A Passion for Trees

The Legacy of John Evelyn
by Maggie Campbell-Culver

By urging the planting of timber trees “for the supply of the Navy, the employment and advantage of the poor, as well as the ornamenting of the nation,” John Evelyn was responsible for a great influx of tree introductions in Great Britain in the 17th century, which created a lasting impact on Britain’s landscape. Maggie Campbell-Culver’s book on John Evelyn reveals the significance of Evelyn’s legacy in Britain as she details the characteristics, history, and uses of 33 trees that are as important for us today as when they were introduced in Evelyn’s lifetime.

Published in the tercentenary year of Evelyn’s death, A Passion for Trees celebrates the significance of his work and demonstrates its relevance in the 21st century. Not only was Evelyn probably the first horticultural writer to show an appreciation of the aesthetic benefits of trees in the landscape, he is shown to be a founding father of the modern conservation movement.

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