WHAT I TREASURE

Living in a tree by Ingeborg Swart

That’s right, I treasure living in a tree. It might sound strange, I realise that. However, I live in a second-floor flat with an ancient oak right on the corner of the house. House and tree have been here, side by side, for well over a century. No one really knows how old the tree is, but it was already there when builders started on the house at the beginning of the 1900s.

It was still rather young and flexible back then, so it easily welcomed the new structure into its orbit. It bent and adjusted itself to make room, and to find the space to grow big and strong and wise. Which means that some hundred years later, the solid, strong branches of the oak reach around two full sides of my home.

It’s covered in moss, which is, in turn, crawling with all sorts of insects. I have never seen the insects, by the way, I just know that they’re there because of all the birds trying to peck them out. They are always hopping around, looking for this and that, courting and singing songs. So many stories have played out on those branches since I started living here.

That is exactly why I love living with this tree so much: I feel like I have become part

of the ecosystem. When I’m eating breakfast or making dinner in the kitchen, I can look out and see the nuthatch hopping around skilfully, gathering its own meal while I tend to mine. When I’m sitting in the living room, reading or drinking tea, I can suddenly find myself face to face with a jay. We’ll be staring at each other and, after some time, decide we can both carry on with our business. Living side by side. Even as I write this – the large windows open to a lovely, soft evening – a fluffy white feather comes floating down by my side. Probably from one of the resident doves.

As I don’t have the luxury of a garden, this tree makes me feel connected to the outdoors. Of course, I have many beloved plants lining my windowsills. But such an ancient oak, a tree that is itself home to many other creatures – that feels different. It is as if it has adopted me. Made me a part of its world, without ever asking for something in return. But if needs be, I know that it can count on me and I will protect it with all my might.