A beautifully written classic of nature writing.
'A masterly account...of supreme interest...a classic' Country Life


Long accepted as the best work on the subject, Oliver Rackham's book is both a comprehensive history of Britain's woodland and a field-work guide that presents trees individually and as part of the landscape.

From prehistoric times, through the Roman period and into the Middle Ages, Oliver Rackham describes the changing character, role and history of trees and woodland. He concludes this definitive study with a section on the conservation and future of Britain's trees, woodlands and hedgerows.

"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