Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52400 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'Mabey's thoughts make compelling reading...This is a book by a man who doesn't just know, but understands trees' --Tree News

Review
`It's a scientific, historical, poetic account written in a quietly humorous, thoughtful style'

Review
`He found his best form as a storyteller and interpreter of the dynamic nature of our native woodlands.'

Customer Reviews

A masterpiece
I have never read any of Richard Mabey's books, though some of his writing has passed my way and was well known to me. I bought this as a gift to myself based on reviews elsewhere and have found every page to be a profound and poetic delight. A man with a deep knowledge of nature and the skills to research well, he also has the writers' gift to take the reader with him on his walks through the woodlands and share with them his love and passion in a way only a handful of others have been able to do. A joy to read and pass on to anyone who will appreciate a modern classic.

Mabey back on form - great joy!
After the somewhat vague meanderings of Nature Cure, Richard Mabey pulls of a brilliant book that is both a pleasure to read and a real education without ever feeling heavy. The use of language is once again a triumph in evoking the feel and splendour of our beech woodlands. My only real gripes are that whilst the book is a much better and structured read the ending does seem to come about rather suddenly and that my favourite rural author, H. J. Massingham, is dismissed as 'romantic'. Well there's nothing wrong with being romantic and you have to place your mindset at the time when Massingham was writing. But we digress. All in all a thoroughly good read.

Beechcombings
What a great book the beauty of the wildwood versus the influence made by man on our landscape the beautful trees created by coppicing and pollarding, the management of our wild places in history, the sadness of the landsape and habitat that is being destroyed discussed in great detail, Richard Maybe also writes in the BBC wildlife magazine I always read his article with great interest, this book is well worth buying.