For the love of trees
My family will plant a tree for every new client that I see. Why?
As a family we have planted over 100 trees in the last year alone. This continues the long-held and inspiring example of my parents. They have spent a life-time pouring time, money and energy into managing and restoring degraded woodland; removing invasive species and planting native species such as beech and oak. Over 60 years they have planted thousands of trees at Silverwood. Their hard work and dedication has resulted in multiple night jar pairs migrating to nest in the woods every year and the return of the nightingale. Just a couple of the delights to be found. This lifetime’s work has been solely for the preservation and enjoyment of nature.
I unashamedly love trees, they have been an important thread through my life. A slightly feral childhood full of tree climbing, sharpening sticks and having bonfires. Similar to many of my weekends these days only now I get to do it all with my husband and kids, and love that they love it as much as me! Much of my 20s was spent in Wales, was rock climbing, camping in caves and mountain biking in forests. Later I enjoyed the exotic red flowers of the hibiscus and amazing jacaranda trees in South Africa. Who’d have thought - purple trees?!
Jacaranda trees - I love d the purple of them whilst in South Africa; Photo by Tim Cooper on Unsplash
Cycling through Rwanda - the valley of a thousand hills (it’s no joke), with my sister and brother-in-law I was particularly amazed by the lush jungle rainforests. After cycling through lush green Uganda, the expansive views afforded by the Rift valley in Kenya were breathtaking. It was a fair while ago now but you can read their inspiring accounts at Uganda - LongWayHome (travellerspoint.com)
Living at over 2,000 metres in Tajikistan, trees were scarce and the passing of the seasons so short. Though the landscape of soaring mountains was inspiring I noticed their absence. I delighted in Autumn with the abundance of mulberries and plums and the golden yellow of the poplars, reflective of the bright sun against the pure blue sky. The gold to rusty red of the sallow willows I appreciated too, but Spring was over in the blink of an eye. The region held it’s own wonders with weeks of roaring avalanches followed by devastating mudslides as the weather warmed. With the passing of just a day or two of sun the few trees were fully clothed in green once again and Spring heralded by the arrival of the golden oriole birds. There was none of the long anticipation of buds slowly developing and eventually opening to a lush pale, translucent green. Or the slow progression to a deep constant green leaf over months that I look forward to through the dark dreary days of Winter here in the UK.
Golden poplars, Hofak hamlet above Khorog
A weekend away took us a bumpy 5 hours to the end of the Vanj valley including my first riverbed driving; it was flowing, fairly deep in places. We hiked through this valley to the foot of a glacier.
Foot of the glacier, Vanj Tajikistan
In the tiny village at the end of the road where we stayed walnut trees grew.
When I saw a wide girthed walnut tree I was so happy to see it! So happy I had to hug it! Until this moment I hadn’t quite realised how much I had missed trees that didn’t bend in the wind but that stood solid and strong with their wide trunks; trees like the sturdy oaks and beautiful beeches of home. There we have it, it’s out.. my love of trees! It was fitting then that my Aunt gave us a walnut tree to celebrate our daughter’s dedication. A walnut tree to remind us of our connection with Tajikistan and that our daughter Yasmina (Persian for Jasmine) started life out there and that her roots went deep into the beautiful community into which we were welcomed.
Walnut tree Poimazor Village, Vanj
Our most recent planting, just a few weeks ago was a copper beech tree. We planted it during our woodland celebration of my dear Dad’s 90th birthday. A tree that will give shelter, fun and delight long into the future. Silverwood is full of childhood and present day memories for me. I have photos with my husband up trees from both our engagement and our wedding day. I have celebrated our wedding, countless birthdays of my own and now my children’s birthdays there too. A place that is peaceful, a place that goes along way to restoring the soul. This is where I invite people to join me in for my Refresh Woodland Pilates Retreats, to be restored by doing Pilates and having community in nature: REFRESH — Simply Thrive
I feel most alive when I’m in nature, it’s good for my mind, body and soul and I love to share that with others. Understanding of the benefits of being in nature to us physically and emotionally is growing all the time, something I’ll explore more with you over time. Have a look here for now: How nature benefits mental health - Mind.
So why plant trees? In brief planting trees is one small way we can give back to the wonderful world that we are living in, from which we take so much, and have a responsibility to steward.
Copper Beech Tree - our sapling will one day become like this, a beautiful memory of my Dad’s 90th Birthday