Acknowledgements

 

THE TWO YEARS I have spent researching, writing and now editing this incredible story would have been entirely impossible were it not for the unwavering support of my wonderful wife and two daughters. A big thank you also to our dog, Flossie. It would have been quite impossible to work out where on earth to begin and end each chapter without our many countryside walks.

I have also greatly benefited from the generosity, enthusiasm and support of my parents, family and friends, for which I am eternally grateful. The publishing team at Bloomsbury has been a complete delight to work with at every stage of the project for both the illustrated hardback and now this abridged paperback. Their professionalism and expert guidance is second to none. In particular I would like to thank Richard Atkinson for his constant support, enthusiasm and determination at every stage of the conception, birth and ongoing delivery of the What on Earth? series of books. My sincere thanks also to Trâm-Anh Doan for so skilfully navigating this paperback edition from first edit to final print.

Other thanks go to all those unknown trees that have been sacrificed in the course of telling this extraordinary tale. There’s a good 300 million years of evolutionary wizardry just in the paper between these covers.

Finally, I dedicate this book to the memories of two special people. Dodo, my grandmother, would have taken such a keen interest in this whole project. Also to Christo, my late great-uncle and namesake, whose enormous generosity and passionate interest in other people knew no bounds and still inspires me every day. May the spirit of Great Dixter live on!