I recently stumbled across the nature writer Chris Howkins and his series of wonderful booklets which he self-published in the 90s and early 2000s, Not particularly easy to find, Howkins wrote passionately about nature, and in particular, trees which were steeped in folklore and history, He also illustrated his books with a combination of sketches of landscapes, birds, trees and animals.

Howkins is sympathetic to the Pagan beliefs which predated Christianity and the books are full of ancient lore. In Rowan: Tree of Protection he explains the many uses of Rowan or its lesser known name, Mountain Ash. Revered by the Celts and Druids, Hoskins details its long use as a protection inside and outside of country cottages against evil spirits as well as a vital commodity for those who farmed the land.

At the time of writing we are between the Druid festivals of Samhain and the Winter Solstice (31st October to 22nd December) and so his book Plants to Celebrate Midwinter is especially insightful. Autumn through winter is the time for the Holly, Mistletoe, Yew and Spruce and these all feature along with the very sacred Apple tree, one of the seven chieftain trees of ancient Brehon law. Throughout the book Howkins flows effortlessly through Celtic, Nordic and Christian mythology and folklore and he shows how traditions long taken for granted formed their first roots before becoming an integral part of our lives.

It is perhaps unsurprising that he wrote a book dedicated to the Summer King of the woods, the Oak. Published in 2006, Oak-The Lightening Tree is a compact but comprehensive study of Britain’s best known tree. What the author manages to achieve in under fifty pages is an invaluable introduction into the place this noble tree holds in our culture both scientifically and mythologically. Trees were once revered and in my opinion, rightly so. What the Oak gives the planet as a protector, feeder and enabler is truly remarkable and there are real parallels to be drawn between our lives and how we live them and that of a tree like the Oak. That we do not cherish them more is a sad indictment of our time.

I wish I had known about these at the time of publication. They are works of dedication and personal joy for the author and I feel strongly that independent authors and publishers should be supported wherever possible. These books are full of charm and knowledge and now, more than ever, we need the likes of Howkins to remind us of what we have long forgotten: trees are a vital and beautiful piece of our natural planet.