Trees A Crowd

By David OakesScience Arts Nature Earth Sciences

Trees A Crowd episodes

December 21, 2021 Holly: Merry berries & mistle thrushes deck our true native Christmas tree
Our fifty-sixth (and final!) tree, Holly (Ilex aquifolium). Released to coincide with the Winter Solstice, aka the end of the rule of the Holly King, this episode celebrates a tree that is rooted in the winter celebrations of Celts, Romans, Christians, and even Cretaceous Dinosaurs! For centuries it has also fed the cattle that feeds us, it has supported generations of over-wintering birds (such as the greedy Mistle Thrush) and it has kept Goblins, Witches and arson-obsessed Cumbrian villagers at bay. Illuminated by the words of Emily Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Robert Southey and a whole collective known of historical botanists, this episode celebrates one of our undeniably great trees. There is also a VERY special Christmas present to you all, courtesy of the stunning Leisure Society. (Special thanks to Richard Hollis and Holly Newell for adding their voices, and to Bella Hardy and the Leisure Society for their musical meliflosities.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 min
December 14, 2021 The Viburnums: Ways fared to Guelderland via chalk paths and waterlogged fens
Our fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth trees, the Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) and the Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) - aka the Viburnums. It’s all about names this week. Not only do these trees have two of the strangest common names, but they also have a rich array of traditional folk names too. But whether you’re discussing Crampbark, the Snowball Tree, the Water Elder, or the Hoarwithy, its fair to say that these two trees aren’t the most palatable plants for our nation’s wildlife, but they’re certainly some of the prettiest - with stunning umbels of white flowers, and glorious red and black berries. (Special thanks to Al Petrie for adding his voice, yet again, to this series.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12 min
December 07, 2021 Elder: The people’s purple medicine chest lined with pariahs, period pop-guns & poo
Our fifty-third tree, Elder (Sambucus nigra). The “medicine chest of the common people” has probably helped keep more people healthy than any other native British tree, and yet it is derided for its smell, associated with Christ’s betrayal, and when burnt is said to provide a mouthpiece for the devil and/or a malign tree spirit. The Elder is a symbol of Summer, has one of the most cherished berries out there (cherished by both man and beast), and has inspired our greatest playwrights, botanists and podcasters! (Special thanks to Deirdre Mullins, Adam Ewan and Pete Basham for adding their voices to this episode.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 min
November 30, 2021 Wild Privet: Your country needs Spitfires, stick-insects and an untrimmed bush!
Our fifty-second tree, Privet or Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare). It's NATIONAL TREE WEEK! To celebrate; the tree our host was dreading writing an episode about - a tree he has sadly often cast aside as dull and uninteresting. Far from it (ish). Here grow stories of Spitfires and school Biology labs, as well as the pretty special manner in which Privet creates its foliage (which is fantastic for nesting birds, hungry insects, and even draws in bats!) (Special thanks to Al Petrie and Louise Bowe of the Tree Council.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 min
November 23, 2021 Ash: Unlocking dieback with firelight, hurley sticks & Heiðrún the Viking goat
Our fifty-first tree, Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). One of the British Isles’ most plentiful trees… for now. This week’s episode explores the Ash’s struggle against “Ash Dieback” and what you can do to help halt its spread; a refreshed look at the Viking’s obsession with the Ash Tree in their mythology, and; an exploration of the oh-so-many things this magnificent tree has offered up to society. That, and a good old sing-song courtesy of Lady Celia Congreve and music maestro Gary Hickeson. More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 min
November 16, 2021 Strawberry Tree: No, not that kind... rather, a god-sent Irish oddity with several subterranean secrets
Our fiftieth tree, the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus undo). The sole tree on our list of “native trees to the British Isles” that does not occur on the British mainland. The Strawberry Tree, or “Killarney Strawberry Tree”, is very much an Irish tree. Ant there’s no surprise for why the Irish keep it to themselves, for the Strawb is a stunner! More colourful fruits than any of the English trees; leaves that hide tales of a semi-tropical past; several subterranean secrets (and not just the usual old fungus nonsense!); and a little celtic folklore too. All that, yet some undeserving shade cast by Romans and Elizabethans - b*stards! (Special thanks to Al Petrie - our resident Gerard - for adding his voice to this episode.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14 min
November 09, 2021 Dogwood: Victorian dating & rodent reanimating; the secrets of the bloody whippletree
Our forty-ninth tree, is Dogwood (Cornus sanguina) - aka, the Whipple Tree, the Bloody Rod, Prickwood… one of our most colourful native species (with both foliage and twigs turning a rich scarlet) and a tree that contains multiple medical uses - it acts as an anti-inflammatory and can even induce the neurogenesis of stem cells in rats! It has inspired a fairy race of brownie-like “Dogwood people”, may well have been the tree that Jesus was crucified upon, and it was used as a love token by amorous Victorians. What’s not to love?! More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 min
November 05, 2021 Brigit Strawbridge Howard: As busy as a bee, whilst remaining humble as a bumble
Whether you know her from her Wainwright Prize nominated “Dancing with Bees”, from her time on the BBC’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green”, or from her intoxicating twitter-feed, there’s no denying that Brigit Strawbridge Howard is charming, endlessly-inquisitive and has truly let nature into her very soul. But it has not always been that way. Here - in an incredibly personal interview - Brigit explains how Nature didn’t feature in her early childhood whatsoever - only eventually making itself known to her as a “refuge from bullying”. Today, she is now part of a growing groundswell for environmental change and possesses a desire to place greater pressure upon policy makers - to make them see that the future is far more than just the coming weekend. But, there’s perhaps no denying, that Brigit’s true passion revolves around Bees! Here she will explain how Bumble Bees use the sonic resonance of their buzz to pollinate tomatoes, how Honey Bees use wild yeast to make fermented bee bread, how Bees are basically just “Vegetarian Wasps”, and how it was Bees that brought love into her life. For further information on this and other episodes, visit: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/brigit-strawbridge-howard/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 2 min
November 02, 2021 The Limes: Bast-ardly BIG trees smothered in glamrock moths & decapitated bees
Our forty-sixth and forty-seventh trees are our two native Limes, (Tilia cordata) and (Tilia platyphyllos). These are trees you can hear before you get the chance to set your eyes upon them - they literally hum with invertebrate life. Limes attract the most psychedelic of caterpillars, doomed bees destined to be decapitated by greedy birds, and (somewhat predictably) humankind seeking the lime’s delicate timber and the versatile bast fibres that lie beneath the bark. This “benevolence to biodiversity” and “cornucopia of creative possibilities” means that coppiced lime stools are some of the oldest living organisms alive in the British Isles today. And if that’s not enough, our two native limes can also cross-pollinate to create a hairy-armpitted native hybrid; our forty-eighth tree, the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea). AND we've yet another musical premiere - Louise Jordan heads off into a Linden Lea. (Special thanks to Brigit Strawbridge Howard, Louise Jordan and Al Petrie for adding their voices to this episode.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 min
October 26, 2021 Sycamore: The mucilage & mysteries stuck upon our misunderstood martyr maple
Our forty-fifth tree, Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Suffering from a somewhat mistaken identity (partly due to Christianity, and partly due to some pompous Elizabethans), the Sycamore is a much maligned non-native - but now naturalised - tree. It’s a sticky survivor that loves our country. Only now, with the help of Silvologists like Dr Gabriel Hemery, are we beginning to place greater value upon this mighty immigrant. Add the fact that a lone Sycamore in Tolpuddle, Dorset, helped solidify our British Trade Union movement, and you have a much welcome addition to our British Isles. (Special thanks to Dr Gabriel Hemery, Al Petrie and Natalie Dormer for adding their voices to this episode.) More from David Oakes as he uproots the secrets and stories beneath the 56(ish) Native Trees of the British Isles can be found at: https://www.treesacrowd.fm/56Trees/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16 min

About Trees A Crowd

From the publisher's feed

Ever wondered what happens when you fill a cello with bees? Or how robins have successfully colonised the outer-reaches of our universe? Or why the world is destined to be populated purely by female…