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Yew - A History (Paperback)
Fred Hageneder; Foreword by Robert Hardy, David Bellamy
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R672
Discovery Miles 6 720
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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The yew is one of the most fascinating and versatile life forms on
Earth, botanically rich and intriguing, and culturally almost
without comparison. In history, mythology, religion, folklore,
medicine and warfare, this tree bears timeless witness to a deep
relationship with mankind. Yew was the wood chosen to make some of
mankind's oldest artefacts: spears, bows and musical instruments.
These include items like the prehistoric spear found near Clacton,
the 2,000-year-old wooden pipes from Greystones, County Wicklow
and, of course, the famous medieval English longbow. In modern
medicine, too, yew has proved a boon. Since 1992 taxol/paclitaxel
has helped revolutionise the treatment of certain types of cancer.
In botanical terms, yew is a mass of contradictions. It is a
conifer which bears scarlet 'berries' with sweet juicy pulp instead
of cones. It is highly poisonous in all its parts except the red
fruit pulp, and yet both wild and domesticated animals feed upon
it. It can live for thousands of years with the potential to renew
itself. A new tree from an interior root can grow slowly within the
hollow trunk of an ancient yew and centuries later 'take over' the
older tree. When it come to habitat, the yew tree is nothing if not
versatile. It can grown on different continents at a wide range of
altitudes: from rainy Edinburgh to sultry Istanbul, from Canada to
Mexico, Scandinavia to North Africa and Sumatra, Japan and the
Himalayas. Fred Hageneder's fascinating book is the first to cover
all aspects of the botany as well as the cultural history and
mythology of the genus Taxus. This is the remarkable story of the
oldest living things in Europe.
-- Pioneers a new Science of Nature -- Offers striking new
arguments against GM technologies -- Proposes startling solutions
to our energy needs -- Foreword by David Bellamy Austrian
naturalist Viktor Schauberger (1885-1958) was far ahead of his
time. From his unusually detailed observations of the natural
world, he pioneered a completely new understanding of how nature
works. He also foresaw, and tried to warn against, the global waste
and ecological destruction of our age. This book describes and
explains Schauberger's insights in contemporary, accessible
language. His remarkable discoveries -- which address issues such
as sick water, ailing forests, climate change and, above all,
renewable energy -- have dramatic implications for how we should
work with nature and its resources.
This book is the culmination of various expeditions made by
well-known artist and bestselling author David Bellamy to his
beloved Arctic. His descriptions of his travels, written from an
artist's point of view, vividly bring to life the challenges he
faced when painting outdoors in one of the harshest environments on
the planet, and make for an exhilarating and captivating read.
Filled with David's watercolour paintings and sketches, made during
his various expeditions, the book provides a fascinating insight
into the wildlife and people that live within the Arctic Circle and
captures perfectly the majesty and breathtaking beauty of the
world's final wilderness.
Master artist and best-selling author David Bellamy shares with you
his techniques, ideas and approach to painting his beloved
landscape throughout the year. A revised and expanded edition of
David Bellamy's Winter Landscapes in Watercolour, David looks at
each season in detail and explores the challenges and surprises
they present to the landscape artist. Also covered are learning
techniques for seasonal effects such as rendering hoar frost on
trees; misty and atmospheric effects; injecting rogue colours to
add excitement to your work; how to tackle a variety of tree
branches for different species; depicting light branches against
dark backgrounds; altering the composition to suit your needs, and
so much more.
Explore the deserts, mountains and souks of the Middle East, with
best-selling author and artist David Bellamy. Following on from
David's highly acclaimed Arctic Light, this book provides an
intriguing and often entertaining insight into South Arabia and the
Swahili Coast, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman. It describes the history,
culture, customs and geography of the region and the daily life of
its inhabitants, as viewed through the eyes of a world-renowned
watercolour artist and life-long adventurer. Filled with personal
anecdotes and humour, David Bellamy's unique account shines a light
on the Middle East and highlights the incredible beauty and
fascinating culture of this much-neglected region. David's stunning
artwork, that he painted during his various expeditions, features
throughout the book and captures perfectly the diverse and majestic
nature of the region. Watercolourists will be inspired by the
author's awe-inspiring ability to depict sweeping vistas and create
a sense of space in his paintings, and to capture the very essence
of a place through his art.
Renowned watercolourist David Bellamy shares his passion for
painting seas and shorelines in this inspiring and practical book.
There is advice on finding subjects and painting the different
moods of the sea; rocks, crags and cliffs; adding figures and
animals into your artworks; as well as an in-depth look at the
painting and sketching techniques required. David's extensive
travels mean that seas and shorelines from all over the world
appear in the paintings.
Containing more than 300 step-by-step photographs, tips,
instructions, and finished paintings, this complete guide provides
a comprehensive introduction to watercolor and serves as an
essential addition to the reference library of any artist. For
those seeking to brush up on their skills or learn new ways of
applying traditional techniques, this master class on atmosphere
and mood, taught by renowned instructor David Bellamy, includes
many excellent demonstrations and instructions on how to paint
mountains and crags, rivers, hedgerows, flowers, beaches, harbors,
and figures. With surprisingly simple techniques regarding
composition, perspective, color, texture, and detail, this is a
must-have resource for aspiring and experienced artists alike.
'A real find.... and a must read for all who enjoy good writing.' -
J. Barry Humour, wit, passion, science - not a dull page in the
whole book. He makes gardening sexy - Richard Kirby, BBC Natural
History Unit cameraman/director. 'I blame it on Abies magnifica, '
says the author of his decision to leave New Zealand and travel the
world, working as a gardener. Seeking out the trees, plants,
gardens and arboreta he knew previously only from textbooks,
Michael Scott describes the flora - and people - he meets with a
unique, incisive and clever style. Introduction by 'Botanic Man'
Prof David Bellamy: 'This is the most unusual gardening book I have
ever read; really a biography of botanist Michael Scott who was
born in NZ. Contains many good tips (and trips) to further one's
knowledge of gardening. An easy read, very slick and full of
interest for all who love gardening and/or see this as a good way
to pay one's way around the earth. Reminds us that Earth is more
valuable than gold. D.B. Christmas 2013
I probably should have called it: What Is Colin Farrell Really
Like? This is the story of my summer gig working as an extra in the
film The New World, which was Terrence Malick's dramatic
re-creation of the Jamestown experience and the life of Pocahontas,
released in 2006 by New Line Cinema. I saw a story in the newspaper
about auditions. I had very little acting experience, but I had had
ancestors at Jamestown in the 1600s and was writing a book about
some of them. So I thought it might help me to feel the ambience of
Jamestown if I was "lucky" enough to make the cut. In the first
scene on the first day, I had to perform next to Colin Farrell and
Christopher Plummer. Everyone seemed to think I should know what to
do Overall, I think the book will give readers a new appreciation
of the talent, hard work, and sheer craziness that go into the
making of a big budget Hollywood film. Reynolds Price said: "I
loved your account of the stint in The New World.... The whole
piece is appropriately a hoot."
'The particular Bellamys I am writing about here arrived in the New
World very early on, certainly no later than 1710 and possibly as
early as 1634. It was a time of great upheaval in England, from
whence they came, and we do not know expressly why they came. But
there are a number of likely reasons.."
Joe David Bellamy's "The Bellamys of Early Virginia" provides
the historical background as well as the hard evidence for a
clearer understanding of this quintessentially American family. It
is based on over a decade of original research into the genealogy
and family history of the early Bellamys in areas of Virginia where
many of the vital records were destroyed in the Revolutionary War,
the War of 1812, and the Civil War. This book cites numerous
previously undiscovered sources, corrects many misconceptions, and
puts forth compelling suggestions for further research.
'The particular Bellamys I am writing about here arrived in the New
World very early on, certainly no later than 1710 and possibly as
early as 1634. It was a time of great upheaval in England, from
whence they came, and we do not know expressly why they came. But
there are a number of likely reasons.."
Joe David Bellamy's "The Bellamys of Early Virginia" provides
the historical background as well as the hard evidence for a
clearer understanding of this quintessentially American family. It
is based on over a decade of original research into the genealogy
and family history of the early Bellamys in areas of Virginia where
many of the vital records were destroyed in the Revolutionary War,
the War of 1812, and the Civil War. This book cites numerous
previously undiscovered sources, corrects many misconceptions, and
puts forth compelling suggestions for further research.
The yew is one of the most fascinating and versatile life forms on
Earth, botanically rich and intriguing and culturally almost
without comparison. In history, mythology, religion, folklore,
medicine and in warfare, the yew bears timeless witness to a deep
relationship with mankind. It is the tree that Darwin often rested
beneath and under which he wanted to be buried until public opinion
decreed a higher-status interment in Westminster Abbey. It was
under the great Ankerwyke yew at Runnymede in Buckinghamshire that
Magna Carta is believed to have been sworn by the barons in 1215.
In 1803, Wordsworth celebrated the great yew in Lorton Vale,
'single, in the midst of its own darkness', a tree under which both
the great Quaker George Fox and John Wesley preached. In many
cultures it is the Tree of Life, and its association with
churchyards in Britain and Europe has given it a particular claim
on the popular imagination as a living link between our landscapes
and those of the distant past.
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