A NEW book co-written by the founder of Stone Lane Gardens in Chagford is to be posthumously published next month.

The late Kenneth Ashburner dedicated his life to studying the varying species of birch tree that inhabit the planet.

He travelled widely in search of birches, to Japan, Korea, Russia, Siberia, the Himalayas, North America and throughout Europe and Scandinavia.

For many years before his death he had been working on a new guide to birch with co-author Dr Hugh McAllister. That book, 'The Genus Betula: A taxonomic revision of birches' is to be published by Kew Publishing in May.

The book has originally been planned to publish in March, but will now publish next month.

The book's length has been increased significantly, with more photographs and text.

Within the book, accounts are given of all known birches found in Europe, Asia and North America, both white and brown barked, and a key for their identification.

The extensive fossil record and recent molecular work are reviewed and, together with new data not previously published, used to provide information for a discussion of what can be deduced of the evolutionary relationships of the species and species groups.

Stone Lane Gardens was awarded National Collection status for both wild origin birch and alder in 1995.

Kenneth's travels and research resulted in the national collection of trees growing in the gardens today.

Ashburner's co-author, Hugh A McAllister, lectured in botany at Glasgow, Newcastle, and Liverpool Universities and was deputy director at the University of Liverpool Botanic Gardens at Ness.

For more than 30 years he has been growing and studying birches in co-operation with Kenneth Ashburner.

The book is illustrated by elegant botanical paintings by Josephine Hague alongside drawings and photographs selected by the editor Martyn Rix.

Purchases of the book made directly from Stone Lane Gardens will raise funds to maintain and preserve the arboretum.

Books purchased from the gardens before June 1 will be at a reduced rate of £40 to include postage. To find out more, visit http://www.stonelanegardens.com/shop">www.stonelanegardens.com/shop