Branches, saplings, roots, twigs, bark, and leaves, let’s start talking trees…
From the deforestation of South America’s woodlands to the climate change chatter about the importance of trees to help us address the consequences of global warming, we’re all talking trees. Yes it’s right and proper we should recognise and encourage the ecological, historical, cultural, social and economic importance of trees, but it’s now time to rediscover their beauty and individuality.
As a young sapling growing up in the Viking city of York, my grandad would take my sister and I to Rowntree’s Park to get away from my mother and grandma preparing a feast of teatime treats. One of our highlights of our ‘trip to the park’ was a visit to the magnificent willow tree, which still sits proud in the park today. My grandad would be blessed with five minutes of peace as Ruth and I would drape ourselves amongst the willow’s branches pretending we had entered a magical world where the trees whispered secret codes to little girls. Innocently we also thought Rowntree Park had named its tree after my grandparent’s cat and not the other way round.
Now as I enter my 33rd year, young in tree lives, I’m looking forward to moving into the new Rajah home in the Peak District, where we’ll be the proud owners of a Norwegian spruce tree, commonly known as a Christmas Tree. As our house and garden can be seen from the local train station, I can’t wait to become the local celebrity for the best dressed Christmas Tree in Chinley.