Art Blog #174

My Journey With Trees by Paul Connor

My Journey with Trees by Paul Connor- Preamble and my story- The Role of Trees as First Aiders- Trees, facts and figures- Some similarities between trees and humans- Reforestation ideas and why replant trees- Is a woodland just a collection of individual trees?- Poems and Songs related to Trees, Woodland and Nature- So what can be done and how can you help?- A-Z of British Trees - A-Z Guide - A-Z Guide - British Trees - Woodland Trust

'One of my earliest memories, was walking upstream towards The Pennines, along a runningstream, which was lined with trees, being fascinated by the Sun bouncing off and shining throughthe leaves, creating shapes and shadows on the running water. What are these creatures, aliens right?, how come nobody else thinks these engineering marvelsare mystical, magical and spooky human like figures. I was maybe 7. Fast forward to when I was 47 and I started to spend much of my time in nature and realised thatevery species I admired, every shock and awe moment I experienced was, in some waysconnected to trees. The birds gliding, swooping and diving created and maintained their homes in - TreesThe mental and physical well being that I sought and found was in woodlands and forests - TreesThe vast array of photographs that I took had a common theme as a backdrop - TreesThe colours, the sights, the smells, the smoothness, the roughness, the softness, the jaggedness, the fullness, the emptiness - TreesThe Butterflies, The Dragonflies, The Fungi, The Insects and The Squirrels all depend on - TreesThe berries, the bark, the fruits, the leaves, the trunk, the limbs, the bumps, the crevices and theroots - TreesMore recently I became ill with chronic Rhinitis, which although not debilitating, rendered mesocially awkward and confined to the house. With little money, wanting to be on my own andpossessing a cheap camera, I ventured into nature with a view to exercise, take photographs, experience wow moments and recapture those awe moments I first experienced when I was 7/8years of age. It’s lasted 4 yours and counting. Out of this came ‘Nature within Ten miles of your House’ which endeavored to take onephotograph per day, of a good quality, unique and interesting, every day for a year highlightingthe dynamism, cruelty and beauty of nature with trees as the thread that seemed to glue all thethe other parts together. Photographs became diluted hard copy versions of dynamic soft copy experiences and myadmiration for nature grew.By watching, listening, observing and researching I began to realise that every species, large, small, fast, slow, flying, crawling, scurrying, above ground, below ground, stagnant, jumping, gliding, hovering, darting, long lived, short lived, yet all unique, had earned the right to be on theplanet by adapting to their conditions and evolving and excelling. Every species became important, each species dependant and interconnected in a strange yetexhilarating dance, every species had earned the right to be saved, admired, respected andresearched, spoken about, written about, photographed and discussed. And many of these species depended in some way, relied on in some way trees and woodland. Trees are not only important to the planet, but integral, trees covered the globe 60 million yearsago and humans separated from apes 6 million years ago. Trees are therefore 54 million yearsolder than we are, trees are therefore our elders and, as such should be respected, protected, studied, venerated and imitated. Thankfully humans are beginning to replant, re-wild and research these engineering marvels andin doing so re-establish woodland environments and create safe spaces for species and calmspaces for adults and children. So what has the most recent chapter of my journey with trees taught me, simple, with knowledgecomes responsibility. Or ‘renewed knowledge has come renewed responsibility’ and for me the aim is to protect andpreserve these sacred spaces, these engineering marvels. In anyways my skills permit, to researchand understand these elders, the integral part they play as the glue that holds woodlands andforests together and to highlight their importance to all species including humans.

The main aims of the Arboreal First Aid or how trees give, facilitate and protect life

 Preserve ecosystems that facilitate the conditions for thousands of species

 Prevent climate change by extracting Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere and preventsoil erosion by capturing water and nutrients

 Promote recovery of wooded environments and associated above and below groundspecies and infrastructures whilst offering places to enhance physical and mental well beingfor humans.

 Provide cover for a myriad of species including the human species, timber forconstruction, fruit for foods and wonderful photo opportunities,

Tree Facts and Figures:

- Trees play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate. Theyremove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store large quantities of carbon in their tissues. - Trees and forests provide a habitat for many species of animals and plants. Tropical rain forests are among the most bio diverse habitats in the world- Trees provide shade and shelter, timber for construction, fuel for cooking and heating, and fruitfor food as well as having many other uses. - Because of their longevity and usefulness, trees have always been revered, with sacredgroves in various cultures, and they play a role in many of the world's mythologies. There wasonce, pagan times, a tree calendar emphasizing the reverence for trees. - Trees are significant in many of the world's mythologies, and have been given deep and sacredmeanings throughout the ages. Human beings, observing the growth and death of trees, and theannual death and revival of their foliage, have often seen them as powerful symbols of growth, death and rebirth. Evergreen trees, which largely stay green throughout these cycles, aresometimes considered symbols of the eternal, immortality or fertility. The image of the Tree oflife or world tree occurs in many mythologies. Trees in mythology - Wikipedia- Trees have a theoretical maximum height of 130 m (430 ft) but the tallest known specimen onearth is believed to be a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) at Redwood National Park, California. It has been named Hyperion and is 115.85 m (380.1 ft) tall

Similarities between Trees and Humans

 Suzanne Simard (Professor) has posited and proved that there are Hub (Mother) Trees in aforest, these trees act as a sharer of carbon to younger trees and recognise family trees andsupport them - This sharing of necessary and useful items/materials is an integral andimportant process in human families and societies.

 Suzanne Simard (Professor) has posited and proved that there is a symbiotic relationshipbetween Trees and Fungi, the Trees take into sunlight transform this into sugars and Fungitake advantage of excessive Carbon, in return the Fungi share much needed minerals. Thissymbiotic relationship is made possible by an underground web of roots. Human society hasendless example of symbiotic relationships between different species.

https://youtu.be/C_QFDB8Zffg

 There is evidence that trees communicate distress to other trees, that distress may includedrought but also predators. There is evidence that trees on the savannah that are beingeaten by Giraffes will expel a gas that warns the trees down wind, the downwind trees expela taninn to the leaves that can bring illness to the giraffes. Communicating distress orwarning to neighbouring tribes is a long standing human mechanism for self and otherpreservation.  If trees are communicating then it could be argued that they are sentient ie are consciousand aware. There is evidence that they can communicate with on frequencies that humanscannot hear.

 Physical Characteristics. Both, people and trees, stand upright with a crown on top andlimbs stemming from a central trunk. - https://www.thelivingurn.com/

 Uniqueness and Beauty. Every person and every tree is unique and no two are exactlyalike

 Reliance on Water. Both people and trees are comprised of mostly water and rely onthis resource to survive. Most trees are made up of more than 50% water.

Rewilding areas and practical re-forestation ideas

1. The cutting back of areas Grass and Grass banks) alongside A roads and motorways is notnecessary, leaving these areas to grow naturally would benefit wildlife without imposing onhuman-utlised land. Trees could be planted along all motorways and/or major roads.

2. Identifying, setting up and setting aside areas across the UK that would be de-humanisedand create sanctuaries for wildlife using trees and the main stay species. Scotland, Irelandand Wales would be ideal location. This would be government supported through treespecific tax inclusion by residents.

3. Ancient mythologies and ancient creation myths are littered with theories containing treesand the reverence of trees as not just as being practical to humans but also mystical andmagical. To highlight these properties to the younger generation through photography, video and research as well as interaction at an early stage would initially change the generalopinion of this most intriguing species but would enhance the argument for the above twoideas.

4. To replace the existing funerary plans, cremation and burying to include replanting in thename of the deceased in set aside areas, each tree having a acknowledgement to thedeceased.

5. The need or argument for reforestation has already been made and is powerful, the needfor reforestation to enhance and facilitate fungi and subsequent positive health benefitsdoes not seem to have been explored. Fungi is still not fully understood and the science hasnot been fully explored for societal enhancement.

Why Trees? - Courtesy of State of the UK's Woods and Trees - Woodland Trust

 Woodland cover is gradually increasing, but woodland wildlife is decreasingThe trends for the UKs woods and trees are concerning. The UK’s woodland cover has more thandoubled in the last 100 years, but much of this is non-native trees. Existing native woodlands areisolated, in poor ecological condition and there has been a decline in woodland wildlife.

 Woods and trees are subject to a barrage of coinciding threatsThreats range from direct woodland loss to more insidious influences from climate impacts,imported diseases, invasive plants, mammal browsing and air pollutants.

 Not nearly enough is being doneThe report is a loud and clear warning sign that more needs to be done to protect and expandour woods and trees. We urgently need to scale up the many inspiring initiatives to create nativewoods, put more individual trees back in the landscape, and restore damaged woods.  Woods and trees are vital for a healthy, happy societyThey lock up carbon to fight climate change, improve our health, well-being and education, reduce pollution and flooding, and support people, wildlife and livestock.

Full Report - State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2021 (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Is a woodland just a collection of individual trees?

Would you argue that the human society is just a collection of individual human beings or a

river is just a collection of individual water molecule, probably not!As already covered and posited by Suzanne Simard, within a woodland there are symbioticrelationships, many species working for and against each other in a dynamic and everchanging environment. Also relationships within the tree realm itself, mother trees, grandmother trees, siblings, rivalries, creators, destroyers, facilitators and hierarchies, sounds a lot like the human society to me!A woodland is a living being, growing, evolving, maturing, aging, dying and recycling, yes, createdby and sustained by individuals but as a collection of individuals manifests as a much greater andcohesive force much like the river or human society. Each tree can support up to 500 species therefore the importance of woodland cannot be denied. Tens of thousands of individuals, thousands of species, a myriad of underground symbioticrelationships that we are only just starting to understand. There is evidence that theinter-connectedness of the Wood Wide Web, on the micro level is similar to the connectednessof stars and galaxies on the macro level and everything in between.

Uses of trees for Humans

 Timber for construction and Furniture Fuel Art - Carving and Bonsai Bark for Cork and Medicinal drugs

Poems and Songs related to Trees, Woodland and Nature

The struggle between Trees and Man - The Trees by Rush

This song and subsequent lyrics perfectly captures the tensions between same species in awoodland but also the overriding threat from the human species as a predator species. There is unrest in the forest

There is trouble with the treesFor the maples want more sunlightAnd the oaks ignore their pleasThe trouble with the maplesAnd they're quite convinced they're rightThey say the oaks are just too loftyAnd they grab up all the lightBut the oaks can't help their feelingsIf they like the way they're madeAnd they wonder why the maplesCan't be happy in their shadeThere is trouble in the forestAnd the creatures all have fledAs the maples scream "Oppression" And the oaks just shake their headsSo the maples formed a unionAnd demanded equal rights "The oaks are just too greedyWe will make them give us light" Now there's no more oak oppressionFor they passed a noble lawAnd the trees are all kept equalBy hatchet, axe, and saw

Official Video - https://youtu.be/JnC88xBPkkc

So what can be done and how can you help?Courtesy of UK's Largest Woodland Conservation Charity - Woodland Trust

1. There's no better way to support us than by becoming a member. Together we can keepliving history safe, plant the trees we all need, and keep woods open for everyone to enjoy. Memberships start from £4 per month2. Our woods and trees can't speak for themselves. Together we can stand up for theenvironment and safeguard the UK's woodland heritage for our future. 1,225 ancient woods threatened by development right now2.4% that's how little of the UK is covered by ancient woodland1,172 woods saved with your help since 19993. Support an Appeal - We safeguard woodland across the UK by bringing it into our care. Butwe can’t do this without you. Your support is vital to save woods for future generations, protect the wildlife that calls them home, and restore them to their thriving best. For details of appeals - Support an Appeal - Woodland Trust

Other ways to help?

 Become Wood NeutralBritain's industry and populace uses at least 50 million tonnes of timber a year. More than 75% ofthis is softwood, and Britain's forests cannot supply the demand; in fact, less than 10% of thetimber used in Britain is home-grown. Paper and paper products make up more than half thewood consumed in Britain by volume. Forestry in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

Therefore each person in the UK uses one tree per year, to become Wood Neutral simply plantone tree for every year of your life. Where do I plant these trees, contact charities like Woodland Trust, Local Councils, Local Landowners

 Learn MoreI have listed some websites that are a source of information/research for beginners and experts:Kent Wildlife Trust - Home | Kent Wildlife TrustThe Woodland Trust - UK's Largest Woodland Conservation Charity - Woodland TrustRSPB - The RSPB Wildlife Charity: Nature Reserves & Wildlife ConservationBritish Dragonfly Society - British Dragonfly Society - British Dragonfly Society(british-dragonflies.org.uk)

 Engage with the outdoors and start to Identify British Trees - A-Z of British Trees - A-ZGuide - British Trees - Woodland Trust

Thank you

Courtesy of www.connorcontemporary.com