The Language of Trees
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​"A tree is not a tree is not a tree
is not a tree.....
not as we see it,
nor as we defined it.
It is far, far more.
It isn't anything we know,
though we have named it, categorised it,
dissected it and analysed it, ad finitum.
What escapes us, remaining a mystery.
Yet we say we know what a tree is!"
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- Gospel Of The Living Tree
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After the fire and glow of October & November the rain and wind has stripped deciduous trees bare of their autumn finery. Leaves turn to mulch, feeding their deep roots once more and skeletal silhouettes bend and bow upon the landscape, surrendered to the elements. Winter is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our local community of trees a little better, as their framework is revealed and becomes more clearly defined we can learn to observe and appreciate them in greater detail, through branches, bark and buds.

Observation Activity: Seeing Trees
Identifying trees by the shape of their bare branches and colourful buds is a lovely activity to do during the winter months, with so much more detail to be explored, but for me just taking the time to appreciate the wonder and majesty of trees without the need to name and label can be even more fulfilling, and I often find myself noticing a lot more too. Trees are often interesting characters, full of wisdom and metaphor.​

Perhaps next time you are out on a walk take a few moments to pause by those trees in your neighbourhood, local park or woodland and see what new things you might notice that you hadn't before. I'd like to share two of my favourite commonly found deciduous trees with you and what I have learned about them so far this year.
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​B E E C H
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​Queen of the Forest
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The Beech Tree
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By Duncan Wyllie

"This beauty that stands before me
Unchallenged by the light of day 
Or the four winds that surround her 
For she has stood her own for so long 
Offered her strength and shelter 
For so long, 
Become part, yet set within the 
Ever changing feilds of time 
This beauty that stands before me
She has grown through the ages 
Held secrets never to be told and 
Yet her wisdom seems to seep through 
Every heartfelt hue, 
Roots set deep and spreading 
Branches that stretchout like hands
A comforting sight for onlookers 
Who smile as they 
Understand"

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​Ah, the majesty of a beech tree forest!, with their tall arching branches and thick leafy canopy...Natures light show is cast across the woodland floor during the summer months.....The gradual warm and mellow glow into autumn, wind rustling through copper leaves finally revealing slender bronze buds left to dance upon winters icy air....Sprawling roots, bark as smooth as wax, I am always silenced by their presence.

"Fagus sylvatica, the Common or European beech, is thought to have arrived in the British Isles around 4000 BC; it may even have been brought here by the first people to colonise these islands after the last Ice Age. In terms of native tree species, that is quite a late arrival!" - The Hazel Tree

Beech trees can live for up to 350 years and grow to 40 meters in height, supporting up to 98 different species of insects. On young beech trees the bark is a silvery grey and smooth in texture. As the beech tree ages the bark becomes rougher and more textured. Beech tree buds are long and slender in shape and are coppery brown in colour. Often beech trees will hold onto their dead leaves well into winter. A beech trees roots are shallow growing and can be seen sprawling at ground level which is often a spectacular sight.......

​A Mindful Journalling Activity:
Spending time with a beech tree
- Are there any beech trees in your neighbourhood or local park or woodland ?
- What do you notice about them the most at this time of year?. 
- Are the beech trees young or old?, what can you tell by touching the bark & looking closer at it's roots?
- What feeling do you get from pausing with your local beech trees?
- Where are they growing and what do you suppose have they lived through?

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O A K​​
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The Ruling Majesty

​"Will power, courage,
commitment, resolution,
perseverance, endurance,
strength of character, physical and moral,
hope and patience, despite the odds...
​These are our many qualities.

We shelter nests; birds sing their songs.
We provide acorns, 90,000 or so a year,
nourishing the multitudes;
Mutual dependence and support, we say.
No splendour in isolation.
Open-hearted welcoming and generosity:
such is our nature!
​Strength and tenderness, this we exemplify"

- Gospel Of The Living Tree
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​"There can hardly be another tree on this planet providing home, sustenance, hunting ground or playground, for such a diversity of the Earth's creatures, including close to 500 species of birds, mammals (bat, mouse, squirrel) butterflies, moths, bugs, beetles, spiders and other invertebrates, along with lichen, ferns, mosses, liverworts, mushrooms, toadstools, and other fungi"
- Roderic Knowles

The wise old oak supports more life than any other native tree species in the UK. Growing up to 40 meters tall the oak can live for more than 1000 years and goes through many life changes within its cycle, all starting as a tiny acorn. Throughout history oak trees have symbolised strength, wisdom and endurance. The ancient Greeks likened the oak tree to their most powerful god Zeus, god of thunder. For the Celts the meaning of Oak was 'door', duir, symbolising a doorway to the otherworld, a place of deep connection to the natural world.

Oak trees are a fairly stocky tree with a wide, spreading canopy, their first set of branches often hanging quite low. Oaks tend to lose their leaves later on in the season, with younger trees holding onto their dead brown leaves through to spring. Oak leaves take longer to break down and decay than other leaves, so if you are wondering whether you are standing before an oak tree check to see what shape leaf you can see lying at the base of the tree. Oak tree leaves are longer than they are wide and have five or six rounded lobes, turning yellowy brown in the autumn. It's always worth checking for other signs too as leaves can blow around in all directions on a windy day.

Oak is one of the hardest trees, and the bark is a grey colour with deep ridges and furrows, the colour may change though according to the different species. The buds of the oak tree are rounded in shape with a sharp point at the end and can be seen clustered at the end of the twig. Buds can be smooth or slightly hairy at the very tip of the bud.

​A Mindful Journalling Activity:
Spending time with an oak tree​
- Can you think of any oak trees in your local area?
- What do you notice about them the most at this time of year?. 
- What can you tell by looking at and touching the bark?
- Do you feel a sense of strength standing with an oak tree?
​- What do you suppose they have experienced throughout their long lives?

If you would like to share any of your experiences or photography whilst out exploring your local community of trees you can share those with us on the Green Minds community Facebook page.


May your moments in nature offer peace and restoration:-) 

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