Where are all the Treehuggers

Earth Hart · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 03:43 PM

I am very supprised to find no threads here, so I think I'd better start one.

Over the years of my life I've become attached to quite a few trees. There is one species that holds me more than any otherand that is the Yew. The Fortingal Yew, in Scotland, is said to be over 5000yrs old it may even be near 9000yrs old. Even so, it is the oldest tree in Europe and is one of the oldest living beings in the world. There is a Lime, in Westonburt Arboretum, in Gloucestershire, that is around 5-6000yrs old its age being helped by having been coppiced.

Does anyone know of any older?

Earth Hart

Brian T · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 08:05 PM

Hi,

I'm not a tree hugger but a tree lover, I have about 10 acres of woodland and a lot of it is coppiced so it keeps us in winter fuel, I cut the grass in summer and the wood in winter and it's true that cutting wood heats twice, once when you cut it and once when you burn it. Nothing better than a log fire.

But I will say I love my woodland.

Brian T. www.calibordo.com

Owl-Light · #3 (**permalink**) 30-09-2006, 05:22 PM

I have little doubt you've read 'Meetings with Remarkable Trees' by Thomas Pakenham, Will - a really interesting book. There is also a nice little website The-Tree.org.UK you might like too of you don't know it already. I don't know of any older trees than the ones you've mentioned, but thats an astonishing longevity for one life form isn't it?

I love trees and always feel my natural environment is the the darker depths of our Ancient Broadleaf Woodland.

There is certainly something powerful about the Yew. I aways feel drawn to go sit under them when I come across them - a real energy there. But I know their reputation for dropping limbs on folk. very poisenous but I'm not about to nibble one myself

The Oak is awesome and the Beech is a real lady. The Copper Beech is an amazing tree and the Cedar of Lebanon too. Gosh I could go on and on, really.

Trees like any other wild thing are a joy to observe through the seasons. If you visit them regularly they always repay you with something new and often quite surprising.

The term Tree Hugger is a bit hippyfied for me (these days). I'm a Tree-Friend I guess

lol, that probably sounds even worse

Earth Hart · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2006, 11:43 AM

In using the term 'treehugger' I was being

I've always been a friend of tree & T.Ps book has pride of place on my bookshelf + the DVD of the series. I'm not a 'New Ager' if anything I'm a very ancient hippy of the old school.

Owl-Light · #5 (**permalink**) 02-10-2006, 01:28 PM

Naa, I'm not a New Ager either or a Hippy type really (though Bowdie would disagree).
I tried darn hard to be one when I was 14 but my mommy kept confiscating my headbands

No really

I guess I just have a sensitivity and a passion for all things Natural.

Earth Hart · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheryl La Bouchardiere

Naa, I'm not a New Ager either or a Hippy type really (though Bowdie would disagree).
I tried darn hard to be one when I was 14 but my mommy kept confiscating my headbands No really

I guess I just have a sensitivity and a passion for all things Natural.

On your way to school, did you pick flowers to out in your hair

? When I was home on leave one time, I caught my younger sister doing that.

Boy, di she give me a look, all I could do was laugh.

Owl-Light · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

On your way to school, did you pick flowers to out in your hair

? When I was home on leave one time, I caught my younger sister doing that.

Boy, di she give me a look, all I could do was laugh.

Hey, its a serious business being that... erm... cool, man.

Dunno what I was trying to be at the time really. I think the term most of us used was 'Hairy' rather than 'Hippy'. One of my many states of metamorphosis over the years. All of which have been great fun I hasten to add.

paul m · #8 (**permalink**) 04-11-2006, 09:52 AM

I'm not a tree hugger but I sometimes find myself talking to them while examining the invertebrates!

Gaina · #9 (**permalink**) 14-11-2006, 08:36 PM

Last time I hugged a tree it got attacked by Honey Fungus and died. Now when I approach a tree, you can almost hear them saying 'No, no, you're alright mate a smile will do!'

jdbinion · #10 (**permalink**) 26-02-2008, 05:07 PM

Here's a real Treehugger photo. The hugger is my wife and co-founder of our project "Dalbergia Preservation". The tree is the almost extinct Pau Brasil.
Caesalpinia Echinata
Family: Leguminosae
Origin: Brasil
Flowers: September - December
Common Names: Pernambuco, Brazilwood

This is the tree that is responsible for giving Brasil it's name. It is also the National Tree. Harvested to the brink of extinction for it's oils for perfumes, wood for violin bows and archery bows.
There have been scientific studies in Brasil in a search for a cure of different cancers. The oxidized oils from this tree have been used in testing that have resulted in Tumor reduction in mice in 83% of the cases.
The bark of the tree, when ground into powder form, has been proven effective in strenghtening of the gums. There are many medical uses derived from this tree and many reasons to help the survival other than for it's beauty.

To find out more on Endangered Tree species of Brasil, please visit our website at: Dalbergia Preservation