The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in 2023 struck a deep chord across the world, reminding many of how trees define our landscapes and memories. Hadrian's Wall and its Trees responds to that moment by celebrating the living and ancient trees that line the course of Rome's northern frontier - and the enduring role of wood in its history.

Edited by David J. Breeze, with evocative line drawings by Mark B. Richards, this richly illustrated volume explores how trees have shaped the story of Hadrian's Wall: from their presence in Roman construction and everyday life to their appearance in art, myth, and conservation today. Essays range from studies of ancient woodlands and Roman carpentry to reflections on individual trees that have become landmarks in their own right.

With contributions from archaeologists, artists, and heritage specialists, the book weaves together science, history, and emotion - demonstrating how trees, both ancient and modern, continue to give meaning to this extraordinary landscape. A testament to renewal and continuity, it invites readers to look anew at Hadrian's Wall and the natural world that frames it.

About the Author

Susan Aglionby, Susan's Farm, Houghton, near Carlisle

Marta Alberti-Dunn, The Vindolanda Trust

Lindsay Allason-Jones, Honorary Keeper of the Clayton Collection

Catherine Ayres, poet and teacher

Amy Baker, post-graduate student, Newcastle University

Richard Beleson, San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society

Sarah Bell, photographer at Sarah Deane Photographic

Geoffrey Bennett, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Art and Law

Andrew Birley, Director of Excavations, The Vindolanda Trust

Barbara Birley, Curator, The Vindolanda Trust

Patricia Birley, The Vindolanda Trust

Mike Bishop, Writer, publisher and archaeologist

Sam Bithell, post-graduate student, Newcastle University

David J. Breeze, Honorary Professor at the Universities of Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Stirling

Richard Brickstock, independent researcher and numismatist

Caroline Cartwright, research scientist, The British Museum

Laura Charlton, writer and Director (Allendale Pantomine)

Abigail Cheverst, community and heritage freelancer

Mike Collins, Team Leader for Development Advice, North East and Yorkshire, Historic England

Nick Corble, canal explorer, walker and writer

Eleri Cousins, Associate Professor in Roman History, Durham University

Dorothy Cowans, independent researcher

Jim Crow, Professor Emeritus, Edinburgh University

Kelly Davis, poet and freelance editor

Eckhard Deschler-Erb, Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Provinces, University of Cologne

Andrew Fox, Lecturer in Ancient History, University of Liverpool

Paul Frodsham, Honorary Fellow, Durham University, and independent consultant, Oracle Heritage Services

Tony Gates, Chief Executive Officer, Northumberland National Parks Authority

Erik Graafstal, Municipal archaeologist, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Bill Griffiths, North East Museums

William (Bill) S. Hanson, Professor Emeritus, University of Glasgow

Jane Harrison, archaeologist, Community Archaeology North (Community Interest Company)

Tom Hazenberg, senior archaeologist Limes Association of the Netherlands; consultant Hazenberg Archeologie, The Netherlands

Richard Hingley, Professor Emeritus, Durham University

Matthew Hobson, Associate Director, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology; Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of Leicester

Nick Hodgson, Honorary Research Fellow Durham University; past President of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle

Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator, Iron Age and Roman Collections, National Museum of Scotland

Jacqui Huntley, former scientific advisor to English Heritage

Tatiana Ivleva, Visiting Research Fellow, Newcastle University

Ian Jackson, former Operations Director of the British Geological Survey

Nick Johnson, Northumbria Veteran Trees Project

Rececca H. Jones, Keeper of Scottish History and Archaeology, National Museums of Scotland;
co-chair of the Congress of Roman Frontier Studies

Paul J. Kitching, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Durham

Al McCluskey, post-graduate student, Newcastle University

Frances McIntosh, curator of English Heritage Museums on Hadrian's Wall

Alex Meyer, Associate Professor, University of Western Ontario

Roger Miket, former Keeper of Archaeology for Tyne and Wear and Director of Excavations at South Shields Roman Fort

Katie Mountain, archaeologist, Pre-Construct Archaeology, Durham

Rachel Newman, Senior Executive Officer, Oxford Archaeology North

Don O'Meara, Historic England, and editor of Archaeologia Aeliana

Andrew Poad, The National Trust

John S. Poulter, independent researcher

Carole Raddato, independent researcher

Mark Richards, author of Cicerone's guide Walking Hadrian's Wall Path and other guidebooks for walkers

Tanja Romankiewicz, Senior lecturer, EFI Affiliate, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

Robert Sands, Global Engagement Officer, University College Dublin

Peter Savin, independent researcher

Sue Stallibrass, former scientific advisor to English Heritage

Martha Lovell Stewart, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Durham

Graeme Stobbs, archaeologist and independent researcher

Matthew Symonds, editor, Current World Archaeology

Roger Tomlin, Wolfson College, Oxford, editor, Roman Inscriptions of Britain

Harry van Enckevort, retired archaeologist of the municipality of Nijmegen and now independent researcher

Sandra Walkshofer, Edufilm, Austria

David Walsh, Career Development Fellow at Durham University

Humphrey Welfare, former editor of Archaeologia Aeliana

Alan Wilkins, independent researcher

Tony Wilmott, formerly Senior Archaeologist, Historic England

Book Information
ISBN 9781805830986
Author David J. Breeze
Format Paperback
Page Count 244
Imprint Archaeopress Archaeology
Publisher Archaeopress
Weight(grams) 800g
Dimensions(mm) 206mm * 206mm * 14mm