Did you know that trees can communicate with one another via underground fungal networks, scent signals and even sound? These astoundingly complex systems enable them to share water and sugars, warn each other of dangers and nurture their seedlings. Trees are also one of our most powerful defences against global warming. A young woodland with mixed native trees can capture and store more than 400 tonnes of atmospheric carbon per hectare.
Since ancient times, humankind has maintained a close relationship with trees. They provide for physical needs – oxygen, food, building materials, fire for warmth and protection, and raw materials for making paper and soap – but also offer natural shelter and a strong sense of place.
Tree-filled landscapes continue to appeal to us. They are visually pleasing, and a recent study found that being surrounded by trees calms the senses and relaxes the body. There is a natural harmony between people and trees.
It is no surprise, then, that the senseless felling of the Sycamore Gap tree last year