Luke Barley‘s “complex and fascinating” (The Guardian) Ancient has been featured in the annual reading list for parliamentarians.

Luke’s book on ancient woodland was the summer pick of Lord Hall of Birkenhead.

In the list, which you can read in full here, Lord Hall lauded the book as “a wonderfully written account of why we need to cherish and enjoy the very special places that are our ancient woodlands.”

Ancient woods are Britain’s richest habitats: rare fragments of our landscape that teem with life from soil to canopy. They live in our collective imagination as quiet places, best left pristine and untouched. But their story has always been one of interdependence with people. Now, as ever, these woods – including remnants of the primeval ‘wildwood’ – need the thoughtful intervention of humans to survive.

With the benefit of over twenty years’ experience rehabilitating ancient woodland – from the Lakes to the Peak District, by way of suburban London’s hidden gems – Luke Barley brings us deep into this hidden world to reveal majestic oaks, freshly coppiced hazels, endangered limes, and the passionate individuals tending them for future generations. As modern woodlanders judiciously cut and fell, the flood of fresh light brings new life and hope to these irreplaceable natural jewels.

With clear-sighted passion and lyrical prose, Barley reveals what we stand to gain, as individuals and as a society, by rekindling our ancient connection with these special places.

Ancient is out now. Grab your copy here or, better, via your local bookstore or bookshop.org.