Christina Harrison

Stretching across two-thirds of the Gardens, the arboretum at Kew surrounds the glasshouses in a leafy enclave to walk, wander and discover nature''s beauty. The 12,000 trees rooted in the arboretum represent more than 2,000 species, including rare and ancient varieties. This great collection contains trees as old as the Gardens themselves, many that cannot be found anywhere else in Britain.But who looks after these vast landscapes?Introducing the Tree Gang - Kew''s team of eight who work tirelessly throughout the year to maintain this rare collection.In this new book from Kew, you''ll discover the fascinating work of the Tree Gang: the team of eight that care for the trees at Kew. Going behind the scenes, you''ll learn more about life at Kew from the people who tend and care for the Gardens - from the daily tree assessments to the intermittent tree felling. As the climate becomes more variable, the gang''s work is ever more crucial as they brace for the storms ahead.AMONG THE GIANTS weaves together heartwarming stories alongside the fascinating life of trees. This book will inspire you to learn from the experts, and grow an appreciation for the trees around you.

A celebration of the beauty, diversity, importance and sheer wonder of the most remarkable trees, with exquisite illustrations from the incomparable collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. More than 60,000 species of trees are found in an amazing variety of forms, sizes and habitats. Every tree has its own story and here are over 60, selected for their particular resonance and connection with humankind and representing most of the world’s major zones and ecologies. In this compact edition, portraits that combine vivid cultural and historical narrative with a firm scientific grounding, the authors reveal the details of trees from around the world, both familiar and strange. We use timbers for building and creating, have discovered which tree fruits and seeds taste delicious, and which can kill or cure us, and which species can add colour and spirituality to our lives – from the timber of mahogany to the delights of chocolate and pomegranate, from the medicinal tea tree to the deadly manchineel, and from fragrant frankincense to the highly prized dragon’s blood tree. Artists and botanists alike have been inspired by trees for centuries, and a varied and beautiful range of images from the unrivalled archive at Kew illustrate the stories, to create this enlightening and enchanting book.