TREE-HUNTING

The Groaning Tree. The Rebel Tree. The Ecclesiastical Pear.

The Beer Belly. The Climber’s Lime. The Top Deck Dazzler.

In Tree-Hunting, Paul Wood seeks out the best individual trees – the most charismatic, quirky or downright spectacular – that grow in Britain and Ireland's towns, cities and villages (and, in one case, from the crack in a church steeple). From a stumpy sycamore in Shetland, contorted by wind and hard weather, to the shining jewel in Brighton’s unlikely treasure trove of elms, Paul travels on a quest from north to south rootling out the legends and tall tales behind these marvellous specimens. As he delves into this rich ecosystem, he reveals how trees are inextricably bound to the story of our towns and cities: they have always meant a great deal to those that live near them, and they continue to shape the fabric of urban life in deep, and often surprising, ways.

Including sumptuous maps, grid references and charming travel notes so you can plan adventures of your own, Tree-Hunting will help you unlock the secrets of Britain and Ireland's urban forests.