
A Walk in the Woods
Exploring Britain's Greatest Woodland
Archie Miles(Author)
Frances Lincoln (Publisher)
Published on 17. September 2009
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-7112-2957-0 (ISBN)
Description
An illustrated tour of fifty of Britain's greatest woodland walks with specialist tree photographer and writer Archie Miles, published in association with the Woodland Trust.
From beech woods, oak woods and pine woods to ancient forest, coastal woodland, ravine woodland and the very best arboreta, A Walk in the Woods ranges over twenty-five different topics and a wide geographical range, and includes encounters with some of Britain's most ancient and characterful trees.
Complementing and crowning the series of nine regional woodland walking guides already published by Frances Lincoln, the book includes a Gazetteer with brief descriptive details and access information for the featured sites plus a shortlist of some of the best of the rest. The readable and deeply informed text describes the physical topography of each site, in context with the regional characteristics, incorporating information on vegetation, flora, wildlife habitats (with particular reference to rare, endangered or site specific species), as well as a wealth of social, cultural or industrial history.
Spellbinding photographs taken throughout the seasons show the diverse interiors of the woodlands, with a range of views into and out of the woods, placing them in their landscape context. Also included are accompanying images of woodland details - fungi, flowers, wildlife, and historic features.
From beech woods, oak woods and pine woods to ancient forest, coastal woodland, ravine woodland and the very best arboreta, A Walk in the Woods ranges over twenty-five different topics and a wide geographical range, and includes encounters with some of Britain's most ancient and characterful trees.
Complementing and crowning the series of nine regional woodland walking guides already published by Frances Lincoln, the book includes a Gazetteer with brief descriptive details and access information for the featured sites plus a shortlist of some of the best of the rest. The readable and deeply informed text describes the physical topography of each site, in context with the regional characteristics, incorporating information on vegetation, flora, wildlife habitats (with particular reference to rare, endangered or site specific species), as well as a wealth of social, cultural or industrial history.
Spellbinding photographs taken throughout the seasons show the diverse interiors of the woodlands, with a range of views into and out of the woods, placing them in their landscape context. Also included are accompanying images of woodland details - fungi, flowers, wildlife, and historic features.
Reviews / Votes
A Walk in the Woods succeeds in its purpose of inspiring readers to don boots and explore forests for themselves. BBC Wildlife A literary ramble through this inspiring tome will not only give you the opportunity to appreciate the incredible diversity and remarkable beauty of our native woodland, it will no doubt also make you want to get out there and explore a wild habitat near you that hasn't lost its timeless quality or wonderful sense of intrigue. Outdoor Photography Ranges over twenty-five different topics and provides examples from sites all over Britain, including some of Britain's most ancient and distinctive trees, all beautifully photographed in all their glory by renowned landscape photographer Archie Miles. Suffolk & Norfolk Life His passion for these sites shines through the text - illustrated by beautiful photographs - which is packed with information on plant and wildlife habitats as well as the cultural history of the areas... Anyone with an interest in natural history will find much to enjoy in this new book. Waterstone's Books Quarterly This magnificent book, with its superb photos and fascinating text, covers a wide range of intriguing issues over woodland in the broadest sense, both historical and modern. Delving into its pages is like opening a new route to what was once a familiar world that puts a new perspective on that world. If I had to recommend one book on trees or woodland off my bookshelves, this would be the one. Highland News Miles's lavish and lyrical landscape photography illustrates his down-to-earth text describing 46 of Britain's greatest woodland sites. Saga Miles offers a comprehensive study of the history of the forest, as well as further discussion on the bio-diversity of the space, inviting the reader to dive into his crisp autumnal images. It's enough to make you reach for your walking boots! Waltham Forest Guardian Make no mistake, this is a classy book, written with an obvious passion about each and every stretch of woodland profiled, and packed with some glorious pictures. Western Daily Press Archie Miles's photographic exploration is inspirational, and living where I do in one of the least wooded counties of the country, not a little jealous making. Smallwoods If you go down to the woods today with Archie Miles, you may not be in for a great surprise, but you should still find the experience a treat. Miles, a tree photographer turned tree chronicler, has produced a string of beautiful books on his favourite subject already, and here is more of the same. That is no criticism though. How could it be, when it means more sumptuous photographs, more vivid descriptions of the countryside and another chancce to share in his delight at the wonders of the woods. BBC Countryfile Stunning photos, sharply focused, half fill this book... I like books that inspire exploration of new territory - this is sure to delight many a recipient this Christmas. WALK magazine Into the woods via Miles's rapturous photography and fluent prose. Ham & High Miles's words, as much as his photos, make the reader want to get out among the trees. Geographical Such a fascinating account that woodland may never seem the same to many readers again to many readers, certainly myself. Highland News Lovers of walks invested with interesting facts and details as well as fine views will be glad they bought Archie Miles's book. Deciding where to rush off to first, however, will not be easy as he makes each one a tempting stroll... An essential for lovers of Britain's woodlands looking for new treasures. House & GardenMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Illustrations
180 colour photos
Dimensions
Height: 305 mm
Width: 250 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7112-2957-0 (9780711229570)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Archie Miles has had an abiding passion for landscape photography stretching back 35 years, developing since the early 1990s a special interest in trees and woodland. He wrote and photographed Silva - The Tree in Britain, a cultural overview of all aspects of Britain's trees, published in 1999. Subsequently, he was the author/photographer for The Trees that made Britain (2006), in association with the BBC2 series, and Hidden Trees of Britain in 2007.
Content
oak woods
Lochwood Oaks - Dumfries & Galloway - (dendrochronology story)
Helmeth Wood - nr. Church Stretton, Shropshire
lime woods - Lincs./Welsh Borders
Bardney limewoods - Lincs. - still active coppice mngmt.
Wye valley - great trees all but lost amongst modern forestry
yew woods
Kingley Vale - Sussex - Europe's best yew wood
Haugh Wood - outliers - Heref.
alder carr - wet woods - marshland - willows - etc..
Tattershall Carrs - SE of Lincoln - fenland borders
Coed y Cerrig - nr. Abergavenny - alder carr in valley bottom
beech woods - Chilterns/Hampshire-Sussex
Burnham Beeches - Bucks. - ancient pollards
Hampshire beech hangers
sweet chestnut woodland - Kent, Sussex, Essex
Denge Wood - Kent
Stour Wood - Essex
Scots pine woodland - Scotland (native) and/or England (non native)
Glen Affric - Highlands
Thetford Forest - Norfolk & nearby pine rows
woods on limestone
Eaves Wood - Silverdale
Ebbor Gorge - Somerset
Ravine woodlands - rivers, streams, waterfalls, hanging woods
Castle Eden Dene - Co.Durham
Coed-y-Rhaiadr / Gwaun Hepstre - S.Wales
Woods of still water - bordering lakes or containing ponds
Dimmings dale - north of Uttoxeter
Stourhead
Upland woods
Glen Finglas - Western Highlands - veteran trees and mountains
High Shores Clough Wood - Bolton - northern clough woodland
Parkland and woods associated with great houses
Croft Castle Estate, Heref.
Ickworth Estate - Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk
Archaeologically important sites - hill forts, banks &
ditches, etc...
Hackfall Wood - nr. Ripon, Yorks. - Georgian created wilderness
Oldbury Hill - nr. Sevenoaks, Kent - hill fort
Sites rich in industrial history - or remnants/evidence of activity
Severn Gorge - Benthall Edge Wood
Whittle Dene, west of Newcastle upon Tyne
Woods with special flora - gt. spreads of flowers and site specifics
Dymock Woods, Glos. for daffs.
Hayley Wood (Cambs.) for oxlips
Britain's rainforests - Atlantic oak woods - Scotland/Wales
Nant Gwynant - N.Wales
Sunart Oak Wood - nr. Fort William, Highlands
Coastal woodland
Kilminorth Wood - Cornwall
Sea Wood - Morecambe bay, Lancs.
Urban fringe, woods nr. town & city
Epping Forest - London fringe
Silent valley - Welsh valleys - Britain's highest beech wood
Ancient forests - one well known and one obscure/lost example
Wentwood Forest - lost forest
Sherwood Forest - one of most visited forests in UK
Clumps and tumps
Gaer Fawr - nr. Weshpool - hill fort
Eridge Rocks - nr. Tunbridge Wells
Working woods - active today, rather than/as well as in past
Bradfield Woods - Suffolk - coppicing & wood crafts
Wyre Forest - coppicing for tan bark
Literary Connections
Bisham Woods - B
Lochwood Oaks - Dumfries & Galloway - (dendrochronology story)
Helmeth Wood - nr. Church Stretton, Shropshire
lime woods - Lincs./Welsh Borders
Bardney limewoods - Lincs. - still active coppice mngmt.
Wye valley - great trees all but lost amongst modern forestry
yew woods
Kingley Vale - Sussex - Europe's best yew wood
Haugh Wood - outliers - Heref.
alder carr - wet woods - marshland - willows - etc..
Tattershall Carrs - SE of Lincoln - fenland borders
Coed y Cerrig - nr. Abergavenny - alder carr in valley bottom
beech woods - Chilterns/Hampshire-Sussex
Burnham Beeches - Bucks. - ancient pollards
Hampshire beech hangers
sweet chestnut woodland - Kent, Sussex, Essex
Denge Wood - Kent
Stour Wood - Essex
Scots pine woodland - Scotland (native) and/or England (non native)
Glen Affric - Highlands
Thetford Forest - Norfolk & nearby pine rows
woods on limestone
Eaves Wood - Silverdale
Ebbor Gorge - Somerset
Ravine woodlands - rivers, streams, waterfalls, hanging woods
Castle Eden Dene - Co.Durham
Coed-y-Rhaiadr / Gwaun Hepstre - S.Wales
Woods of still water - bordering lakes or containing ponds
Dimmings dale - north of Uttoxeter
Stourhead
Upland woods
Glen Finglas - Western Highlands - veteran trees and mountains
High Shores Clough Wood - Bolton - northern clough woodland
Parkland and woods associated with great houses
Croft Castle Estate, Heref.
Ickworth Estate - Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk
Archaeologically important sites - hill forts, banks &
ditches, etc...
Hackfall Wood - nr. Ripon, Yorks. - Georgian created wilderness
Oldbury Hill - nr. Sevenoaks, Kent - hill fort
Sites rich in industrial history - or remnants/evidence of activity
Severn Gorge - Benthall Edge Wood
Whittle Dene, west of Newcastle upon Tyne
Woods with special flora - gt. spreads of flowers and site specifics
Dymock Woods, Glos. for daffs.
Hayley Wood (Cambs.) for oxlips
Britain's rainforests - Atlantic oak woods - Scotland/Wales
Nant Gwynant - N.Wales
Sunart Oak Wood - nr. Fort William, Highlands
Coastal woodland
Kilminorth Wood - Cornwall
Sea Wood - Morecambe bay, Lancs.
Urban fringe, woods nr. town & city
Epping Forest - London fringe
Silent valley - Welsh valleys - Britain's highest beech wood
Ancient forests - one well known and one obscure/lost example
Wentwood Forest - lost forest
Sherwood Forest - one of most visited forests in UK
Clumps and tumps
Gaer Fawr - nr. Weshpool - hill fort
Eridge Rocks - nr. Tunbridge Wells
Working woods - active today, rather than/as well as in past
Bradfield Woods - Suffolk - coppicing & wood crafts
Wyre Forest - coppicing for tan bark
Literary Connections
Bisham Woods - B