Meetings with Remarkable Trees, by Thomas Packenham (Phoenix, £14.95 in UK)

Trees are fascinating organisms in their own right, but legend, lore and history also gather around them, as with Herne's Oak at Windsor (probably extinct, though this book shows three possible candidates). Contrary to popular belief, the oak is not the longestlived species in these islands; yews have been known to live well over a thousand years. The giant redwoods of California, the species called Metase- quoia which was believed to be extinct for three million years but was tracked down in China and propagated worldwide, the splendid London Plane Trees, all make absorbing reading backed by fine colour photographs. This book was deservedly praised in hardback and is a pleasure to own and keep. B.F.