Why trees deserve a good hug
SOMETIMES scientists are given lots of money to perform experiments.
You tend to read about them in the newspapers under headlines like ‘Brits are mad for yellow cheese’.
Most of the time the money is well spent, and sometimes the subjects can even capture my interest – especially when it causes arguments.
I was reading about how streetlights affect urban trees and it was fascinating.
Trees obviously get used to the light and dark of a normal day.
Streetlights mean these trees are getting a little tired and emotional, because they are awake all night. They then do things at strange times, blossoming in the winter and getting old really quickly. The article also mentioned that beech trees bully willows by using their roots to strangle them.
Trees are great and they are one bit of nature that the majority of people appreciate, even if they are only chopping them down as planks for the new patio. I love to see iconic trees, and trees that have been around for thousands of years.
The Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland is believed to be the UK’s oldest tree, between 3,000 to 9,000-years-old.
Yew trees tend to be our oldest trees and many inhabit dark churchyards, so the light thing might be true.
Another study found that yew trees in more than 500 British churchyards are older than the church buildings.
The oldest yew in the north west appears to be in a churchyard in Eastham, Merseyside.
The first mention we have heard of is from 1152.
The yew is a mediumsized evergreen and wild yew is mainly found on drained chalk and limestone soils.
Yew is easily recognised by its dense, glossy, dark green needles and bright red berries with a single dark seed.
It is found throughout the north west. Of course, we have uncovered trees that are between 5,000 to 10,000-years-old on the mosses in Salford, but they died a long time ago.
All these trees have seen an incredible amount of history over the centuries.
They deserve our care and attention and love. Go on, give one a big hug today.
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The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of wildlife. It has 28,000 members, and over 1,400 volunteers. To become a member, go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust. org.uk.