Oaklore - Adventures in a World of Extraordinary Trees

"A joyful and imaginative exploration of these totemic trees."-Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree

The perfect gift for nature lovers and bookworms alike, Oaklore unveils how the mighty oak tree has shaped and influenced English literature, culture, and history.

A charming and whimsical exploration of one of England's most important trees, Oaklore invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, unveiling the role of oaks in English literature and mythology, and the myriad of life that thrives within the branches and bark of these ancient trees: from the feathered denizens to the intricate communities of insects, fungi, and lichens.

British environmentalist and writer Jules Acton skillfully weaves together her personal experiences of wandering in the woods, scientific insights, and cultural histories to paint a rich, folkloric, and multifaceted portrait of the magnificent specimen. From learning to recognize bird songs to observing the moss and butterflies that thrive in the presence of oaks, Acton encourages a deeper connection during our own woodland explorations and celebrates the enchanted realms of oak trees.

Above all, Oaklore underscores the urgent need to protect the oak tree and the vibrant, interconnected worlds it sustains. Acton's narrative serves as a call to action, inspiring readers to engage in conservation efforts and foster a deeper appreciation for the oak's vital role in the delicate web of life.

List of contents

1. Doorways to Other Worlds
2. Wasps, Words and Oakspirations
3. Crowning Glories
4. Life, Death and Beetling About
5. Enchanted Forests: Folklore, Myth and Magic
6. Incredible Edibles: Health and Healing
7. Threats: Could a Beauty Be a Beast?
8. The Oak's Little Helpers. And Its Big Helpers.
Conclusion
Some Fun Stuff
Acknowledgements
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index

About the author

Jules Acton – whose surname means ‘oak town’ – can trace her love of nature back to childhood. A former journalist, she has worked for the Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and WaterAid. She lives near Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, with her husband, Toby, and rescue dog, Pepe. This is her first book.

Summary

​​'As rich, satisfying and revelatory as a long walk in the woods.' Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees

What connects Robin Hood, the history of ink, fungi, Shakespeare and sorcery?

In Oaklore, Jules Acton, an ambassador for The Woodland Trust, explores the incredibly diverse history of the ‘king of the woods’: from a source of food and shelter to its use in literature as a plot device and muse, its role as an essential ingredient in ink, and in mythology from across the British Isles as a sacred plant and precious resource.

Acton’s infectious enthusiasm shines through in chapters that open with excerpts from oak-y poems, as well as tips for connecting with nature – like how to recognize bird songs and help moths and butterflies thrive.

Meeting fellow oak-lovers along the way, and trees like Sherwood Forest’s Medusa Oak or the gargantuan Marton Oak in Cheshire, Acton plots an unforgettable journey through the tangled roots of the oak’s story, and that of Britain itself.

Foreword

U.S. and Canada

• National print reviews, features, and interviews
• Expected endorsements from high profile nature writers
• Paid ads on Facebook and Instagram
• Influencer outreach (BookTok, Bookstagram)
• Print galley mailing (extensive send)

United Kingdom

• Greystone Books’ UK biggest-ever PR and Marketing campaign
• Extensive proof mailing to nature-loving endorsers, booksellers and the media 
• Extract in a major national newspaper
• Reviews across broadsheet and mid-market newspapers
• Author interviews from BBC radio and TV  to nature-specialist podcasts and sites
• PR and marketing in conjunction with the Woodland Trust to their 500k members
• Events, often conjunction with the Woodland Trust, in London and around the country
• Social advertising to nature-lovers on Instagram, Facebook and X

Report

"With a plethora of nature books around, it can be very easy to miss a gem. And a gem is what Oaklore is. This is a very delightful delve into the world of the oak tree... and it uncovers a wealth of information that will keep you engaged from first to last."
-Bird Watching Magazine

"This enthusiastic and colourful account of the oak is laced with fascinating details [...] [t]he prose is chatty and approachable, and the contents wide-ranging and delightfully eclectic"
-Scottish Field

"Acton's adoration of her subject is evident throughout. [...] her writing is engaging and conversational in style but rich and detailed in its content."
-The Field Magazine

"As rich, satisfying and revelatory as a long walk in the woods."
-Peter Wohlleben, author of the New York Times bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees

"[T]he joyful verve with which Acton imparts wisdom gathered in the wild is impossible to resist."
-The Observer

"[C]omprehensive and delightful....loaded with fascinating insights and anecdotes....Clever and utterly charming, Oaklore is a creative study of one of Britain's most distinctive and important trees."
-Foreword, STARRED review

"What a joy to revel in the multifaceted world of our most iconic tree"
-Chris Beardshaw

"A treasure trove of information about the one tree everyone knows (or thinks they do), Oaklore is written with deep knowledge and an admirably light touch."
-Lev Parikian, author of Taking Flight

"Oaklore takes us on a botanical exploration, during which we cover vast ground. Acton introduces us to an array of biodiversity that live and flourish on these stately trees-from roots to canopy, she deftly illustrates how oaks are "doorways into other worlds." The science in Oaklore is rich and approachable, covering everything from oaks and birdsong to wasp factories in branches. I am in awe of the oaken world around us!"
-Lyndsie Bourgon, author of Tree Thieves

"A joyful and imaginative exploration of these totemic trees."
-Tristan Gooley, How to Read a Tree

Product details

• Authors: Jules Acton
• Publisher: Greystone Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 03.09.2024
• EAN: 9781771649667
• ISBN: 978-1-77164-966-7
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 25 mm x 220 mm
• Weight: 381 g
• Illustrations: 12 B&W Illustrations
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Nature, technology > Nature: general, reference works; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Ecology, NATURE / Reference, NATURE / Plants / Trees, Gift books, Trees, wildflowers & plants: general interest, Botany & plant sciences, Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest, Botany and plant sciences