Dartmoor storyteller & conservationist’s new Botanical Folk Tales book

Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland is a collection of folk tales with a difference: all the stories involve trees and plants. The book was written on Dartmoor by storyteller and conservationist Lisa Schneidau, with stunning cover illustrations by the talented Chagford artist David Wyatt.

The book is the result of a storyteller’s search for traditional folk tales about the botany of these islands: the wild trees and plants that surround us through the seasons, in countryside, town and city.

Lisa Schneidau’s delightful book contains stories for all ages. There are tales about giant pumpkins and travelling trees, fairies that curse bad farmers, willows that talk and an enchanted coat of moss. The book follows the growing year, from the snowdrops braving the Highland winds and ‘piskie’ tulips by the river Tamar, to bad-tempered dandelions, chattering junipers, fields full of ragwort and magic apple trees.

Lisa works for Devon Wildlife Trust and she is also a professional storyteller, specialising in stories about nature and our relationship with the land. She runs two storytelling groups, in Chagford and Totnes, and she can be found telling stories at nature reserves, schools, charity events and venues all over the South West.

Lisa said, “I hope that anyone curious about plant folklore will enjoy this book. These stories are meant to be shared, and to get people thinking about all the different ways we live with plants.”

Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland is published by the History Press on 19th March, priced at £9.99.
Visit www.lisaschneidau.co.uk/botanical-tales/ to find out more about Lisa Schneidau’s work and forthcoming events, or to order a signed copy of the book.

The book launch for Botanical Folk Tales is on Wednesday, 21st March at The Chagford Inn, Mill Street, Chagford, at 6pm, when Lisa will be telling stories from the book. All are welcome.