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What connects Robin Hood, the history of ink, fungi, Shakespeare and sorcery?
In Oaklore, Jules Acton, an ambassador for The Woodland Trust, explores the incredibly diverse history of the 'king of the woods': from a source of food and shelter to its use in literature as a plot device and muse, its role as an essential ingredient in ink, and in mythology from across the British Isles as a sacred plant and precious resource.
Acton's infectious enthusiasm shines through in chapters that open with excerpts from oak-y poems, as well as tips for connecting with nature – like how to recognize bird songs and help moths and butterflies thrive. Meeting fellow oak-lovers along the way, and trees like Sherwood Forest's Medusa Oak or the gargantuan Marton Oak in Cheshire, Acton plots an unforgettable journey through the tangled roots of the oak's story, and that of Britain itself.
1. Doorways to Other Worlds
2. Wasps, Words and Oakspirations
3. Crowning Glories
4. Life, Death and Beetling About
5. Enchanted Forests: Folklore, Myth and Magic
6. Incredible Edibles: Health and Healing
7. Threats: Could a Beauty Be a Beast?
8. The Oak's Little Helpers. And Its Big Helpers
Conclusion
Some Fun Stuff
Acknowledgements
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index
Jules Acton – whose surname means 'oak town' – can trace her love of nature back to childhood. A former journalist, she has worked for the Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and WaterAid. She lives near Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, with her husband, Toby, and rescue dog, Pepe. This is her first book.
"[T]he joyful verve with which Acton imparts wisdom gathered in the wild is impossible to resist."
– The Observer
"[C]omprehensive and delightful [...] loaded with fascinating insights and anecdotes [...] Clever and utterly charming, Oaklore is a creative study of one of Britain's most distinctive and important trees."
– Foreword, STARRED review
"What a joy to revel in the multifaceted world of our most iconic tree"
– Chris Beardshaw
"A treasure trove of information about the one tree everyone knows (or thinks they do), Oaklore is written with deep knowledge and an admirably light touch."
– Lev Parikian, author of Taking Flight
"Oaklore takes us on a botanical exploration, during which we cover vast ground. Acton introduces us to an array of biodiversity that live and flourish on these stately trees – from roots to canopy, she deftly illustrates how oaks are "doorways into other worlds." The science in Oaklore is rich and approachable, covering everything from oaks and birdsong to wasp factories in branches. I am in awe of the oaken world around us!"
– Lyndsie Bourgon, author of Tree Thieves
"A joyful and imaginative exploration of these totemic trees."
– Tristan Gooley, How to Read a Tree
"'As rich, satisfying and revelatory as a long walk in the woods."
– Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees
