Sir Martin Wood

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I am greatly saddened by the death of my friend, colleague, and patron, Sir Martin Wood aged 94 years. Sir Martin Wood FRS was a visionary engineer, passionate conservationist, and a prolific philanthropist, who had an incalculable influence on my professional and personal life. I first met Martin when, freshContinue Reading

The Queen's Green Canopy

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The Queen’s Green Canopy has been launched as a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, inviting people from across the United Kingdom to Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.Continue Reading

Peter Savill. Photo by Gabriel Hemery

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At the end of last month, my lifetime professional colleague and friend Dr Peter Savill sadly passed away. I had the great privilege of collaborating widely with Peter from the very beginning of my career in forestry. He was a true gentleman, humble and generous in equal measure, and will be sadly missed.Continue Reading

Books about plant hunters

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To celebrate the lives of plant hunters, like John Jeffrey, here I share some of my favourite books on botany, botanical exploration, and the often extraordinary lives of the plant hunter. Think more Indiana Jones than shy retiring pansies, as these men and women travelled the world in search of plants, valuable for their beauty, medicines, timber, smell, and any number of other benefits.Continue Reading

Hemery, In retrospect: Sylva. Nature, 507, 166–167, (13 March 2014), doi:10.1038/507166a

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My article celebrating the 350th anniversary of John Evelyn’s 1664 Sylva has been published in the international weekly journal of science Nature. Read the article here Hemery, G (2014) In retrospect: Sylva. Nature, 507, 166–167, (13 March 2014), doi:10.1038/507166aContinue Reading