Ghost Trees: Nature and People in a London Parish

(Paperback)

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Nominated for two major literary awards, this is an urban nature book telling the story of an historic part of London through its trees, past and present.

Even in the brick and concrete heart of our cities, nature finds a way. Birds and mammals, insects, plants and treesthey all manage to thrive in the urban jungle, and Bob Gilbert is their champion and their chronicler. He explores the hidden wildlife of the inner city and its edgelands, finding unexpected beauty in the cracks and crannies, and uncovering the deep and essential relationship that exists between people and nature when they are bound together in such close proximity.

Beginning from Poplar, the East End area in which he lives, Bob explores, in particular, our relationship with the trees that have helped shape London; from the original wildwood through to the street trees of today. He draws from history and natural history, poetry and painting, myth and magic, and a great deal of walking, observing and listening.

Beautifully written, passionate and defiant, Ghost Trees tells the secrets and stories of the urban wildscape, of glorious nature resilient and resurgent on our very doorsteps.

Reviews

"Warm, rich and fascinating... [Gilbert] is a generous guide, with a deep knowledge of plant life and a fine turn of phrase." Jon Day, Guardian (books of the year); 'A joyous hymn to the urban wild and a clarion call for better - greener, wilder - cities.' Patrick Barkham; "Maps in fascinating detail how the trees in Poplar have defined each of its contrasting epochs." Joe Shute, Sunday Telegraph; "One of the best non-fiction books about London. Bob Gilbert's gifted style of writing [and] simple, clear but hilarious storytelling helps to make this secret life of trees an unlikely page-turner." The Londonist

Author Bio

Bob Gilbert is the author of Ghost Trees and the presenter of BBC Radio 4's The Passion in Plants. He is also the author of The Green London Way (Lawrence & Wishart, 2012) and has written a column for Ham & High on urban wildlife for the last twenty years. A regular contributor to TV and radio, including Natural World and BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme, Bob has also been a stand-up comedian, a long-standing campaigner for inner city conservation and chair of 'The Garden Classroom', a charity that promotes environmental education in London. Ghost Trees is out in paperback and hardback now.