’s historic encyclopedia of Ergot Alkaloids and their derivatives. This title is a detailed account of chemical compounds and pharmacological investigation into the potential of magical plants. Starting with the botany and cultivation of the ergot mushroom, Hofmann takes us through the historical elaboration of the fungus including the poisoning epidemic of ergot and its early medical uses all the way to the use of psilocybin as a “magical drug”. With a detailed timeline, we explore the growth of the pharmaceutical-chemical investigation from 1816 to 1961 with a total synthesis of ergotamine including tables of chemical structures and the role of lysergic acid, d-lysergic acid and diethylamide in experimental psychiatry gaining increasing importance in psychotherapy as a medical aid. Hofmann brings an observational account of these plants and their ceremonial and healing purposes still used by indigenous peoples such as the “Peyotl” cactus, “Teonanactl” the sacred mushroom of the Aztecs and “Ololiuqui” the seeds of bindweed plants. With representations of over 30 chemical structures and pharmaceutical analysis, Hofmann introduces the next generation of scientific knowledge into the world of hallucinogenic plants and special subgroups of psychotropic drugs which he calls phantastica, hallucinogens, psychotomimetic, psychedelica, psychodysleptics and more.

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Book Synopsis Get back to nature with this easy to use guide to Britain's greenery. From the experts at Westonbirt Arboretum in the depths of the Cotswolds, with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, comes this beautiful pocket guide covering 100 popular wild plants and flowers.Categorised by type of plant, the simple layout ensures that this text is easy to use ‘on the go’. Meadow Saffron, Sweet Woodruff and Solomon’s Seal are just a few examples of the vibrant entries - each accompanied by two beautiful images and a short description.Illustrated with enchanting colour artwork, depicting each plant and their individual bloom or sprig, this covetable book will educate and entertain with text by two leading experts from the Arboretum and the Forestry Commission.

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Book SynopsisForaging is one of the fastest-growing nature-related pastimes in the UK and US. There are many books about foraging but this is the only one that focuses on what is arguably everyone’s favourite plant – trees! It profiles 40 incredible trees from the UK and US – from apple, ash and bay to walnut, willow and yew, gorgeously illustrated with watercolour, pen and ink botanical illustrations. In her humorous, inspiring and warm text, Adele explains how we can forage from our trees, not only for food, but also for home remedies, for ingredients to use in cocktails and ferments, and for materials to make toys, musical instruments and other useful things. Did you know that you can grind acorns into flour to make pancakes, for example, or use oak galls for ink? Or that Willow can be used for weaving; ash, hazel and oak are all good for making charcoal. Packed full of recipes and things to do, there is also a sprinkling of folklore and superstition, as well as helpful recognition tips. Overall it traces the fascinating story of the intimate relationship between humankind and our trees.Trade Review"From apple to yew and 38 other trees in between, Adele takes you not just on a foraging journey but also a tour through the beauty, wildlife, folklore and medicinal uses of her chosen trees ... I would encourage anyone to buy this book or send as a gift – it really is a joy." – The Herb Society "The Tree Forager is a delightful read and a fine choice for public and school libraries." – Art Lichtenstein, Booklist "The Tree Forager is a revelation! "- Mark Moore, S'Express "I love it! A veritable voyage of discovery!" – Dick O’Dell, manager, Bat for Lashes "We can’t wait to get our mitts in this book" – The Den Kit Co

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