A groundbreaking new field guide. Now available in English for the first time. What do roots look like? Is it possible to find out in the field which tree species a root belongs to? The appearance of tree roots has barely been studied, but by increasing our knowledge and understanding, we can ensure that more trees are preserved. This book gives a unique insight into what the roots of different trees look like, exploring a hitherto little-described underground world. Roots from 45 species of street and park trees are featured in photographs accompanied by descriptions of each example’s anatomical characteristics, habit and, in some cases, scent. The book is practically oriented and allows you to identify roots in the field, whether you are a professional or just curious about one of the most important parts of the tree – the underground system, where nutrients, water and oxygen exchange happen to create the basis for everything we see above ground.
Originally published in Norwegian in 2023 by Kolofon Forlag AS as Røtter: Identifisering av Røtter i Felt.
Kristin Moldestad is a plant scientist and arborist. She works as a consultant arborist, specialising in preserving trees in urban areas. She also teaches arboriculture at Fagskolen Vestland, a vocational school in Norway, and advises at the non-profit organisation FAGUS, focusing on sustainable tree management.
Olve Lundetræ is a landscape gardener and arborist. His daily work involves pruning and felling trees, as well as monitoring excavation work near trees. He is a co-owner and works in Akertrepleie AS. He has won the Norwegian tree-climbing championship four times.
"[...] This book is, in short, a state‐of‐the‐art compendium on the ecology of garden birds and, to an extent, of the humans who feed and host them. It includes an extensive 51‐page bibliography, and will no doubt remain the go‐to reference for some years to come, although climate, agricultural and urban changes will mean the status of garden birds will continue to be in flux."
– Anthony Cheke, Ibis, 2020
"The New Naturalist series has covered a wide range of topics in its 75 years of existence, from the lives of early humans to plant disease via accounts of different UK regions. Only once before has it tackled gardens, and the bird content of that volume was minimal. It is therefore good to see birds in gardens taking centre stage for the first time. [...] This latest New Naturalist is liberally illustrated with attractive colour photographs that are chosen well [...]. Importantly, it is written in an engaging style, which makes it a delight to pick up and read, with subheadings that allow the reader to scan easily for the information that they require. In terms of providing scientifically accurate information in a user-friendly style, it works brilliantly."
– Keith Betton, British Wildlife 31(1), October 2019