The story of Surrey’s ancient trees

We are very proud to announce the completion of our collaborative project to create a book entitled 'The Thousand Year Tree' that tells the story through time of Surrey's ancient trees. It is the culmination of a year-long project to bring a bud of an idea to maturity working with local author, Lucy Reynolds and Katie Hickey, illustrator.

The author and illustrator worked with a group of children from Weyfield Primary Academy in Guildford. The children had the opportunity to visit and learn about the ancient yews at Newlands Corner and how we need to look after them to ensure their future. This was followed up by a series of workshops where the children's amazing creativity inspired most of the illustrations and words to co-create the book. Luke, aged 9, one of the pupils involved at Weyfield Primary Academy said: "I liked when we looked at
the yew trees, described them and all the great work everyone did at the workshops."

A competition was then launched in partnership with the Surrey Libraries' network to engage all young people aged 4
to 11 across Surrey to submit a design for the endpapers of the book. The competition was hugely successful with over 600 entries received which were whittled down to four winners all of which have their artwork featured within the book.

Old Dungate Press generously printed 1,000 copies of the book which is now on sale for £8.99 via local retailers. Any profits from sales go back to the Surrey Hills Society, a registered charity for future conservation work.

Copies of the book have been given to each of Surrey's 52 libraries so that every child has a chance to see and read the book.

This partnership project was led by the Surrey Hills Society who sought funding from Defra's Access for All fund with the help of the Surrey Hills National Landscape Board. The author and illustrator were supported by Old Dungate Press and the Guildford Book Festival to bring the book to life and Surrey County Council's countryside team supported the workshops and engaged the Surrey library network to widen the reach of the project to all children in Surrey.

Copies of the book are now available to buy online.