I was charmed by the mixture of autobiography, botany and almost sermon-like meditation on individual species. I am often tempted to race the final sections of a book: the structure and rhythm are so well put together that this was not the case here, and I’d recommend this as a lovely, engrossing introduction (or reflection for the non-beginner) to the culture of trees in the UK. Full of “did you know...?” passages and entertaining sidelines, this is a splendid book.