Press Release

Journey back to your roots with exciting new adventures in The Trees That Made Britain - Series Two

Starts Friday, May 9, BBC Two, 7.30pm

Back for a welcome second series, Tony Kirkham, head of the arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and his best tree-climber Jon Hammerton, are on a mission in The Trees That Made Britain to discover if we still value the trees that have shaped the British landscape in the 21st century. Tony and Jon are passionate about trees and their infectious enthusiasm makes this series a real adventure.

Episode one screens on 9 May and opens with a look at some of the ways forests are turning into great tourist attractions, starting with a new tree-top climb in Dalby Forest in Yorkshire, before heading to Scotland to try their hand at dog-sledding through the Caledonian Forest.

This exciting new series will see Tony and Jon travel across the country and further afield on their mission. They join other horticultural experts on their journey; helping designer Andy Sturgeon plan his showpiece garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, in the hope of scooping a coveted gold medal. They also take part in military adventures to find out the importance of camouflage in woodland, investigate the science behind climate change in South Wales and journey to Sweden to learn about whole towns powered by energy from trees. After all this travelling, Tony returns to his hometown, Darwen in Lancashire, where he meets his old scoutmaster and presents the Foresters Badge to some tree-loving scouts.

Tony and Jon set out to find solutions to some of the problems that are affecting how we view the Trees That Made Britain, and which could change our landscape – and our lives – irrevocably. And above all the pair will be encouraging everyone in the belief that trees matter, and that if we look after them, they will continue nurturing us for many centuries to come.

If viewers want to get a closer look at the other ‘stars' of The Trees That Made Britain they can visit Kew Gardens this summer where sweet chestnuts, limes and broad-leaved oaks wait to be discovered in our Year of the Tree Festival. The festival will commence with the opening of the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway on 24 May. Supported by the Hanson Environment Fund, Kew's Rhizotron will give visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the natural world beneath the trees, learning the vital relationships between the trees roots and the micro-organisms in the soil. Then, rising 18 metres into the air, the 200 meter long Xstrata Treetop walkway designed by Marks Barfield architects will allow visitors to wander through the treetop canopy and see birds, insects, lichens and fungi that rely on these huge organisms.

Notes for Editors

For further information please contact Catherine Owen, Bronwyn Friedlander or Anna Quenby in the Kew Gardens press office on 020 8332 5607 or email pr@kew.org . For images of The Trees That Made Britaian, contact jenny.walford@bbc.co.uk or 029 2032 2373, for images of Kew Gardens please contact the Kew Gardens press office.

From the 30th March 2008 to the 30th August 2008 Monday to Friday the Gardens will close at 6.30pm and 7.30pm on weekends. From the 31st August 2008 to the 25th October 2008 it will close at 6pm. Please note closing times are subject to change and that last entry to the Gardens is half an hour before the Gardens close. From the 1 April 08 until the 31 March 09 admission will be £13 for adults and £12 for concession and FREE to children under the age of 17. Further visitor information can be gained by visiting www.kew.org, calling 020 8332 5655 or emailing info@kew.org.

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