An interactive Google Map showing the journey of John Jeffrey (1850-1854)

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In: books, feature, film, Green Gold, nature

John Jeffrey, the main character in my latest book Green Gold, walked, paddled and rode at least 10,000 miles across North America while hunting for plants from 1850-4. During the two years I spent researching and writing the book I plotted his travels in detail and can now publish the route in full for the first time.Continue Reading

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In: ecology, feature

In September 1852 young Scottish plant hunter John Jeffrey came across an attractive flowering plant in northern California. After samples were received by his sponsors at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh it was named in his honour.Continue Reading

Dartmoor forest by Gabriel Hemery

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In: feature, landscape, writing

For my short story in Arboreal (Little Toller Books, 2016) I decided to write from the perspective of an old man looking back on the transformation of Dartmoor due to the withdrawal of farming subsidies and application of visionary environmental policies. I drew a couple of sketches that didn’t make it into the book.Continue Reading

Charter for Trees, Woods and People

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In: feature, health, landscape, trees

Our life on Earth is entwined with trees, even if we’re not always aware of their importance. It often takes a special moment for us remember the significance of something we can so easily take for granted. The Year 2017 is one such moment for trees and forests in the UK, this being the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest.Continue Reading

Arboreal: a collection of new woodland writing. Little Toller Books. 2016.

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In: feature, writing

This week the long-awaited woodland anthology Arboreal was finally released. Edited by Adrian Cooper the book includes contributions from more than 40 authors, poets, photographers, sculptors and others.Continue Reading

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In: feature

I was delighted to see two of my tree photographs chosen by Chris Boreham Bespoke Woodwork to showcase two of his beautiful picture frames for a forthcoming exhibition. Made from locally-sourced sustainable timber, the ash frames feature two square pegs at each corner made from black walnut. Chris chose two imagesContinue Reading