This etching shows an old beech tree that stands at the entrance to Padley Gorge, an ancient woodland on the edge of the Peak District. The tree is magnificent in all seasons, but especially in the autumn, when it is clinging on to its rust-coloured leaves long after all the other trees have lost theirs. I called it the "Guardian Tree" because I like to imagine that it stands guard over this precious woodland. This protection is badly needed, because Padley Gorge is a popular picnic spot, and during our increasingly hot summers, the risk of wildfires from barbecues is high.