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The Company of Trees: A Year in a Lifetime’s Quest
'Thomas Pakenham could convert a property developer into a tree-hugger ... The book's photographs are as beautiful and glossy as conkers; anecdote and information fall like autumn mast ... I closed the book and went to look at my own trees. Thanks to the joyful hours spent in its author's company, I saw them anew. His book is a plum among autumn's publishing fruits' John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland
Thomas Pakenham, indefatigable champion of trees, narrates a story of exploration and discovery, and of life-cycles that are longer than our own. Lavishly illustrated, The Company of Trees recounts his personal quest to establish a large arboretum at Tullynally, his forays to other tree-filled parks and plantations, his often hazardous seed-hunting expeditions, and his efforts to preserve magnificent old trees and historic woodlands.
The book is structured in the form of a travel diary. Almost every chapter shelters stories about the life of his large trees. He takes us on a tour of Tullynally's demesne and its trees, evaluating the condition of the oaks, alders, ash and limes that were among the first plantings.
He travels to the Tibetan border in search of a magnolia (magnolias are Pakenham's particular passion), to Eastern Patagonia to see the last remaining giants of the Monkey Puzzle tree, while the first of the Chinese-inspired gardens at Tullynally was planted entirely with seeds from south-west China. An expedition to Tibet's Tsangpo Gorge goes awry only to lead to a fruitful exploration of the Rongchu Valley, which yields more than 100 bags of seeds, including the Tibetan golden oak, the Tsangpo cypress and blue-stemmed maples. All of the collected trees and plants are thriving at Tullynally. Whether writing about the terrible storms breaking the backs of majestic trees which have stood sentinel for hundreds of years, or a fire in the 50-acre peat bog on Tullynally which threatens to spread to 'the main commercial spruce-woods to the west of the peat bog'; his fear of climate change and disease, or the sturdy young sapling giving him hope for the future, the book is never less than enthralling. Pakenham is a passionate writer, educator and entertainer, and brings both wit and wisdom to a subject of universal appeal.
Thomas Pakenham, indefatigable champion of trees, narrates a story of exploration and discovery, and of life-cycles that are longer than our own. Lavishly illustrated, The Company of Trees recounts his personal quest to establish a large arboretum at Tullynally, his forays to other tree-filled parks and plantations, his often hazardous seed-hunting expeditions, and his efforts to preserve magnificent old trees and historic woodlands.
The book is structured in the form of a travel diary. Almost every chapter shelters stories about the life of his large trees. He takes us on a tour of Tullynally's demesne and its trees, evaluating the condition of the oaks, alders, ash and limes that were among the first plantings.
He travels to the Tibetan border in search of a magnolia (magnolias are Pakenham's particular passion), to Eastern Patagonia to see the last remaining giants of the Monkey Puzzle tree, while the first of the Chinese-inspired gardens at Tullynally was planted entirely with seeds from south-west China. An expedition to Tibet's Tsangpo Gorge goes awry only to lead to a fruitful exploration of the Rongchu Valley, which yields more than 100 bags of seeds, including the Tibetan golden oak, the Tsangpo cypress and blue-stemmed maples. All of the collected trees and plants are thriving at Tullynally. Whether writing about the terrible storms breaking the backs of majestic trees which have stood sentinel for hundreds of years, or a fire in the 50-acre peat bog on Tullynally which threatens to spread to 'the main commercial spruce-woods to the west of the peat bog'; his fear of climate change and disease, or the sturdy young sapling giving him hope for the future, the book is never less than enthralling. Pakenham is a passionate writer, educator and entertainer, and brings both wit and wisdom to a subject of universal appeal.
- GenresNonfictionPlantsNature
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2015
12 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Pakenham
35 books93 followersThomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford, is known simply as Thomas Pakenham. He is an Anglo-Irish historian and arborist who has written several prize-winning books on the diverse subjects of Victorian and post-Victorian British history and trees. He is the son of Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, a Labour minister and human rights campaigner, and Elizabeth Longford. The well known English historian Antonia Fraser is his sister.
After graduating from Belvedere College and Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955, Thomas Pakenham traveled to Ethiopia, a trip which is described in his first book The Mountains of Rasselas. On returning to Britain, he worked on the editorial staff of the Times Educational Supplement and later for ,i>The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. He divides his time between London and County Westmeath, Ireland, where he is the chairman of the Irish Tree Society and honorary custodian of Tullynally Castle.
Thomas Pakenham does not use his title and did not use his courtesy title before succeeding his father. However, he has not disclaimed his British titles under the Peerage Act 1963, and the Irish peerages cannot be disclaimed as they are not covered by the Act. He is unable to sit in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer as his father had, due to the House of Lords Act 1999 (though his father was created a life peer in addition to his hereditary title in order to be able to retain his seat).
After graduating from Belvedere College and Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955, Thomas Pakenham traveled to Ethiopia, a trip which is described in his first book The Mountains of Rasselas. On returning to Britain, he worked on the editorial staff of the Times Educational Supplement and later for ,i>The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. He divides his time between London and County Westmeath, Ireland, where he is the chairman of the Irish Tree Society and honorary custodian of Tullynally Castle.
Thomas Pakenham does not use his title and did not use his courtesy title before succeeding his father. However, he has not disclaimed his British titles under the Peerage Act 1963, and the Irish peerages cannot be disclaimed as they are not covered by the Act. He is unable to sit in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer as his father had, due to the House of Lords Act 1999 (though his father was created a life peer in addition to his hereditary title in order to be able to retain his seat).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 30, 2017
A somewhat good read. Mildly interesting, but well-written. I was interested to read about the Himalayan Indian state of Sikkim, formerly a sovereign kingdom. Not so interested to hear about some of Pakenham's aristocratic bumbling. Sitting on the fence somwhere between nature and travel writing. Of course, Pakenham is bourgeois as fuck. I'd be interested to know how this family of landed English gentry managed to hold on to their estate in the Republic of Ireland following 1916 and Irish independence. Probably some shady agreement with the Nationalist right-wing. However I can appreciate I have some common ground at least with a man passionate about trees. Not however someone who takes limousine rides to visit Argentinian estancias .
Also I laughed when he bemoaned the loss of hundreds of Magnolia campbelii seeds. How none of the 'red seeds' germinated. If he'd read up on Magnolia germinating he'd know you have to remove the black seed from the red pod and subject it to a period of dormancy.
Also I laughed when he bemoaned the loss of hundreds of Magnolia campbelii seeds. How none of the 'red seeds' germinated. If he'd read up on Magnolia germinating he'd know you have to remove the black seed from the red pod and subject it to a period of dormancy.
June 9, 2021
This proved to be a meatier read than I think I had anticipated for 200 pages of text. 200 big pages! So I slogged through it rather than polishing it off in a day or two of #30DaysWild but it was worth the effort. It's a blend (because his life is) of the domestic - the disagreements with his wife, a less 'romantic' soul as she comes across, planting trees for the grandchildren - and the seriously intrepid plant gathering travels. There is a lot here about decision making on a grand scale, or scales, time and landscape - he shares his reasoning for actions and inactions, regrets and sometimes happier consequences. The sheer love and appreciation for trees is what comes through most strongly, of course.
November 14, 2020
A book of great beauty and depth of feeling from a true plantsman.
January 26, 2023
It's OK. Rather bitty and perhaps a bit over-personal for me, but that's what it is so not fair to complain.
March 9, 2017
Lovely book! It's a great way to get the true feeling of a place, to read it through a year of being there.
Once again Thomas Pakenham has taken me through his deep love of trees, even deeper this time with a heartfelt year living on his tree-filled estate in Ireland.
Thanks Thomas!
Once again Thomas Pakenham has taken me through his deep love of trees, even deeper this time with a heartfelt year living on his tree-filled estate in Ireland.
Thanks Thomas!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews