On:
In: art

Common hazel (Corylus avellana) is one of the first of our trees to flower in very early Spring. In time with nature, while their pendent ‘lambs tail’ catkins are emerging, so is a drawing of a hazel tree for The New Sylva. Sarah has been working on a drawing onContinue Reading

On:
In: art, news

The authors are searching for the finest example of a common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) tree to feature in The New Sylva. We hope that our readers can help by submitting their favourite ash trees – one of which will be selected and appear in the book frontispiece. Following the outbreakContinue Reading

On:
In: art, woodland visit

Day two of our Scottish drawing expedition took us to the southern shore of Loch Rannoch. We were in search of a treescape that would enable us to feature birch and water together. We had a specific place in mind for where the drawing will feature in the book. TheContinue Reading

On:
In: art, woodland visit

Yesterday our Scottish Drawing Expedition for The New Sylva got underway. In search of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) we had travelled to one of the last remaining and best examples of Caledonian Pinewood: the Black Wood of Rannoch, in Central Scotland. High above Loch Rannoch, on an undulating heather-clad ridge,Continue Reading

On:
In: history

Three hundred and fifty years ago today, on 28th November 1660, The Royal Society was founded, following a lecture given by Christopher Wren at Gresham College in London. The ninth man listed among the 41 founding members was John Evelyn (1620-1706). Two years after it was founded, in 1664, theContinue Reading

On:
In: book development, woodland visit

The authors are very much looking forward to an expedition to Scotland to capture some of the nation’s most spectacular trees and forestscapes. In December we will be spending four days researching and drawing various subjects, including the iconic Caledonian pinewood forests. We will post news and pictures of progressContinue Reading