In modern times, trees have always been a symbol and barometer for the state of our world and the environment, given their incredible ability to absorb carbon dioxide, convert it into oxygen and support a large and diverse ecosystem. As well as their scientific importance, they have a romance embedded in our history and culture. Robin Hood famously lived in Sherwood Forest, where he stole from the rich to give to the poor – using the forest as both defence and bounty. And of course, legend tells of how he hid in an ancient oaks trunk, to hide from the Sheriff of Nottingham. They have become a symbol of destruction and capitalism, history, charity and hope.
The romance of trees, the material opportunity, commerce, politics and the science is intertwined – it is impossible to marvel at the beauty, magnificence and amazing nature of an individual, stand, woodland or forest without in some way considering all aspects, which ultimately forms our relationship with them. They are at once a reminder of how we have treated our world and how incredible it is.
