The Glorious Trees of Great Britain by Piers Browne with a foreword by HRH Prince Charles (John Murray, £35)

DO you have a friend or relative with a quiet passion for the countryside?

If so, I would suggest purchasing a copy of this stunning book for Christmas.

Whether it will actually make it into their possession is a different matter.

The succinct, yet enthusiastic foreword from Prince Charles, sets the scene for a collection of etchings, poems and pieces of prose dedicated to this most noble and life-giving species which provide such magnificence and variation to the British landscape.

Piers Browne has spent 10 years recording trees across the nation, inspired by the onslaught of Dutch Elm disease which has changed our landscape immeasurably.

The book is split into sections, each one dedicated to a certain species of arboreal magnificence.

At the beginning of each section is an introduction by David Bellamy, who begins the proceedings by referring to trees as the Time Lords of our environment, holding the key to ions of history.

Interspersed between the etchings are poems and prose evoking the characteristics of each species.

In Bellamy's inimitable style we are treated to brief but sparkling references to history, mythology and geography of each species, bringing the trees to life.

The artist and author Piers Browne has exhibited widely in the UK and overseas and has gained a reputation as one of the finest representational landscape etchers in Britain.

He includes many unusual trees such as Killarney's extraordinary evergreen Strawberry Tree, Drumlannig's vast Sycamore and a Hickory which stands alone on the Giant's Causeway.

But do not expect a complete identification guide to trees. This is an artistic celebration to delight the senses when the weather is just too miserable and wet to be out there feasting your soul on the real thing.

Jackie Harris