TREES

The Druids believed that The Beech Tree is a granter of wishes. It is also symbolic of education, communication, marriage, nourishment, and credibility. I think of beech trees as wishing trees.

Check out the wonderful Woodland Trust's fantastic Observatree campaign. It is a tree health early warning system and harnessing the power of citizen science is critical to the project’s overall success. This is being achieved in two ways. Firstly, the project aims to encourage tree health professionals and people actively involved with trees to look out for and report any tree pest or disease sightings at the earliest opportunity. In doing this, the chances of eliminating or controlling future outbreaks can be maximised. Secondly, the project has established a core network of over 200 trained Observatree volunteers. Their role is to support Government tree health officers and scientists by undertaking a range of survey work and assisting with the processing and verifying of tree health reports received. Observatree is: Promoting increased surveillance of tree pests and diseases Encouraging all reporting of tree health concerns via Tree Alert (TreeCheck in Northern Ireland) Providing a UK-wide network of over 200 trained specialist volunteers Sharing information and resources on key tree pests and diseases Researching similar European tree health systems to share best practice To find out more and download free toolkits to help you, visit our tree disease campaign. Visit the Observatree website to find out more or sign up for future updates.

Walking through hazel trees

Ancient yew tree

How I wish I'd listened to my mother! She knew the name of every tree in the woods and hedgerows. If, like, me you find yourself wishing you'd paid more attention, or you simply want to identify a tree, The Woodland Trust have the app for you. It is an interactive British tree identification app that allows you, in just a few steps, to identify native and common non-native trees in the UK, whatever the season. A tree can play so many roles in a story. It can be a character, a setting, a home or even a weapon. It can be a life force or deadly, poisonous or provider of nourishment, noisy or silent, strong or weak. Bring your story to life by researching it properly. The difference between ‘he climbed into the tree’ and ‘he climbed into the low hanging branches of the sycamore’ is substantial don’t you agree? With the Woodland Trust’s app you can give your tree character with the right leaf shape, bark and colour. Or you can use it as inspiration to make up your own unique tree.

The rules of conkers