Ancient: Reviving the Woods That Made Britain - Winner of the Wainwright Prize
Luke Barley
Mar 2026 · Profile Books
Ebook
208
Pages
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Eligible
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About this ebook
WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING
'A wonderful ramble beneath the boughs' Chris Packham
'Brilliant and highly readable' John Wright
'Spellbinding. A thrilling account' James Fox
'Passionate, knowledgeable and immersive' Tristan Gooley
Step into the woods, and discover the trees that made Britain
Ancient woods are Britain's richest habitats: rare fragments of our landscape that teem with life from soil to canopy. They live in our collective imagination as quiet places, best left pristine and untouched. But their story has always been one of interdependence with people. Now, as ever, these woods - including remnants of the primeval 'wildwood' - need the thoughtful intervention of humans to survive.
With the benefit of over twenty years' experience rehabilitating ancient woodland - from the Lakes to the Peak District, by way of suburban London's hidden gems - Luke Barley brings us deep into this hidden world to reveal majestic oaks, freshly coppiced hazels, endangered limes, and the passionate individuals tending them for future generations. As modern woodlanders judiciously cut and fell, the flood of fresh light brings new life and hope to these irreplaceable natural jewels.
With clear-sighted passion and lyrical prose, Barley reveals what we stand to gain, as individuals and as a society, by rekindling our ancient connection with these special places.
'A wonderful ramble beneath the boughs' Chris Packham
'Brilliant and highly readable' John Wright
'Spellbinding. A thrilling account' James Fox
'Passionate, knowledgeable and immersive' Tristan Gooley
Step into the woods, and discover the trees that made Britain
Ancient woods are Britain's richest habitats: rare fragments of our landscape that teem with life from soil to canopy. They live in our collective imagination as quiet places, best left pristine and untouched. But their story has always been one of interdependence with people. Now, as ever, these woods - including remnants of the primeval 'wildwood' - need the thoughtful intervention of humans to survive.
With the benefit of over twenty years' experience rehabilitating ancient woodland - from the Lakes to the Peak District, by way of suburban London's hidden gems - Luke Barley brings us deep into this hidden world to reveal majestic oaks, freshly coppiced hazels, endangered limes, and the passionate individuals tending them for future generations. As modern woodlanders judiciously cut and fell, the flood of fresh light brings new life and hope to these irreplaceable natural jewels.
With clear-sighted passion and lyrical prose, Barley reveals what we stand to gain, as individuals and as a society, by rekindling our ancient connection with these special places.
WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING
'A wonderful ramble beneath the boughs' Chris Packham
'Brilliant and highly readable' John Wright
'Spellbinding. A thrilling account' James Fox
'Passionate, knowledgeable and immersive' Tristan Gooley
Step into the woods, and discover the trees ...
About the author
Luke Barley is a senior advisor on trees and woodlands with the National Trust, providing leadership, guidance and support on woodland management across the charity's 250,000-hectare landholding. He is a chartered forester, a professional member of the Arboricultural Association and a trustee of the Ancient Tree Forum, and previously worked as a ranger and helped care for ancient woods in the North Downs, the Lake District and the Peak District. He lives in Sheffield with his family.
Luke Barley is a senior advisor on trees and woodlands with the National Trust, providing leadership, guidance and support on woodland management across the charity's 250,000-hectare landholding. He is a chartered forester, a professional member of the Arboricultural Association and a trustee of ...
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