Tag: Trees

Trees of Life

31st August 2024

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. Proverbs 11:30a

Sovereign God, you are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading: As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

An acorn is a comical thing

with a little hat that could be a cup.

Its pointed tip – that could be its bottom – 

is not going to drill its way into the earth. 

It waits for the rook or the squirrel 

to snaffle it and bury it deep in the soil, 

where after hours of dark contemplation 

it will emerge as a slip of a thing, 

with rusty red leaves that unfold into green.

An oak’s life starts in a very small way.

Lord God, in small and even comical ways, 

let our faith grow. 

From small beginnings help us sow 

seeds that will transform your world.

A reading: I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. 

Isaiah 41:19-20

Rooted together in community, 

colonising land that might otherwise be void, 

trees are not loners. 

Companions they support each other, 

neighbours that support others, 

forming delicate ecosystems 

where life is in the balance. 

Lord God, let our faith 

create neighbours and communities.

Rooted in togetherness, 

may your kingdom come.

A Reading: He said, “Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet.” Three days later they had still not figured out what the riddle meant. Judges 14:14

Ancient oak, 

wrinkled and gnarled, 

gnawed at by time, 

even in death you provide safe lodging 

and sustenance for others. 

With grace you return to the earth 

the nourishment you harvested: 

a life time of receiving and giving.

Lord God, let our faith 

nourish generations to come 

just as we gain from those who have gone before. 

May the power of the resurrection 

sustain us with eternal life.

Amen.

The Grace

Trees as Good Samaritans 

24th August 2024

And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, fair to behold, and pleasant to eat. Genesis 2:9

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A story based on an idea by Jesus as recorded in Luke’s gospel. 

There once was a sojourner who, going about their daily business, was beset by disaster upon disaster: floods and drought, heatwaves and colds snaps, hunger and thirst. 

Politicians, as they passed, turned to look the other way. Church leaders buried their noses in their prayer books. The wealthy trusted money as a get-out clause.

Yet  in the midst of it all, were the trees. They kept on breathing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen; they even helped clean the air of pollutants. They collected rain with their leaves to slow its fall, and collected more between their roots, reducing the risk of flooding. Their leaves provided shade and, as they released moisture, so they cooled the air. They caught energy from the sun and turned it into useful materials, food and even medicines. They welcomed other visitors, fauna and flora. They offered green spaces that calmed the anxious and the weary. 

Who was the good neighbour to the sojourner?

Holy God, 

we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. 

We have ignored the plight of others. 

We have not stood in solidarity with those who need help. 

Rather we have spurned those who are our neighbours.

We have cut them down in their prime.

We have cut away at their roots 

and have poisoned their lifeblood. 

Have mercy.

Have mercy,.

Heal us and have mercy. 

A reading Leviticus 23:39-41 (The Message) 

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have brought your crops in from your fields, celebrate the Feast of God for seven days. The first day is a complete rest and the eighth day is a complete rest. On the first day, pick the best fruit from the best trees; take fronds of palm trees and branches of leafy trees and from willows by the brook and celebrate in the presence of your God for seven days—yes, for seven full days celebrate it as a festival to God. Every year from now on, celebrate it in the seventh month.

God of the oak and the tamarisk, 

we praise you.

God of the palm tree and the olive, 

we praise you.

God of the fig tree and the vine, 

we praise you.

God of the cedar and the myrtle, 

we praise you.

For the wonder and beauty of trees, 

we praise you.

For leaves and shade, for seeds and fruit, 

we praise you.

For rootedness and stability, 

we praise you.

For maturity and heritage, 

we praise you.

For carbon absorbed and oxygen released, 

we praise you.

For community and interconnectedness, 

we praise you.

God of wisdom, 

teach us to understand and value 

the world you have created. 

Teach us to recognise that what you create is one family, 

that all its people, its plants and creatures, 

are our brothers and sisters.   

Teach us to love them as our neighbours, 

and give us the grace 

to receive the love they bestow on us. 

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Counting on … day 73

25th March 2024

Carbon offsetting is akin to an accounting exercise where the carbon emissions released by one activity are offset – rebalanced – by another activity that sequesters – takes in – carbon dioxide. Typically this might be offsetting the carbon emissions from an air flight by as many planting trees as would absorb that quantity of carbon dioxide. The catch there is one of timing. The air flight produces emissions now but the tree will only absorb the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide over a number – tens of not hundreds – of years and a young sapling may in fact release more carbon dioxide than it absorbs. Another option it to offset the carbon emissions by not felling trees so allowing them to continue to absorb carbon dioxide – but that questions why the trees might have been felled in the first place. 

Further reading – https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/04/what-is-carbon-offsetting-and-how-does-it-work?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

– https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/30/quality-standards-hold-carbon-offsetting-industry-account?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 1.218

17th November 2023

In September of this year, the Sycamore Gap Tree was, through criminal action, chopped down. Previously a 400 year old oak was felled in Northamptonshire to make way for road improvements. A 600 year old oak was felled in Peterborough because it was damaging nearby buildings. A 250 year old wild pear tree was felled In Warwickshire to make way for HS2. 

Should we treasure trees as much as we treasure buildings? Are they not an as important part of the landscape? 

The Woodlands Trust is pressing “the UK, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Governments to protect our most important trees by:

  • Legally protected heritage status for some of our most ancient and important trees
  • Strong, consistent policy protection for old trees  
  • More support for land managers to care for ancient and veteran trees”

If you would like to add your name to their petition, here is the link –

https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/99702/petition/2

The Woodlands Trust also has ideas for home made Christmas gifts – https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2023/10/homemade-christmas-gifts/?utm_campaign=3328841_E23COM041_Newsletter_Dynamic&utm_medium=email&utm_source=E23COM044&utm_content=Christmas-Crafting&dm_i=2D76,1ZCJT,6HXEUF,71JUC,1

Counting on … day 1.215

14th November 2023

To address both the climate and biodiversity crises, the government has a target, set in the Environment Act, for increasing tree increasing tree and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050. (Sadly this is less than the 17.5% increase originally laid down in the 2021 legislation). 

However as the Woodlands Trust points out, there must be a focus on quality as well as quantity:- 

“ We need an ambitious target which ensures woods are:

  • best for wildlife: at least 300,000 ha of all new trees and woods must be native to provide havens for hundreds of woodland species by 2050
  • well connected: expanding our existing woodland patches will connect and increase habitat sizes and boost their benefits.” (1)

There is therefore an urgency to the need for quality tree planting and, as importantly, for maintenance. The Guardian highlighted a recent report from ‘Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research’ which warned that “UK forests are heading for “catastrophic ecosystem collapse” within the next 50 years due to multiple threats including disease, extreme weather and wildfires … with trees dying on a large scale.” (2)

We as individuals can help in a couple of small ways –

  1. By using the online Tree Alert tool to report possible tree pests and diseases. 
  2. By ensuring our boots are clean before walking in a new woodland to avoid spreading disease.
  3. By sponsoring trees through groups such as The Woodlands Trust, the Wildlife Trust, Trees for Life, the NHS Forest, or the National Forest (planting trees in the former industrial areas of the Midlands)

https://treesforlife.org.uk/support/plant-a-tree/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/dedications/

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/adopt-species/adopt-tree-or-habitat

Sponsor a tree for the NHS Forest

https://www.nationalforest.org/

(1) (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/tree-target/)

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/uk-forests-face-catastrophic-ecosystem-collapse-within-50-years-study-says-aoe?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 1.168

8th September 2023

Trees are good at creating a better environment for us  to live in – shade and cooling the air, limiting flooding, absorbing air pollution, and protection from winds. They can also improve our mental and physical wellbeing. 

There is some research that suggests having indoor plants can also benefit our health and well-being – but this does rely on someone taking the time to look after them. This too may have its own benefits!

For more info on the health benefits of trees –

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/08/forest-bathing-japanese-practice-in-west-wellbeing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html

For more info on the health benefits of indoor plants – 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66186492

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201022-why-living-with-and-tending-plants-is-good-for-you

Counting on … day 1.167

7th September 2023 

Where it is not possible to plant a tree, or as an interim measure, we could grow green walls. Green walls are where climbing plants are grown either directly against, or on support structures integrated on the outside walls of a building. Growing plants such as ivy on the outside walls can reduce internal temperatures by about 2.5C. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261916313824

A step up from green walls are living walls. These “are constructed with planter boxes or felt; these do not require the plants to be climbing, they often need to be irrigated and plants for intensive green roofs are frequently suitable for these systems.” * Such walls can sometimes be seen on the sides of tower blocks – offices and hotels – and can presumably provide a green overcoat for buildings that outstrip the height to which plants can naturally grow. 

*https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-features/green-walls

Counting on …. Day 1.166

6th September 2023

I read recently that a tree provides the equivalent cooling of two air conditioning units. That must depend on the size of the tree and of the AC unit but it is an interesting thought. How much cheaper it must be to plant a tree than buy and run an AC unit. But of course a tree needs time to grow. Should we not be  planting as many trees as we can now to provide cooling for the years to come when summer temperatures may be routinely hotter?

Last year at the Lambeth Conference, the delegates agreed to set up a global Communion Forest. Provinces, dioceses and churches were encouraged to plant trees to celebrate events such as baptisms, weddings and confirmations, by planting trees. It is a good idea and even where we don’t have the space ourselves to plant these trees, we can sponsor the planting of trees in woodland areas such as those cared for by the Woodlands Trust.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/dedications/

Counting on … day 1.165

5th September 2023

Trees and forested areas are, we know, good for the environment. They cool the air, store carbon, absorb water before later releasing it. They support a diversity of plant and animal life. They protect and enrich soils. And they improve our physical health and mental well being.

Sadly tree overage in the UK is only 13% – compared with 38% across Europe and 31% world wide. 

Planting and looking after new trees and maintaining and protecting existing trees is surely common sense! And where trees are cultivated for use, including felling, that needs to be carried out in a way that protects and nurtures the ecosystem just as one should with a herd or flock of animals.

https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2018/international-forestry-3/forest-cover-international-comparisons/

Counting on … day 1.133

20th July 2023 

Thinking about the value of trees, this comes from a Guardian article earlier in the year.

“Heatwaves tend to be the deadliest type of extreme weather, the scientists…

Roop Singh, at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, said: “The results of the study indicate the need to work more urgently to put in place adaptations known to reduce heat-related mortality.” Lisbon, for example, has reduced the city heat-island effect by increasing the area covered by green spaces and water features.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/05/april-mediterranean-heatwave-almost-impossible-without-climate-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other