The Ancient Tree Explorer: guide to Britain’s Heritage Trees and Forests. By Julian Hight. Bath, Wild Things Publishing Ltd. 2026. £18.99 288pp.
It took the author 20 years to visit and gather together this remarkable compilation of some of the most veritable trees in Britain. It is a stunning photographic book to over 300 trees all photographed in their ungainly and twisted twilight years throughout the kingdom (broken down into ten regions) – where they have stood strong to the vagaries of man’s treatment to the original ancient forests, deer parks and hunting lodges that weather has thrown at them over the millenia. These trees are masters of survival in the face of everything. Hight has done an excellent job highlighting these astonishing vestiges of our countryside. This compilation is a first. A masterpiece.
The author Chairs the Wessex Ancient Tree forum and knows a thing or two about old Veteran and Ancient trees. Each of the stunning photos is supported by a local history he has through records, books, gravestones and historical accounts. There is often an interesting back story to each tree, given they have seen it all. The idea of the book being an ‘explorer; is that it can be used to go and visit these trees where possible. It has a special tough cover for use in the field. The author has indicated if Public Footpaths are present, together with map references. Most people will know a handful of these fantastic wizen trees, but it may come as a big surprise that there are so many of them lurking in country estates, relics of old woodlands and inhospitable coastal habitats; it is unlikely that most people are aware of so many of these fantastic trees, often living isolated lives – a magnificent exposeé of the tenacity of trees in the face of everything, even the Anthropocene.
A lot of the old and gnarled trees are English Oak that have become the fabric of villages, and old yews of numerous churchyards. But there are many fabulous twisted Sweet Chestnut resplendent in old age and tall beeches. The more west you go the mosses and lichens decorate many an old tree, such as the diminutive oaks of the Dizzard or Wistman’s wood mysteriousness on Dartmoor. We learn of champion trees, our own Atlantic rainforest trees, the oldest or tallest trees in Britain, lapsed pollards, maiden trees, submerged forests, and trees where all sorts of goings-on have happened. They have seen it all before. And now it is your turn to share their quirkiness in old age. This book is special to all who love trees.