Oak and Ash and Thorn : The Ancient Woods and New Forests of Britain

Dazzling, passionate nature writing – a celebration of Britain’s woods and forests and a rousing call to fight for them

Dazzling, passionate nature writing – a celebration of Britain’s woods and forests and a rousing call to fight for them

A Guardian Best Nature Book of the Year


''I loved it.'' Tom Holland, co-host of The Rest is History

The magic and mystery of the woods are embedded in culture, from ancient folklore to modern literature. They offer us refuge: a place to play, a place to think. They are the generous providers of timber and energy. They let us dream of other ways of living. Yet we now face a future where taking a walk in the woods is consigned to the tales we tell our children.

Immersing himself in the beauty of woodland Britain, Peter Fiennes explores our long relationship with the woods and the sad and violent story of how so many have been lost. Just as we need them, our woods need us too. But who, if anyone, is looking out for them?

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‘A passionate ramble through Britain’s complicated relationship with its woodland.’ Daily Mail

‘Extraordinary… Fiennes’s book winningly combines autobiography, literary history and nature writing. It feels set to become a classic of the genre.’ Observer

‘Steeped in poetry, science, folklore, history and magic, Fiennes is an eloquent, elegiac chronicler of copses, coppicing and the wildwood.’ Sunday Express