14. The Life and Nature of Trees
Trees in the biosphere
Humans have always had a very close interdependence with trees.^1
Hominids came on the scene at one of those rarer times in Earth's
history when a forest environment predominated. For the greater
part of our short time on the planet, our ancestors grew up among
trees. First they would slash and burn small clearings in the forest
in order to grow crops. Wood was the greatest single resource to
allow population to expand; it was the principal source of fuel and
of building materials. These early societies were intimately con-
nected with their environment; their shamans mediated with the
life forces and the guardian spirits. The wildwood was treated with
reverence.
Part of the forest was earmarked for growing sustainable wood
supplies. Mostly this was for coppicing, when the branches are cut
just above ground level every five to eight years. This practice pro-
duces an abundance of multipurpose straight branches and is emi-
nently sustainable, encouraging re-growth.
The elders and the shamans selected special stands of trees for
ritual purposes, for worship and for thanksgiving. These sacred
groves were their churches and cathedrals, with altars, nave and
cloisters. Later, many groups moved onto the savannahs, but soci-
eties like the Druids (dru means wood, wid, knowledge) in Roman
times had complex tree classifications and tree medicines. The
wildwood is a magical place, and it is not surprising that there is an
immense richness of lore about the healing properties of different
types of tree.
There is an area in Gloucestershire, in the heart of England, still
known as the Wychwood that was one of the last stands of primitive
forest to disappear to the demands of building a wooden navy for
English control of the seas. To this day there remains in this area an
awareness of the magical qualities of the wildwood, and a memory
of the rituals of healing and of working with the nature spirits.
The tree is at the top of the botanical ladder, and is like a gateway
between the human and plant kingdoms. The forest is a community
- THE LIFE AND NATURE OF TREES