Part Two: Talking Trees
Homeschooling is coming to a close for a lot of children in the UK; this does not mean teaching young ones about other life outdoors has to end too. If you enjoyed Part One of our series—Insect Inspectors, I am sure you would find this next instalment just as fun.
Today we’re talking trees: specifically those roaming Britain.
Do children know that trees are simply giant plants? And have they heard these enormous beings might actually be ‘talking’ to one another? As if their size and sounds alone was not enough to inspire awe, would your outdoor explorers believe that some trees are several thousand years old? The wonders never cease!
Now, if you go down to the woods today … make sure to pack crayons, string and a sketch pad. You’ll need them for later, but first it is story time.
Rustle through the leaves of The Woodland Trust’s enchanting site and take in the tales of trees both native and non-native to Britain. What are your children’s favourite from those colourful curated lists?
Here are some of mine:
English Oak—the mighty! This wonderful species can live over 1000 years. If you are able to reach Sherwood Forest, why not jump straight into a game of hide and seek and get a feel for how Robin, Marian and the rest of this legendary band might have roamed amongst these grand old trees?
Sycamore—known for its swirling seeds. Amuse each other by collecting the trees’ helicopter-winged fruit (samaras); then release them from a height and see whose lands last.
Horse Chestnut—another whose seeds provide a great source of entertainment: conkers! Childhood memories are guaranteed to be made with these shiny collectables and battling game. Conker battles have been played for many centuries but its popularity has been reported to have dropped due to health and safety concerns … or perhaps the dawn of the tablet! Either way, should your children not want to miss out on the fun, please advise those of an appropriate age to take a commonsensical approach to a game involving striking and exploding, broken pieces. Aside from that, there is a general awareness to share that they are toxic if eaten, or a choking hazard for small children.
Scots Pine—home for the rare red squirrel and (equally endangered but perhaps the former’s salvation) the pine marten. This stunning evergreen smells delicious all year round, ideal for helping children make the connection between fresh air and the need for conserving trees.
Holly—prickly leaves and beautiful red berries are always a reminder of the festive winter season. The fallen leaves from these trees provides home for small animals such as our beloved hedgehogs.
Monkey Puzzle—another prickly and impressive plant. If your children love dinosaurs, they will be thrilled to know that this species was around over 200 million years ago, perhaps to scratch their backs! These trees can even survive volcanic eruptions. Now that’s a real puzzler!
Okay; it is time to store what we have learned, grab your bag of equipment and head outside to see which species you can find in your local area. To document them all, we can either sketch what we see, or use this bark rubbing technique. Enjoy the magic unfold as the trees’ signatures appear on the page. I am sure if they were talking, they would thank you for the visit.