#577: Natural History Reading List #25: 'How to read a Tree'

Another really useful book by navigation expert Tristan Gooley.

I have a signed copy of his previous book: 'The Natural Explorer'

This book explores what a tree can tell us about the landscape. It says a great deal about the value of trees and how they interact with the soil, atmosphere, weather and biodiversity. They influence the drainage and fertility of the soil, and can also tell us a lot about where we are, and how the landscape is changing.

The loss of a tree can touch millions, as we saw with the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

It would make a useful book to add to the library for those who are considering work in local woodlands for fieldwork. We are still waiting to see to what extent woodlands are featured in the final specification.

My thinking would be that the final specification would involve students investigating a range of ecosystems and the value of a tree is something which students should certainly be asked to consider, perhaps when thinking about the wider 'value' of nature in our lives and landscapes.

Published by Hodder Press

Paperback, 320pp

ISBN: 978-1529339628

#445: National History Reading List #23: 'Oak and Ash and Thorn'

Another book that would be good to add to the developing reading list of books for those who are developing curriculum resources for the new GCSE Natural History.

It is a book about the ancient woodlands, as well as the more recent forests of Britain. 

It is written by Peter Fiennes, and focusses on some of the species that have been around for the longest. It would sit nicely with some of the other tree related books I have mentioned before on the blog.

There are plenty of possible locations for field visits here too - and I hope that young people explore woodlands as part of their teaching.

The image shows a useful chapter on the importance of trees in cities. Regular readers will know of the the vital part that trees play in ensuring lower temperatures, and the link with the London National Park City campaign.

#390: Canopy

 Canopy is a group of campaigners who are interested in woodland in particular.

It collates the activities of a whole range of organisations that are concerned to protect existing tree cover, and expand the area of woodland.

It seems to have new additions each time I check in...

#279: Tree.fm

Want to hear the sounds of a random forest? Check out Tree.fm.

#269: Woodland

Trees are (normally) going to be an important part of the final specification when it launches - with a look at deciduous woodland management, local woodland being used for field visits to investigate plant succession, fungi forays etc, and also some tree-planting going on hopefully.

It would be nice to think that some environmental organisation or other company might offer free trees to any centre that offers the new specification. 

There are certainly some interesting stories and books which delve into the connections we have with trees and ancient woodlands and our subconscious: our folk memories of life amongst the trees in the past. 

This avenue is about half a mile from my home and in spring is lined with snowdrops.

What tree-related books do you think are of value to add to our reading list?

Here's a few that we thought of:

'British Woodland' - Ray Mears

'How to read a tree' - Tristan Gooley

'Woodlands' - Oliver Rackham

Image: Alan Parkinson - shared under CC license

#233: Natural History Reading List #16: 'British Woodland" How to explore the secret world of our trees'

This is a new book written by survival expert and TV personality Ray Mears. I can attest to the power of Ray's storytelling as I attended an excellent talk he gave in Ely Cathedral several years ago, organised by Topping Books of Ely.

This book explores British Woodlands, and is very nicely designed.  The book is organised under themed chapters, but the trees themselves are arranged in alphabetical order, starting with Alder, and working through Beech, Elm, Horse Chestnut, Pine, Sycamore and many others, ending up with Yew. A final chapter explores the Future, and the book begins with a look at the past, when there were no trees in much of the UK as it had been scraped clean by glaciers. The trees soon returned to colonise the land, before people then stripped them all away.

There is some nice photography and the story of each tree is joined with a narrative. Each tree has a double page of information and a picture of their leaves, to aid identification perhaps. 

A focus for the narrative is on the usefulness of each tree for different things. The photography also explores toxic and edible plants and fungi as well as berries and other fruits which can be found in British woodlands. The book covers a whole range of associated topics e.g. Phototropism.

I liked the section on 'How not to get lost', which is all to easy of course in dense woodland. There are also photos of some of the indicator species of ancient woodlands towards the end of the book. 

This would make a fantastic addition to any library of Natural History books, and also a great gift for someone.

I obtained this book from the Norfolk Library Service. It was published in 2023.

The paperback edition comes out on the 21st of March, 2024 and I will be adding a copy to my GCSE Natural History library.

#223: Forestry and Land Scotland

Forestry and Land Scotland is an organisation which has a broad remit, and manages land in Scotland. They have a LEARN section on their website, which contains some useful resources which may well be of value for those teaching the new specification.

These include the following:

- an ID guide to help identify Scotland's tree species

- the lifcycle of a piece of wood from seedling to finished product - exploring the various products from forestry may be relevant

- Scotland's heritage

- activity sheets

There's also a Future Forest podcast.

#201: Spotify Audiobooks

A cross posting from my GeoLibrary blog which has just reached its 600th post.

I have a Spotify Premium subscription, and have had for quite a few years now.

They have recently added thousands of audiobooks to the subscription, which is great news...

Many of these are of interest to Geographers and an equal number almost also connect with the themes which are likely to emerge in the GCSE Natural History.

Here's a sample that I just located from a few quick searches.

They include Brian Groom's Northerners, which I'm reading at the moment. 

This is likely to reduce my book purchasing and will also be an issue for Audible.

I'm really looking forward to listening to the Tristan Gooley book: 'How to read a Tree'. This will be of particular value for the section on woodlands and trees. I have a feeling that trees are going to be an important feature of the work that is completed by students, and as a destination for fieldwork.

There is a range of books from David Attenborough and George Monbiot.

I have also blogged elsewhere about how fantastic this book by Robin Wall Kimmerer is. Gathering Moss is excellent!

I shall aim to make a list of books for reference.

#198: Tree Equity Score

Not all areas have equal access to trees: urban concrete jungles can be tree depleted compared to rural areas. Trees provide all sorts of benefits which are fairly obvious, and hopefully the GCSE Natural History will help raise a new generation of dendrophiles, who love trees and the impacts they have on an environment: aesthetically, as well as with respect to air quality improvements.

The map was released earlier in the week, and this article on the BBC News explores the work being done in one Sheffield school to plant trees to improve air quality.

Go HERE to check out your local area's TREE EQUITY SCORE.

The area where my school is scores 81. The tree cover is 11% apparently. What can schools do to help up the canopy? Time till tell...

#148: Natural History Reading List #11: 'The Wood for the Trees'

Richard Fortey has written a few books which deserve to be on the reading list that we are putting together for sharing, and will also be in my growing GCSE Natural History library which I will assemble in my classroom in 2024.

Fortey is a palaentologist who has written a number of books and won a number of awards including the Linnean Medal. They are useful for supporting the teaching of several of the proposed themes, and he is able to bring together a range of themes and disciplines together really well.

I imagine there will also be an 'official' list of recommended and supplementary reading in the final specification. 

Being well read about the wide range of options for a course in natural history is going to be important.

From a review of the book, which gives you a flavour of its contents:

This biography of a beech-and-bluebell wood through diverse moods and changing seasons combines stunning natural history with the ancient history of the countryside to tell the full story of the British landscape.

Guided by his abiding love of nature and a lifetime of scientific expertise, Richard Fortey takes us on a journey through ecosystems and time. The Wood for the Trees is the story of humankind meeting nature, an homage to the mesmerising interactions between flora, fauna and fungi.

Discover the lives of animals and plants; the passage of seasons; visits by fellow enthusiasts; the play of light between branches; the influence of geology; and how woodland has shaped history, architecture, and industry. 

On every page Fortey shows how an intimate study of one small wood can reveal so much about the natural world, and demonstrates his relish for the incomparable pleasures of discovery.

The book was published in 2016, and I have a 2nd hand copy in my growing Natural History library. 

After Christmas, I am going to be creating a series of shelves in my classroom and an area of storage boxes where I file away relevant documents and resources ready for potential discussions with other colleagues.

Here's a review by Rob Cowen.

In 2011, after retiring from his role as senior palaeontologist Fortey purchased four acres of prime beech and bluebell wood. Located in the Chiltern Hills, a mile from his hometown of Henley-on-Thames, Grim’s Dyke Wood was the very patch of wood that 19th-century philosopher John Stuart Mill walked through and proclaimed woods “the great beauty of this country”.

I will be sharing some sections from this once I've had a chance to fillet it - there are already quite a few post it notes sticking out of the side of the book.

#72: A-Z of British Trees

The Woodland Trust has produced a useful illustrated guide to British Trees.

Each entry includes:

- the Latin name of the tree

- a description

- images of the trees

- identification guide to help identify the tree and what it looks like at different times of the year.

- a guide to where the trees can be found

- value to wildlife

- uses of the wood and associated mythology and other stories

- threats to the speices e.g. ash trees are threatened by ash dieback.

A very useful guide.

#57: Fabulous Fungi Learning

A resource shared on the Linnean Society website.

Fabulous Fungi explores the hidden strands that connect fungi together beneath the ground. 

Fungi play a vital role in nutrient cycling in woodlands and would certainly form part of the investigations which students would be asked to complete when exploring UK woodlands, which are likely to be used for fieldwork by many schools. 

Identifying some fungi might also form part of the specification as well.

Check out the full set of activities and notes for teachers on the Great Science Share for Schools website.

There are separate activities for:Key Stage 1 (age 5-7)
Key stage 2 (age 7-11)
Key stage 3 (age 11-14)

Each enquiry provides teachers notes, teaching slides, a supporting video and links to resources guiding pupils to work scientifically and find out more about Carl Linnaeus.

Here is one of the videos:

Image: Mushroom, Litcham Common, shared under CC license

The main organisation here is the British Mycological Society.

They have a Mycokids section, which is perhaps aimed at slightly younger children than GCSE age.