The Oak Papers By James Canton

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Also Described As

When a relationship breaks down, James Canton begins to spend time with an ancient oak tree near where he lives in Essex - the 800-year-old Honywood Oak.

Spending time at the tree, James finds solace from his distress. More than that, he begins to feel bewitched by the power of the tree. It is then that he begins an exploration of the history of oak trees, and their vital importance in history and myth.

He meets people who work with oak, and artists who have been inspired by oak trees. And, as he sits at the oak, he records in detail the sounds and sights of the natural world around him.

Beautifully-observed nature writing and fascinating history, with a soundscape of the natural world, and music by Max Richter.

Produced by Elizabeth Burke.

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Duration

15 minutes

18 minutes

Genre

Factual

Station

Radio 4

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20200803		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
02	20200804		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
03	20200805		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
04	20200806		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
05 LAST	20200807		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
OMNI	20250118	20250119 (BBC7)	James Canton's fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees. “I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives. ? “As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was. ? “A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen. ? Omnibus of five episodes read by Jonathan Keeble. Abridged and produced by Elizabeth Burke. A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020. James Canton's fascinating account all about oak trees. James Canton's fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees. Read by Jonathan Keeble. [LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20200803		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
02	20200804		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
03	20200805		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
04	20200806		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
05 LAST	20200807		Jonathan Keeble reads a fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees, by James Canton. `I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives.` `As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was.` `A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen.` James Canton explores the history and symbolic power of oak trees.
OMNI	20250118	20250119 (BBC7)	James Canton's fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees. “I began to visit the oak as one might visit a friend. From the first meeting there grew a strange sense of attachment I didn't consciously recognise until I began to realise the significance that trees, and oak trees especially, can have in our lives. ? “As I've dug deeper into the historical and cultural layers of ancient Europe, I have begun to realise just how common the veneration of oak trees was. ? “A wren pipes up, a staccato tic, tic, tic from somewhere in the centre of the oak. A hare appears on the path, all ears, lean and jittery, only to disappear into the long grasses and ferns that cover the soft slopes of the stream valley. It is a slice of time laid bare, a moment when the normal flow of life is frozen. ? Omnibus of five episodes read by Jonathan Keeble. Abridged and produced by Elizabeth Burke. A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020. James Canton's fascinating account all about oak trees. James Canton's fascinating account of the history and symbolic power of oak trees. Read by Jonathan Keeble. [LISTEN NOW]