From ancient oaks to walking yews: the story of Britain’s great trees, forests and avenues

In his new book, Tony Hall, who has maintained Kew's world-renowned arboretum for more than 20 years, reveals the stories behind some of the country's most loved and unusual trees

I am not exactly sure where my fascination and love of trees came from, but I do remember from a very young age seeing fallen acorns under a huge oak tree and being told that this tree had produced all of these acorns and that each one, like the one I had picked up and was holding in my hand, could grow into an oak tree and be hundreds of years old.

After spending a lifetime working with trees, they continue to amaze me with their ability to grow and adapt through decades, and in many cases centuries, of seasonal change.

2. An oak tree in Chirk, Wales. After the yew, the oak is the longest living of native British trees