To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation, HRH The Prince of Wales called for the creation of new wildflower meadows. The Coronation Meadows project, led by Plantlife and in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, is working to achieve this goal, and in this book renowned photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas captures the extraordinary results of this important conservation project. Wildflowers for the Queen is a captivating photographic celebration of the vast array of Coronation Meadows now found across Britain, with stunning studio portraits highlighting the diversity of wildflower species, from the colourful cowslip to the eccentric snake's-head fritillary, from the multifaceted ragged robin to the elusive bee orchid. Rittson Thomas takes us on a remarkable journey through some of the most beautiful wildflower meadows, from the Viking meadows of Muker in Yorkshire's rolling dales to the unique culm grass meadows of Cornwall. Rittson Thomas also photographs a wide range of rare wild orchids, including the monkey, bee, man and lady orchids, encouraging us to discover the rich botanical heritage of the wildflowers and unique meadows of Great Britain.

There has never been a better time to plant a tree! From their invaluable role in fighting climate change and cleaning the air of our cities, to the huge mental health benefits being around their leafy presence can bring, trees are at the very centre of both our urban and rural ecosystems. Written by Ben Raskin, head of horticulture at the Soil Association, and supported by Friends of the Earth UK, this earthy call-to-action teaches the practical how-tos alongside the most interesting insights to appreciate about the significance of magnificent trees. As movements to rewild the world around us gain pace, tree planting is being recognised as an empowering, practical and surprisingly simple action that each and every one of us can do in our backyard, park, local community, school, town or city. Sections in this book include: Trees and the World - This sectioncelebrates just how vital trees are, from how they help regulate the climate and absorb dangerous methane and nitrous oxide, to how they enrich soil, support wildlife and keep our city air clean, as well as the threats they face from climate change. Growing Your Own Tree - Tips on growing saplings from seed, cuttings or grafting, plus guidance on care and maintenance, from weeding and mulching to when to prune and pollard. Forty Best Trees - A guide to the top40 of our favourite trees, appreciated for their fruit and nuts, their ornamental value and the role they play in supporting wildlife, including a neat introduction to how to recognise trees by their leaf shape, flowers, seeds and fruit. Trees and Happiness - Research has revealed that trees are effective at reducing stress levels and improving our mental well-being, and this section digs into exactly how this happens. Whether you're a keen gardener, an avid environmental activist or simply want to learn more about these beautiful and powerful organisms, this must-read book illustrated by popular screen-printerRosanna Morris sends the powerful message that we can plant a tree & retree the world!

The Complete Language of Flowers is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 1,001 flower species. Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the flower's scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. For centuries, symbolic flower meanings have fascinated readers, writers, poets, and suddenly smitten couples alike. Extremely popular during the Victorian era, these floriographies flourished and versed the public on the hidden meaning of popular flowers such as: Purple Tulip-Eternal love Amaryllis-Adventurousness; Enthusiasm; Passion Daisy-Beauty and innocence; Cheer; Childlike playfulness Sunflower-Ambition; Constancy; Devotion Together with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common flower name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to arrange the perfectly bespoken wedding bouquet or to understand what the yellow rose you just received from an admirer means (friendship), this updated floriography is a visual delight. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.

This book provides an up-to-date overview of the various wood and tree fungi that damage trees, lumber, and timber. Special focus is given to identification, prevention, and remediation techniques, and the book bridges the gap between research and application. It covers the fundamentals of cytology and morphology.

There is a more practical section describing damage by viruses and bacteria on trees. The habitats of wood fungi are described as well as tree care. Important tree pathogens and wood decay fungi are characterized for prevention and identification. The final section focuses on the positive effects of wood-inhabiting microorganisms.

This is a tree book unlike any other. While trees have long been celebrated, their widespread admiration usually produces those field guides we all know, describing habitat, form, leaf and bark, meant to be carried with us as we wander the fields and woods, or, more rarely, those handsome books dedicated to arboreal beauty and character, such as those of Thomas Pakenham filled with fine photographs of extraordinary specimens. Absent from the literature of trees, however, is a survey of those that have been created by and exist only in the human imagination. These are the truly remarkable ones, including one that is the source of life, another the source of the knowledge of good and evil; some that have a human ancestry, others human characteristics; one that is soundless, another that speaks of the future, and still another that encompasses the entire world. That we cannot touch their bark, clasp their trunks or see their foliage and fruit only addes to their appeal, for they exist only in our minds.Gathered here are some of these extraordinary artifacts of the imagination produced, during man's long journey from the far past to the present, on the real trees that have sheltered and nourished us, physically and intellectually, enabled us to cross the oceans and both warmed and inspired us. That a mystical, atabistic bond exists between us and these aristocrats of the vegetable kingdom is evidenced whenever we stroll under a redwood or yew or enter a forest.This is a field in which you know more than you think you do. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil are obvious examples. Mythology provides us with Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree and the arboreal metamorphoses described by Ovid. Other specimens have roots in literature, philosophy, history, and folklore, and, as befits a new guide to imaginary beings, there are several that have only just been discovered.

Winter, when plants are dormant and their leaves may have fallen, is a challenging time to identify woody flora. Designed especially for winter use and featuring almost six hundred illustrations, this taxonomic guide describes some nine hundred plant species by their twig, bud, and bark characteristics. All the trees, shrubs, and woody ground covers that grow without aid of cultivation in the Southeast are presented here in a single reference. Includes the following: native plants, as well as naturalized exotic species known to occur in at least two locations in the Southeast; geographical coverage from east Texas and northern Florida to southeastern Kansas and southern Delaware; spring or summer features of a plant in the absence of any reliable winter diagnostic features; a map of the guide's coverage area and nearly six hundred illustrations that show distinguishing characteristics of twigs and buds; a brief introduction to botanical terminology and the use of taxonomic keys, descriptions of various habitats and physiographic regions of the Southeast, a glossary, a list of references, and an index that includes common and scientific names

"Cel grows her beautiful flowers with art and soul." -- Shane Connolly, floral designer and author Prepare the ground, sow seed, nurture, harvest and fill your home with beautiful flowers. Growing flowers can bring colour and life to the garden, and also give you an abundance of sustainable floral material to use at home. This handbook shows you how to plan a cutting garden, grow the perfect plants for the vase and nurture them so they thrive from season to season. Whether you have a few pots or a dedicated patch, you can grow beautiful blooms and learn how to cut, condition and arrange them for garden-gathered floral designs all year round, all without the carbon footprint of most shop-bought flowers! Cut Flowers includes a directory of flowers, bulbs and foliage to grow, plus pro advice on creating dreamy designs. This title is from the Bloom Gardener's Guide series, complete and comprehensive gardening handbooks. Bloom is an award-winning independent print magazine for gardeners, plant admirers, nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, and winner of the Garden Publication of the Year at the Garden Media Awards 2021. Other titles in this series include Shade and Pots.

'A wonderfully personal evocation of the joys, hard work and meaning of creating a wood for wildlife, written with sensitivity and care. A delightful read.' Stephen Moss, author of The Robin: A Biography Over twenty years ago, Ruth Pavey bought four acres of scrub woodland above the Somerset Levels and set out to improve the lush haven for birds, insects and all manner of wildlife. Beneath the shade of the trees she spent two decades planting, she now reflects on the fate of her wood. As steward, she has witnessed nature's forces shifting and the abundance of species dwindling rapidly. When the rabbits suddenly vanished, she knew it was time to take a closer look at the undergrowth and what she could do to preserve the legacy of the wood for generations to come. Deeper Into the Wood recounts a year in the life of an amateur naturalist working with wildlife experts to interpret the language of the land. Ruth's hand-drawn illustrations accompany her lyrical prose, which demonstrates an appreciation for the local people and their history. This is one woman's story of inspiration, conservation, and a love of place. ***PRAISE FOR DEEPER INTO THE WOOD*** 'A rare treat of a book that warms as it informs and leads us deep into the character of one small pocket of England. Ruth Pavey writes with wit, passion and precious little sentimentality.' Tristan Gooley, author of The Secret World of Weather 'Wonderful... how love for a small woodland and respect for its local history can enhance wildlife and enrich the human spirit.' Nick Davies, author of Cuckoo: Cheating by Nature 'Ruth Pavey spins a delicate web between the many branches of her little Somerset wood. Her closely observed changes of wildlife and the changing seasons, echo a growing awareness and concern for life on Earth itself. The author's growth and metamorphosis into an amateur naturalist who has learnt to read the language of trees is profoundly inspirational.' Gabriel Hemery, author of The New Sylva 'Inquisitive and generous. Pavey shares the love of her wood, past and present, through a fascinating weave of its natural and cultural histories. This book is as companionable as it is interesting. Patrick Baker, author of The Unremembered Places

A 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.

South Africa has lost 116 indigenous flower species to three extinction categories: 'Extinct', 'Extinct in the Wild' and 'Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct'. Mindful of the fact that extinctions are mainly due to people, Cape-based photographer Anneke Kearney compiled this photographic record of endangered plants to make people aware of the dire future of our beautiful plants, so that nobody can say, 'I didn't know'. Cape Town has more threatened species than any other area in the country. The most important other hotspots are Coega, Albany, Pondoland, KwaZulu-Natal midlands and Drakensberg, Magaliesberg, Sekhukhuneland-Drakensberg and Barberton. Renowned botanist and conservation campaigner, Dr Tony Rebelo, says in the Foreword that a call to action is not just for us. "It is for our children. It is not just for esoteric and idealist reasons. Thousands of visitors come ... every year just for the biodiversity. Hundreds of thousands more have it as one of the reasons for their visit. Our health, our relaxation, our existence is enhanced by living in a biodiversity showcase. The Littlest Kingdom on earth must retain its splendour ... there is space for everyone, including the biodiversity that occurs nowhere else on earth. This book with its spectacular photographs of rare and little seen plants, is sure to make a huge contribution to raising awareness of and spreading critical information on our indigenous flora.

The islands of Britain and Ireland hold a rich heritage of plant folklore and wisdom, from the magical yew tree to the bad-tempered dandelion. Here are traditional tales about the trees and plants that shape our landscapes and our lives through the seasons. They explore the complex relationship between people and plants, in lowlands and uplands, fields, bogs, moors, woodlands and towns. Suitable for all ages, this is an essential collection of stories for anyone interested in botany, the environment and our living heritage.

When is a marigold not a marigold? Where in Great Britain is a harebell a bluebell? What does a Burdock have to do with velcrose? And what does a dandelion have to do with teeth? In this delightful little book, historian Gerald Ponting reveals the fascinating stories at the heart of many wild flower names. From names made up by Shakespeare to names based on appearance or medicinal properties, prepare to be amused, informed and amazed.

Of jy nou 'n grondeienaar of bestuurder van 'n stuk natuurlike veld in die Kaap, of 'n besoeker aan hierdie unieke deel van Afrika is, neem dit jou nie lank om die merkwaardige rykdom van die streek te waardeer nie. Bergreekse, valleie, kusgebiede en vleilande dra by tot 'n ongeewenaarde biodiversiteit van wereldwye belang - in so 'n mate dat groot dele daarvan Werelderfenis-status verwerf het. Hierdie boek is 'n gids om besoekers, inwoners, bestuurders of eienaars van grond in die Fynbosbioom te help om die uitsonderlike rykdom te waardeer en te bestuur. Deur te put uit die omvattende kennis van navorsers en bestuurders in die Fynbos Forum-gemeenskap, het ons gepoog om `n praktiese, toeganglike stuk gereedskap vir die verbetering van grondbestuur in die Fynbosbioom daar te stel, en om die jongste wetenskaplike kennis oor die bestuur van hierdie globaal belangrike, ryk ekostelsel te deel.

Paul 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.

Add to this the thousands of farms that have grown back to woods since the Civil War, and you have the most forested state, by percentage, in the United States. But the “uninterrupted forest” that Henry David Thoreau first saw in the 1840s was never exactly that. Loggers had cut it severely, European settlers had gnawed into it, and, much earlier, native people had left their mark. This book takes you deep into the past to understand the present, allowing you to hear the stories of the people and events that have shaped the woods and made them what they are today.

The sixth title in the bestselling Collins Guide series, this book covers the fungi of the British Isles, with considerable relevance for Europe and the wider temperate world. Leading mycological artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Where possible, species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Nearly 2,400 species are illustrated in full colour, with detailed notes on how to correctly identify them, including details of similar, confusing species. Illustrations of young and mature fruiting bodies are included where necessary, and key features are highlighted for quick and easy reference. Written by one of Europe's leading mycologists and horticultural scientists, Stefan Buczacki, and illustrated by two of the world's leading natural history illustrators, Chris Shields and Denys Ovenden, this is the ultimate field guide for mushroom and toadstool lovers.

An entertaining and enthralling collection of myths, tales and traditions surrounding our trees, woodlands and forests from around the world.From the dark, gnarled woodlands of the north, to the humid jungles of the southern lands, trees have captured humanity's imagination for millennia. Filled with primal gods and goddesses, dryads and the fairy tales of old, the forests still beckon to us, offering sanctuary, mystery and more than a little mischievous trickery. From insatiable cannibalistic children hewn from logs, to lumberjack lore, and the spine-chilling legend of Bloody Mary, there is much to be found between the branches. Come into the trees; witches, seductive spirits and big, bad wolves await you.With this book, Folklore Thursday aim to encourage a sense of belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.

This book describes and illustrates 80 of the larger, more conspicuous and charismatic tree species likely to be seen while travelling in the Kruger National Park.

With the aim of assisting readers to make accurate identifications of these majestic plants, each spread contains photographs and succinct text with minimal botanical jargon. To aid identification, a series of maps demarcating 35 different vegetation zones or ‘landscapes’ within the Kruger Park helps readers to determine which tree species are likely to be seen in which area.

Part of the NATURE NOW series, this compact ID guide is jampacked with images of trees – an informative safari companion for all who want to make the most of their visit to Kruger.

Seasonality is an uplifting look at British wildlife through the seasons of the year, but it is also about our relationship with that wildlife. The author, a keen and passionate naturalist, takes us on a journey through spring, summer, autumn and winter, and on this journey we look at how our wildlife lives throughout the year, how it adapts and changes as necessary. The author shares how wildlife makes him feel, how he derives joy and a sense of well-being from the wildlife he sees and describes. But he also shares his frustration at how some of our actions and land management impact on our increasingly pressurised wildlife. It shares the delight of watching birds in the garden, fox cubs in the countryside and peregrines in the city. It shares the sadness of seeing stuffed examples of extinct birds, the anger at the mismanagement of potentially wildlife-rich hedgerows, and the confusion and contradiction of the management of our so-called natural spaces. It is a book of delights and frustrations, but above all hope and celebration. Whether it is the flash of bright yellow butterfly wings signalling that spring has arrived, the slicing of the air by sickle-shaped swifts telling us that summer has come, the wonderful show of colour that the leaves of trees display in the autumn, or the deep-throated chuckle of fieldfares gleaning berries in the winter, the seasons are full of life and this book describes them in vivid detail. The role of the seasons in our own lives may have diminished, but for wildlife the seasons are everything, they are the framework within which everything happens. Seasonality is your guide, through a naturalist's eyes and thoughts, to the incredible journey of the four seasons. The seasons of the year roll on regardless, an endless cycle that dictates the rhythm of life.