Tells the story of Australia's giant eucalypt, the Mountain Ash, which grows in the region north and east of Melbourne. Griffiths tells the environmental, ecological and social history of a unique Australian forest, and, in doing so, tells the story of the continent as a whole.
Part I. A History of the Ash Range: 1. Continent of fire; 2. Tall trees; 3. 'Improving'; 4. Crossing the Blacks' Spur; 5. Mining; 6. Timber tramways; 7. Water; 8. The theatre of nature; 9. Tourism; 10. Black Friday; 11. The long experiment; 12. Heritage; Part II. Spotlights Ash and ants Alan Yen; Co-evolution, a tall forest story Ken Walker; Lyrebird Rory O'Brien; Coranderrk calendar Lindy Allen; Gems in the forest Bill Birch; The good oil Gary Presland; Hairstreak butterfly Ross Field; Shortfin eel Martin Gomon; 'The strength and beauty of the mountain valleys' Elizabeth Willis; Leadbeater's possum Joan Dixon; Insect outbreaks Alan Yen; Exhibiting the tall forests Luke Simpkin; Epilogue.
'Griffiths' research work has clear and practical applications ! Griffiths brings special insights into understanding forests.' The Age 'Forests of Ash is informative and engaging. Readers will be taken by the fiery content and thought-provoking prose.' Bary Dowling, The Sunday Age 'Griffiths writes with a good novelist's craftsmanship and sensitivity.' Canberra Times ' ! a profoundly enjoyable work, illustrated both in colour and in black and white (neither of which is any kind of pun).' Australian Book Review ' ! well illustrated ! This book is a pleasure to read and is likely to appeal to both specialist and general audiences.' The Agricultural History Review