The Tree Hunters

For centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the 17th century, they had begun to plant nurseries. Within the space of a few years thousands of new plantations enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports. So how did these extraordinary plants make their way to the forests of Britain and Ireland? In this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry and passion that created the modern British landscape.