Quercus the Oak Tree

All trees have a story to tell, sometimes over hundreds of years.

This is the story of one such tree, an oak tree called Quercus. It's a tale of how he survived and his love/hate relationships with other species of trees and animals that shared the same wood. His best friend was Fagus, the beech tree.

They were born in 1583, the same year in which St. Bees School, Cumbria, was founded and where the author was educated from 1960-65. Neil then spent three years at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, where he obtained a diploma in rural estate management. He then qualified as a chartered surveyor (land agency and agriculture division) in 1972. Having practised in the Buckinghamshire County Land Agents Department for nine years, he then became a self-employed forestry consultant and contractor for the remainder of his working life until his retirement in 2007. He never lost his interest in trees, hence his desire to write a book on the subject albeit in a rather bizarre way.

Whilst reading a story to his children one night, his son, Roger, said, "Daddy, can we hear one of your made-up stories?" And so it was that he started with the well-known phrase, "Once upon a time ... there was a little acorn called Quercus, who fell to the ground one stormy night to begin a life that would last 400 years ..."

Throughout the series of books, references are made as to how to look after trees. An education in forestry is wrapped up in an enchanting love story between various trees and a woodman called Jo who looked after the woods. By reading this book, your children will have a better understanding of how a woodland survives. The book details certain historical events that occur during this period and how these events affect the life of the trees and their management.

My hope is that maybe this book will encourage someone to pursue a career in forestry, then my book will have been worthwhile writing. A forester's work will always be admired long time after his passing, that is some legacy to be proud of.