The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Oh my goodness…this book. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is even vaguely interested in nature, trees, forests or the great outdoors. Since reading it I have a whole new understanding of woodland areas and it makes you feel part of a much larger ecosystem and even a community.
The Hidden Life of Trees explains just that, a life of those beautiful, old, statuesque beings that live together in groups, neighbourhoods and families. Throughout the pages here you learn about how trees communicate with each other, how they co-exist and share resources such as water, space and nutrients, they even warn eachother of danger. One such fascinating part is where the author describes how, when a tree or area of trees is attacked by an insect infestation or disease it will produce more chemicals to deter it or help heal itself, by sending out a biological ‘message’ trees of the same type in the area will also do this as a preventative measure thus ensuring the threat is eliminated, who knew?! The same kind of thing happens when the tree is being eaten by something larger such as a mammal, trees in the area will produce saps and chemical signatures that taste more unpalatable so the creature will look elsewhere.
Groundbreaking science is a major part of this book, new discoveries and old sayings that have proven to be true are woven into the chapters, it describes the family groups beautifully - how parent trees live with and nurture their ‘children’, how they communicate, support and heal eachother. Peter Wohlleben’s obvious love for woods and forests is inescapable, he is a forest manager in Germany with years of experience, observations and knowledge, so you know his words come from a place you can trust.
As I said to begin with, a walk in the forest will never be the same again after reading this book, seeing trees as intelligent, sensitive beings is so enlightening. Read it, you will not be disappointed!