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Woodland Wisdom is a charming book filled with informative, fascinating and fun facts about forests and woodlands.
Did you know that at one time the wood of the rowan tree was kept as a pocket charm against rheumatism? Or that the ancient Greeks believed trees possessed wood spirits, called dryads, that took the form of young women? Or that you can make blackberry whisky from the humble blackberry and absinthe from wormwood?
This beautifully illustrated, eclectic book contains a mixture of fact and fiction about woodlands and forests, including information about Plants and and other vegetation, wildlife, woodland crafts, tree identification, foraging advice, folklore, mythology and much more. Simple step-by-steps show readers how to make a bird house and bug hotel, press flowers, make a poultice and treat nettle sting and much more!
"...a miscellany of fact and fiction covering everything from how a tree works to woodland fauna, foraging and folklore....Beautifully illustrated and with inspirational quotations, it’s ideal for sharing the wonders of woodlands with friends and family."—Small Woodland Owners' Group
"This beautifully presented book is a treasure trove of practical information, magical tales and folklore about forests...there’s a craft section with plans for a bird house, an introduction to whittling techniques and a guide to coppicing...Safety advice is provided throughout alongside guides to identifying edible plants and fungi and even invertebrates...With its entertaining prose and beautiful illustrations, this is a perfect book to dip into when you’re taking a well-earned rest from furniture making!"—Furniture & Cabinet Making
"Suitable for both adults and teens, the illustrated book...is a peaceful read. It features countless facts about the flora and fauna of forests, along with myths and woodland folklore...The miscellany also details traditional woodland crafts, with simple step-by-step guides...In addition to all the interesting, easy-to-digest content and beautiful illustrations, the book looks lovely; it has a classic fabric casing featuring a gold-foiled woodland design."—My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy
Introduction 6
WOODS, TREES & FORESTS 8
Woodland & forests 12
A world of forests 14
Main types of forest 15
The evolution of forests 18
Frozen forests 22
Life cycle of a tree 24
Know your roots 28
Inside the trunk 30
Branching out 31
Big trees 32
Green energy 34
How to identify trees 36
Dendrochronology 44
Weird woods 46
FOREST FAUNA & FUNGI 50
Fungi 54
Insects 54
Mammals 62
Birds 66
Reptiles 70
WOODLAND CRAFTS 74
Make a bird house 78
Make a besom 81
Whittling for beginners 82
Pressing flowers 84
Coppicing & pollarding 86
FORAGING & FOLK REMEDIES 88
Safe foraging 92
Edible plants 94
Foraging for fungi 100
Edible invertebrates 104
Folk remedies 106
Treating aches & pains 108
What to do if lost in the woods 110
FORESTS IN FOLKLORE 112
Forest mythology 116
Forests and fairy tales 120
William Shakespeare’s woods 122
Forests in modern culture 124
Further reading 126
Useful websites 127