The Meaning of Trees Podcast

Bonsai connoisseur, Amelia Williams, has been studying and working with trees of all sizes for more than 20 years, most recently as Director of UK tree consultancy firm - the Arb Company.Tom and Amelia zoom in on the miniature world of tiny tree craft and discuss what bonsai can teach us about better looking after bigger trees, as well as ourselves.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcastCheck out Amelia's Arb Company website here: https://arb.company/amelia-williams/

Tom meets a mystery guest in what ends up being a particularly revealing interview for him personally...Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Kate Colenbrander is a Canadian documentary maker, photographer, writer and UCL Anthropology graduate who brings hidden stories to light from beneath the surface of mainstream conversation.Tom and Kate discuss her provocative new film - In Arboretum - which poses important questions about the lack of protection our oldest trees face versus development, what the modern human / tree relationship looks like today and what trees might say if they were able to talk.Watch Kate's film - IN ARBORETUM here: https://youtu.be/CSuK3Ea6L9EFind links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcastCheck out Kate's website here: https://katecolenbrander.com/

Elena Pearce is a post-doctoral Researcher with Aarhus University in Denmark with a special curiosity in what Europe's forest ecology was like before the last ice age.Hear her explanation of the long term warming and cooling cycles of our planet, her thoughts on how studying the forests of the past can help us better understand the present picture and why re-inventing a woolly mammoth might not be the best of ideas.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcastVisit Elena's Aarhus University Research profile here: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/elena.pearce@bio.au.dk

Fred Breglia is Director of the Landis Arboretum in Upstate New York and a huge advocate for the protection of old growth forests and champion trees, connecting more than 1.5 million tree enthusiasts from around the world through his much loved Instagram and Facebook accounts. Tom and Fred talk about his very first encounter with a giant tree, the power of sharing images and why there's no time like today to appreciate the last remaining trees of great age.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcastFred is a founder of the Ancient Forests Facebook group: www.facebook.com/ancientforests

As a founding member of the Ancient Tree Forum, Vikki Bengtsson has studied Europe's veteran trees and their special ecology for more than 30 years and her latest research remains at the cutting edge of tree related-science.Tom and Vikki chat holes, hollows and cavities, delve deep into the idea that trees might live forever (if we let them) and discuss the thinking behind her most controversial work.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Luke Adam Hawker is a tree-inspired artist, a devoted father, a Sunday Times best selling author and a Woodland Trust ambassador.After a short walk in the Surrey Hills, Tom and Luke sit down to discuss the timeless powers of trees in storytelling, the way his son Harry has irreversibly shaped his life for the better and how trees can offer faith in tougher times.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Chantal Lyons is author of ‘Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain's Wild Boar' and has spent the past few years immersing herself into the world of megafauna.After walking in the Forest of Dean, Tom and Chantal discuss wild boars' special role in supporting forest ecology, the perceptions of danger that often accompany them and her hopes for a world where wild animals and human beings might one day co-exist in harmony.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Meli Tanuku Nakauvadra is a Counselling and Education student at Fiji's National University and a strong advocate for mental health awareness.Tom and Meli talk about why trees and natural spaces matter so much in a developing country with a rich indigenous heritage to protect and discuss the concept of 'dominion' in traditional Christian teaching.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Na Waqa Drua is a revolutionary project to create a giant twin-hulled, fully wind-powered ocean canoe that combines ancient and cutting edge technologies in a shared mission to sail around the world.Tom interviews Carson Young and his diverse team of innovators to learn more about how they are bringing this Fijian odyssey back to life and ensuring it's fully fit for the future.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Sanjana Lal is Fiji's national Conservator of Forests and heads up the Fijian Government's Ministry of Forestry department, advocating for sustainable forest stewardship in a country with 61% tree cover and where 80% of the land is owned and inhabited by indigenous communities.Tom and Sanjana explore her personal philosophies and thoughts on pristine rainforest and its protection and discuss why a community-centred approach remains vital to a future-proof mindset.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Simione Sevudredre is one of Fiji's best-known advocates when it comes to protection and awareness of indigenous heritage and human rights.Tom chats with him in depth about Fijian totem trees, the humble coconut and the many virtues of living a nature-based identity.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Season 2 kicks off with guest host Arifah interviewing Tom on his return from Fiji alongside talented Videographer and Woah Studios Director, Pita Yee.We learn all about the making of their new documentary - 'Sentinels: Protecting Fiji's Heritage Trees' - and Pita shares some personal insights into his life and art.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Guest host and friend of the podcast, Arifah Sheikh, takes charge of this end-of-series special with Tom turning guest for the day before interviewing his 10 year old daughter to round off the season.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Reg Harris is Director of Urban Forestry Ltd and an Arborist and Veteran Tree Consultant who works with highly prestigious trees like the famous Major Oak at Sherwood Forest.Tom and Reg chat about the lifelong impressions that a chance meeting with an indigenous North American man made upon him as a child, what it is about ancient trees that makes him so passionate about his work and how he ended up running the London Marathon bare foot.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Wyl Menmuir is the award-winning author of The Heart of the Woods, a new book uncovering our deep cultural associations with trees and the traditional crafts and rituals that continue to bind us to them today.Tom and Wyl meet up at the Ankerwycke yew to chat about the legendary Green Man, discuss Wyl's reflections on ancient forest cultures in Japan and get to the bottom of why he undertook a planned trespass.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant grew up amongst the urban sprawl of Monterrey, Mexico's 2nd largest city, before a fascination with trees inspired a career studying rainforest canopies in Brazil, Peru, Guyana and Australia.Tom and Cecilia delve into her memories of long bus trips spent looking for accessible greenspace as a child, the exotic forest wildlife she's met during her research projects and how she's become part of a team creating VR experiences with ancient trees to share their majesty with all.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Harry Studholme, a former Forestry Commission Chair, is Honorary Treasurer of the Devon County Agricultural Association, owner of a historic family estate and an avid researcher of prehistoric forest activity.Tom and Harry enjoy a wide-ranging chat, taking in interglacial safaris, the formation of the Forestry Commission, the worrying existential threat posed by climate change and elephants in Exeter.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Cheryl Silvawood began her conservation career as a photo journalist in South East Asia, travelling the world to study remote and awe-inspiring habitats before uncovering a love for ancient and veteran trees in the UK.Tom and Cheryl delve into her childhood memories of parks, urban wildlife encounters and trees in Singapore, the origins of her tree-inspired blog - inalandofgiants - and her hopes for the future of both planet and people.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Mick Diplock lost his sight more than 20 years ago but the pure joy he gets from running amongst trees has never left him.In this episode, Tom investigates how Mick forged a lifelong affection for woods and the great outdoors, how going blind in mid-life changed his relationship with every aspect of the world around him and how he's still crossing the finish line at the age of 80.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Liba Ravindran is a London based Community Organiser, climate justice activist and tree-loving poet of Sri Lankan heritage.In this heartfelt interview, we explore Liba's work to support marginalised communities within the UK, the difference in western and global majority mindsets when it comes to the natural environment and the fundamental role trees continue to play in so many different cultures around the world today.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Jill Butler has spent a lifetime fighting for better protection of ancient and veteran trees in the UK as a long-time ambassador for the Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum.We discuss how old trees are integral to our cultural and natural heritage, how many irreplaceable trees remain under threat from human development and the insights she's gathered from like-minded tree activists around the world.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Kevin Martin is Head of Tree Collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and a cutting-edge Climate Researcher.He's leading an innovative climate modelling project to help us understand what the future holds for Kew's renowned tree collection in 2090, if temperatures continue to rise as expected.Tom and Kevin discuss his childhood memories of following his dad around as a tree surgeon, his travels around the world to study exotic tree habitats and what his wife makes of his mission to save Kew's tree collection.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Anita Prasad-Willems is an experienced counsellor and wellbeing therapist that depends on trees to keep her rooted and grounded day-to-day.Based in Brighton, Anita recently set up her own practice - Wisdom Within Therapies - focusing on reconnecting us to the divine feminine and mother earth.In this episode, Tom and Anita discuss the otherworldly realms she's encountered personally, the simple benefits of spending time around trees and how to tell if a podcast is AI generated.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Martin Hügi is Senior Conservation Advisor for the Woodland Trust and known more widely as the Ancient Tree Pilgrim.In spring 2023, he set off on foot from Lands End to John O' Groats to meet with more than 2000 of the UK's oldest, most majestic trees.In this episode, Tom and Martin discuss the origins of his sacred solo mission, the reverence he holds for ancient trees and how his journey became much more important than any destination.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Mo Wilde is a wild food forager, author and ethnobotanist living in West Lothian, Scotland.Tom and Mo discuss the 12 month Wildbiome experiment she undertook in 2020 where she survived solely on wild foraged food for a full year, testing the effects upon her gut microbiome health.Mo describes her early memories among trees in Kenya, shares thoughts on modern food production and reveals her personal insights into the hunter gatherer diet and lifestyle.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Tom Burns is Ranger and Woodsman at Knepp Wildlands, a pioneering rewilding project and a leading light for nature recovery in the UK.In this episode, we're taken on a virtual safari of Knepp to encounter the best of its wildlife and we tackle some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the rewilding approach.We hear about Tom's passion for woodcraft, his urban upbringing and what being a Ranger is all about.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Rosie Heydenrych is founder of the Turnstone Guitar Company and makes beautiful handcrafted guitars at her workshop in the Ashdown Forest.Tom and Rosie discuss the history of her craft and she talks us through some of the sounds and characteristics her different woods produce.Rosie recalls childhood memories of climbing trees and explains how she's adopting locally grown timbers in place of endangered tropical hardwoods.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

John Deakin is Head of Trees & Woodland for National Trust, Europe's largest natural and cultural heritage conservation charity.In this episode, Tom and John discuss the aftermath of the Sycamore Gap incident and the Trust's ambitious plans to establish 20 million new trees on their land by 2030.John describes his memories of yew trees growing up, explains why active woodland management and considered tree felling are essential to a healthy environment and shares his ideal vision for the future.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Ever thought-provoking, Ted Green is a name synonymous with the world of ancient trees and remains Conservation Adviser to the Crown Estate at the age of 89.In this episode, Tom and Ted discuss how trees transport us back in time, Ted recalls how the oaks at Windsor Great Park have kept him going since his father went missing in World War 2 and he shares his theories on seed dispersal and the idea of humans as animals.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Dr Amy Cardinal Christianson is a Fire Research Scientist for the Canadian Forest Service and a woman of Indigenous Métis heritage with a life-long appreciation for trees and forest ecosystems.Amy's own podcast - 'Good Fire' - explores the ancient practices of forest fire stewardship around the world.In this episode, Tom introduces series 1 of The Meaning of Trees Podcast, he and Amy discuss the rise of forest fire evacuations in connection to climate change and she shares some valuable insights into age-old land management cultures that the Métis people are fighting to keep alive today.Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast