Marking 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?
