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Street Trees Urban landscape

The rain in London falls mainly on the planes

London plane trees should take their place alongside other London particulars like red buses, odd skyscrapers and unpredictable weather.

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Books London is a Forest

The Low Down on the New Edition of London is a Forest

The New Edition of London is a Forest is more than just a makeover: it has been fully revised and updated, and contains a brand new seventh urban forest trail.

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Books Urban landscape Walking

Twelve Trees that Defined my Lockdown – Part 2

In the first post, I wrote about how my lockdown urban nature rambles turned into my new book, London Tree Walks: Arboreal Ambles Through the Green Metropolis. Lockdown allowed me to really get to know parts of the city near where I live in north London, and as the rules eased, I ventured further afield, mostly on two wheels, and occasionally on public transport, allowing me to get to the tropics of Acton, Fulham, Pimlico, and beyond.

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Books Urban landscape Walking

Twelve Trees that Defined my Lockdown – Part 1

During Lockdown 1.0, I spent as much time as I could outdoors. Like many, I found it gave me an opportunity to appreciate nature on my doorstep even more than usual. Combined with a beautiful spring and the dramatic reduction in pollution, it seemed especially piquant. My lockdown urban nature explorations turned into a project which came to fruition in October with the publication of my new book, London Tree Walks: Arboreal Ambles Through the Green Metropolis.

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Ancient trees Street Trees Urban landscape Walking

The Carlton Road Oak: Ealing’s Elephantine Tree

A few months ago, I heard the strange tale of an oak tree in Ealing which marks the spot where an elephant is buried. I realised I had to find out more, so off to Ealing I went…

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Books Street Trees

London’s Street Trees revised edition is officially launched

It’s been a busy few weeks in the tree publishing world. Hot on the heels of virtually launching the Great Trees of London map last week, last night was the official launch of the fully revised edition of London’s Street Trees.

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Books Street Trees Urban landscape

London’s Street Trees gets an update!

I’m very pleased to announce that a new, expanded and fully revised edition of London’s Street Trees has been published by Safe Haven!

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London is a Forest Urban landscape

Trekking through the urban forest

In August last year I walked through Epping Forest from Epping tube station to Chingford. It’s an amazing walk with incredible beech pollards and prehistoric earthworks, musclebound hornbeams and rare wild crab apple trees to be seen along the way. It’s just a section from one of the trails through London, from the greenbelt to […]

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Street Trees Urban landscape

Five of the Best London Boroughs for Street Trees

From Hibiscus in Shoreditch, Golden Rain Trees in Osterley, and Bottlebrush trees in Pimlico, London has unexpected and fascinating street trees. Our urban forest, often under appreciated, is extremely varied and, what grows where differs around the city. So, which are the most interesting boroughs for a discerning London street tree admirer to visit, and […]

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Urban landscape

Engaging people with trees through technology

Trees and technology are not, on the face of it, natural bedfellows. But I believe new technology can provide the trigger for people, especially young people, to become interested in what is around them.  So, I’m very pleased to be part of a ‘Trees and Technology’ seminar during London Tree Week where I am sure this will […]