"If I were on a desert island I would be lost .... I would prefer the wood to the food any day."
"...a practical resource as well as being of great spiritual value."
.... that chestnut tree was home. It epitomised home for me. The house wouldn't be the same without the tree there."
Trees personalise the landscape. They are distinctive landmarks, welcoming us to a place - an integral feature of where we live or where we come from.
Like sentinels they stand guard over places we love. To lose a familiar tree can be like losing a friend. We form an emotional attachment to them and there's a sense of loss when they're not there. Is there a tree in your garden, or a favourite place, which has a special meaning for you?
Fairy tree near CastledawsonPart of Irish folklore, trees were considered very important in Celtic times. They were listed under Brehon laws of neighbourhood and moving or damaging a tree would result in some form of punishment. Many people down the centuries have attached a spiritual dimension to trees. Let us know if you think they connect us to another place? It is said that the expression "touch wood" derives from people in olden days wanting the blessing of the tree spirit. Of course, you might have another explanation!
Moyola WoodsSpiritual dimension or not, it certainly lifts the spirits to stroll through a wood or forest. It's very peaceful to be among the trees and nothing sparks the childhood imagination better than the hidden, dark places created by the canopy of leaves. Have you fond memories, as a child or adult, of walks through local woods?
We have stripped the Northern Ireland landscape of many of its trees over the years. Native trees like the oak, ash, rowan, alder, birch and hawthorne. The fight is now on to reverse this trend and much is being achieved. What has been done in your area? What else do you think we should be doing?
Trees span our lifetime. Rooted in the ground, there is a permanence about them, connecting us to our history. Evoking a sense of security, somehow our home place wouldn't be the same without their friendly faces. Tell us about the distinctive trees in your area and why you think they're special, by adding an entry below.
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