By Ash, Oak and Thorn: the perfect cosy read for children, chosen as one of Countryfile's best books of 2021

Product Information

Verse 2, line 5] New Troy Town: According to Geoffrey of Monmouth (ch. xvii,) Brutus built his capital on the Thames and called it Troia Nova, New Troy. In the time of Julius Caesar, it was rebuilt by King Lud and renamed Lud’s Town, which became corrupted into London. We follow Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, three little creatures known as Hidden Folk, who have started to become invisible. They decide to search for an answer to what's happening to them, while also looking for other Hidden Folk, as they haven't seen any in a long time. She isn’t overly critical of humans, rather they are portrayed as impressive inventors who are nonetheless blind to the destruction they cause. Harrison encourages ‘noticing’ children (and adults!) to act as best they can to protect the extraordinary, ordinary world around them, before it fades away completely.

A Tree Song – The Kipling Society A Tree Song – The Kipling Society

And so the cycle continues. Because though we have forgotten much in England, we don’t have the option of leaving the past behind. No-one ever does. Weirdly, obtusely, at the margins and from the corners of our eyes, the old myths can still be seen. A hundred years on from Kipling, the long barrow on the ridgeway near White Horse Hill is still known as Wayland’s Smithy; the old smith, it is said, will shoe any horse left there overnight if a coin is placed on the stones. The third day of the week is still Woden’s Day, the green men on the cathedral ceilings receive coats of fresh paint, and every May Day, even now, the strange green dance goes on in crevices and byways while most of the nation is driving to the out-of-town retail park.i’m scared, if i’m honest, and part of me wants to stay here for ever. but most of me knows we have to carry on. “ If you find this talk of little people and Hidden Folk rather off-putting and twee, don’t worry, these characters, along with all the other wild creatures, once played a key role as guardians of the Wild World and they are worthy of our appreciation and admiration. I was convinced that the secret world of wild creatures not only exists but that we need to understand and promote it if we are to survive. We must learn how to live together, the wild creatures know this, but mortals are still learning the essential lessons of harmony. Verse 4, line 1] Ellum she hateth mankind, and waiteth: Stands of lofty elm trees were a familiar sight in the English countryside in Kipling’s day, though since the early years of the twentieth century they have been tragically devastated by Dutch Elm disease. Daniel Hadas adds: ‘The refrain shares the rhythm of that of the carol on the Seven Joys of Mary, with “good sirs” where the carol has “good man”. Kipling had already imitated that carol, again with “good sirs”, in his ‘ A Carol’ So this poem is a sort of pagan counterpart to the Christian original and Kipling’s imitation of it. “Oak, and Ash, and Thorn” are a Trinity of sorts.’ [D.H.

A Tree Song poem - Rudyard Kipling - Best Poems A Tree Song poem - Rudyard Kipling - Best Poems

In By Ash, Oak and Thorn (May 2021) three Hidden Folk no bigger than your hand wake from their winter sleep in the hollow trunk of an old ash tree. Moss, Burnet and Cumulus usually love spring, but their joy turns to worry when they discover that Cumulus, the oldest, is starting to fade away. Guided by birds, stars and wild creatures the trio leave their beloved home in search of answers. Other Hidden Folk are rumoured to live in an ancient oak on the bank of a stream, deep in the countryside. But they soon learn that they must travel to a loud, busy and danger-filled place called The Hive… I am adoring the folklore and mystery of the hidden folk, and I love that there is just enough fantasy and adventure balanced with cozy moments. As a homebody, I appreciate the hidden folk’s desire to feel at home somewhere and the description of all their little comforts wherever they can go. The minor arcana continues with the rich messaging and powerful imagery. Each suit has an animal theme, with the animal chosen embracing the spirit of the suit. I suspect this was the volume Burne-Jones sent to Kipling. Going by the British Library catalogue, the first edition was published in 1848, and there were numerous reprints.[D.H.] The description in this book, the turn of phrase and the language are just exemplary. It would be perfect for reading aloud to a class, or sharing together before bedtime. There are wonderful little vignettes and moments of pause, where the character reflect on a theme or emotion, such as fear or friendship, and discuss it. But these moments don't seem forced, the characters often talk together to find a solution and a way forward. These moments of pause and reflect are perfect for opening discussions with children and young people around emotions and wellbeing.Adventure into the wild world of the Hidden Folk - Their job is to look after the natural environment, and if you pay attention you may even catch a glimpse of one!

Oak And Ash And Thorn Chords - ULTIMATE GUITAR Oak And Ash And Thorn Chords - ULTIMATE GUITAR

Now before the hate mail – or at least comments – start flowing in, let me be clear about something. Modern isn’t necessarily bad. Lots of concepts in neopaganism are modern and they still work just fine. Neopaganism gets some of its significant theology, ³ for example, from Robert Graves book The White Goddess which was published in 1948 and that doesn’t make those things any less valid. Generally these new concepts and ideas are built on older ones just with a new interpretation or understanding. So the idea of a triad of fairy trees may not be much more than a hundred years old, but it obviously is drawn from something else – perhaps the observation that these three trees often grow around holy wells, or perhaps the same thing that inspired Kipling’s poem.This harmony is realised beautifully when Melissa Harrison describes the relationships between the animals in the Wild World. Moss has gone missing and the others are frightened of meeting Vesper, a vixen enlisted to help them find their friend, but they are told that they can trust her and … “ the moment they were looking up at the vixen’s beautiful golden eyes, they found that they could communicate quite easily…..just as they had with all the other creatures they had met.” Movingly she expresses the sadness of our broken relationship with the Wild World – “ Mortals often harm the Wild World, knowingly and unknowingly – but that’s only because they don’t know we are their brothers and sisters. Just imagine how lonely that must be ….I think that is a terrible burden to bear.” The Stubborn Light of Things was nominated for the Wainwright Prize and was named as East Anglian Book of the Year. In her Note from the Author, she tells us that “ the only creature that’s forgotten how to communicate with the Wild World is we humans.” Thankfully her tone is never preachy or overtly political; she makes her views known clearly and firmly and you are never in doubt as to where she stands. After reading the Brambly Hedge series with my children I was craving something longer form with a similar vibe to read for myself. I have been searching high and low for a wholesome, nature-inspired, whimsical, fairy story to fill my inner child with all the warm, adventurous, and wonder-filled feelings of being a tiny person in the wild world.

Irish-American Witchcraft: Oak, Ash, and Thorn – the Irish-American Witchcraft: Oak, Ash, and Thorn – the

While Harrison peppers in plenty of flora and fauna names her presentation of the worm’s-eye-view natural world never feels more than superficially informed. She never conjures a sense of deep knowledge or immersion. We’re told to care about the natural world - or rather, chided for not doing so - but the book doesn’t do much to convince of its wonder and value. Along their journey, they meet lots of animals and other creatures, but also notice how much change there has been in the countryside. It feels smug; not inviting readers in to wonder and understand and empathise with this new knowledge.A faint tinge of Christianity has been given to them [the Midsummer fires] by naming Midsummer Day after St. John the Baptist, but we cannot doubt that the celebration dates from a time long before the beginning of our era.