Ara, tells the Monkey Puzzle Tree Tale - the Araucaria Tree an Quintessential British Branch. It is a fictional story, surrounded by facts, about the tree's Chilean origins and journey to Great Britain.

Foreword by David Gedye: Author Araucaria The Monkey Puzzle

The story is told through the voice of Ara - the first Araucaria tree. She tells us about Botanists, Molina, Dombey and the Don, Menzies (1795), Macrae (1826) and Nurseryman William Lobb (1843) who successfully bring back seeds and seedlings to Britian where they quickly become a symbol of wealth and status. However, the journey of the Monkey Puzzle is not without its puzzles and mysteries, including how it got its name.

The tree captures the attention of the British people and the first people to plant the Monkey Puzzle Tree on their estates, Dropmore Estate and Kew Gardens and even Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who had one planted in the garden at Buckingham Palace.

Royalty loved this tree and King William IV was the first to recognize and fall in love with this amazing tree. Followed by Philip Forst and David Gedye - a modern guru on the tree.

We come up to date with Pablo Neruda, Ode to the Araucaria Aracana and Whitby Jet - the fossilized gemstone coming from the Monkey Puzzle.

This little book includes puzzles and details of public houses named after this tree. It has the fun part of why it was called a Devil Tree and lists its different names, Araucaria Imbricata, Chilean Pine, The Monkey's Despair, Pehuen Tree.

You look at a Monkey Puzzle tree - once seen never forgotten but impossible to climb. People regarded it as Marmite(R) you either love it or hate it.

Recipes and foraging tips from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jared Rydelek

Note that some of the royalties from this book will go to the International Conifer Conservation Programme, established at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Full of great quotes and links to video from National Geographic, Chile Travel and The Gardens Trust.

Also features the song from Joanne Rand who put together a song singing about Meeting Under the Monkey Puzzle Tree. Review of other authors books who give homage to the Monkey Puzzle Tree, Muriel Spark - The ballad of Peckham Rye, Sonia Tilson - a novel, Famous The Ghost and Mrs Muir, Jonathan Drori Around the World in Eighty Trees, Stephen Gillen memoir and Fiorella Angelina's film.

Areas such as Monkey Town in Heywood and Morriston Monkeys.

The Monkey Puzzle is a beloved part of the British landscape, and the story is filled with love and admiration for this unique and unusual tree.