SOLVED. Children's Post-Apocalypse or after man. Evolved animals. Rodents called screws. Trees became telepines (poles). Black & white illustrations inside. Cover: black trees look like telephone poles, purple with orange & white. Read in 1970s. [s]

[Kris]

I just read Jim's request for this book solved in another thread - and was vaguely reminded of this thread (something about telepoles...?). Good book sleuthing, Ayshe. The publisher's blurb doesn't provide many clues in this case. Just curious, do you recall your Google search terms?

The Mysterious Greatwood by Michael Clark

OP's description in the header/ topic title: "Cover: black trees look like telephone poles, purple with orange & white."

[Ayshe]

Thank you! I was excited to find it, too :) The search was screws animals intitle:"growing point" in Google books, it only brings up a snippet: and make friends with an Old Man who is sensibly studying the Marble - eaters , Pigmy Screws , Boxes and so forth but I searched further with some of that.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

We need the OP to confirm this.

[BlakesSevenFan]

Oh my gosh Ayshe you absolute legend!! Thank you so, so much! This is fantastic news!
Jim, I hope you enjoy it again too if you find a copy :)

Once again thank you all, especially Ayshe, I had given up!

[Kris]

Great. Glad you found finally found your book. Thanks for the update.