Remarkable Trees

Christina Harrison and Tony Kirkham
Thames and Hudson, £20.00

This remarkable book about 60 remarkable trees is published in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where the authors have had a combined 63 years of working there. In this quite outstanding publication, it is a pleasure to read and view the lovely illustrations from the Kew collections. Trees from the world’s major habitats have been selected because of their environmental impact and their utility to us, including those in local regions which are less known. Inevitably, the selection is personal and covers those used in building and creating, feasting and celebrating, healing and killing, improving body and soul, and generating world wonders – as well as considering those which are threatened or endangered. I applaud the selection made.

The interpretation of their importance – such as the development of Taxol from yew as a drug to treat breast cancer and oil from olive – are important for health and wellbeing. However, we should always be aware of any environmental damage that trees can cause. For example, Sitka spruce is covered in the book as a fast-growing timber tree with vitamin C in the foliage tips, which is knot-free and particularly suited for musical instruments. It is native to the Pacific Northwest and was planted extensively in Scotland post-war for maximum biomass production, but this caused soil degradation and habitat destruction in the Flow Country of peat soils. Nevertheless, trees are of great net benefit to us and I strongly recommend everybody to read this book, then leave on the coffee table for others to peruse.

Professor Jim Lynch OBE FRSB

Reviewed by Professor Jim Lynch OBE FRSB, Distinguished Professor Life Sciences Emeritus, Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey